2nd Chronicles 7:12 And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him"..... 13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
This passage of scripture teaches us that there are times when an entire nation may be in need of urgent repentance and reform, and this situation usually occurs when individuals, from the higher echelons of society, down to the average citizens have been guilty of indulging and countenancing certain sins. Even though there may be a few who have stood resolutely for the right, yet in some instances, the sins committed by the majority are so grievous that judgments against the entire nation are determined, and can only be turned aside if the nation repents and then institutes national reforms that will turn the tide of evil. It is worthy of note that one of the first judgments mentioned in the passage is drought, which in turn will effectively hamper the production of fruit and grain, which in turn will then cause the price of food to skyrocket, so that everyone will be affected to a greater or lesser extent.
This is exactly what took place in the days of Elijah, when under the withering influence of Jezebel, the nation had been led into deep idolatry of the darkest hue, to the point where the sins had become a national occurrence, with individuals, families, and laity alike practicing and and encouraging that which they full well knew to be contrary to God's revealed will. So, in harmony with the prophecies in the above passage, God sent a deadly drought across the land to bring the nation back to repentance, and this judgment went into effect immediately after being pronounced by the prophet Elijah, and increased in severity as the days, months, and years rolled by. Let's read:
1st Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
1st Kings 18:5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.
Determined to keep the people in deception, the priests of Baal continue to offer sacrifices to their gods and to call upon them night and day to refresh the earth. With costly offerings the priests attempt to appease the anger of their gods; with a zeal and a perseverance worthy of a better cause they linger round their pagan altars and pray earnestly for rain. Night after night, throughout the doomed land, their cries and entreaties arise. But no clouds appear in the heavens by day to hide the burning rays of the sun. No dew or rain refreshes the thirsty earth. The word of Jehovah stands unchanged by anything the priests of Baal can do.
A year passes, and yet there is no rain. The earth is parched as if with fire. The scorching heat of the sun destroys what little vegetation has survived. Streams dry up, and lowing herds and bleating flocks wander hither and thither in distress. Once-flourishing fields have become like burning desert sands, a desolate waste. The groves dedicated to idol worship are leafless; the forest trees, gaunt skeletons of nature, afford no shade. The air is dry and suffocating; dust storms blind the eyes and nearly stop the breath. Once-prosperous cities and villages have become places of mourning. Hunger and thirst are telling upon man and beast with fearful mortality. Famine, with all its horror, comes closer and still closer. Yet notwithstanding these evidences of God’s power, Israel repented not, nor learned the lesson that God would have them learn. They did not see that He who created nature controls her laws, and can make of them instruments of blessing or of destruction. (Patriarchs and prophets pp. 124& 125)
But just as though we have not learned the important lessons of the past, in the judgments meted out against those who have gone before, we ourselves as a nation are encouraging the same and worst sins, through the institution of iniquity, something which even Sodom and Gomorrah did not dare to do. And although in our day there may not be a specific prophet to spell out our doom in detail like Elijah did, one has to wonder whether or not the very same judgments are now being meted out against us, with the severe drought that is taking its toll in California, where the bread basket of the nation is located. Question: Could it be tied directly to our national sins, or could it be just the result of the capricious, unregulated forces of nature?
Whatever the situation may be, it seems as if national repentance is long overdue, for not only has there been a spike in wanton murders, violence, and bloodshed across the land, but the institution of gay marriage in all fifty states has now added fuel to the flames, and has already begun to wreak havoc in communities, the boy scouts, the army, and every other segment of society, to the point where one has to be careful in looking at the news, lest some random advertisement featuring same-sex couples, flash across the T.V screen, and send the wrong message to adults and children alike.
It is high time that we count the cost of rebellion against God, and instead of continuing to walk in pride, and teaching others to do the same in our schools, let us instead humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, if perchance we may obtain a much-needed reversal of our misfortunes. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which call us to repentance, and may we be willing and humble enough to receive correction at the hands of God. Let's read:
1st Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. 41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and God bless!