Deuteronomy 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
This passage of scripture contains a promise for rain given by God Himself to His people, but like all other promises, it was given on condition that they would diligently hearken unto His commandments, statutes, and laws. The promise also has a provision for the right timing of the blessing of rain, so that the land could produce its bounties without fail. This particular provision of giving the rain when it is due is of critical importance, for any farmer will tell us that if rain comes at an inappropriate time, it will do more harm than good.
And so, year after year, the Lord caused the rain to fall at the right time, as long as His people followed the instructions given in His law. However, it is worthy of note that His people were not always faithful, for they began the practice of cultivating the land incessantly, not allowing for the seventh year of rest as the Lord had clearly stipulated, and as a result they were taken into captivity so that the land also could enjoy her Sabbaths of rest. Let's read:
Leviticus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the Lord. 3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; 4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. 5 That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.
Leviticus 26:34 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths. 35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.
The rain that God promised to His people is a symbol of the much more important spiritual rain that is to be bestowed upon the entire earth, in preparation for the harvests of millions of true believers across the globe. There are many in whose hearts the seed of truth has been sown, and the germination process has taken place in darkness, but towards the close of this earth's history, God has promised to pour out an abundance of rain so, that His people may be made ready for the coming of the Son of Man. Let's read:
Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
To this very time we are now hastening, and thus it behooves every honest- hearted believer to live in readiness, so that when this great outpouring takes place, we may be fitted for the heavenly garner. There is a work to be done however during the interim period. We should be seeking God with all of our hearts, afflicting our souls by searching ourselves through the power of the Holy spirit to see if there be any cherished sins that we are still excusing in our hearts, and if so, we should be asking God to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which will encourage us to do just that, and if we are faithful in so doing, God will fulfill His promise to us individually, by sending "Rain". Let's read:
Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
May this all-important work begin and continue in our hearts today without delay, for the time is at hand. God bless!