GOD SENDS THE RAIN IN DUE SEASON 

Shepherd’s Guidance 11/2020

29 April 2020    

God Sends the Rain in Due Season 

(Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 11:1-15) 

God’s covenant people had been exhorted to study and obey His Word always. Why? Because the Lord had set His love upon them. The second generation of His people had witnessed the mighty works of the Lord in the past forty years.  Those who were under 20 years old at the time of Exodus should have remembered the mighty acts of God. How the Lord had dealt with the hard-hearted Egyptian king and his land in the ten plagues. As the army of Egypt was pursuing His people into the Red Sea, how the Lord had buried them with their chariots and horses with the waves. The superpower of those days was absolutely humiliated. They had none to blame except their hard-heartedness against the Lord. The Lord was merciful to them but they chose to challenge His goodness repeatedly. They never learned the lesson of humility before the Almighty God. Thus they suffered so much. The Lord had become the salvation of His people. He saved them from the oppression of the Egyptians. Humanly speaking, it was impossible but the Lord did it. The surrounding nations were shaken by these mighty acts of God. 
 
The Lord also chastised His rebellious people in the wilderness. The Lord had caused the earth to open her mouth to swallow up the rebels Dathan and  Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all  Israel. The tragic account was recorded in  Numbers chapter 16. Rebellion against the Lord will have serious consequences. The Lord is longsuffering but he will not hesitate to deal with the wickedness of His people. The people of God are warned against such rebellion and learn to obey the commandments of  God. Then they may be strong and go in and possess the Promised Land of the Lord. Not only that, they would also prolong their days in the land. This land is different from the land of Egypt. Why? Because the agricultural work in Egypt depends on irrigation by feet. That is counting on manpower. By contrast, the Promised Land is watered by heaven. God sends the rain directly. God’s people have to depend on God. The way of Egypt does not apply. The people of God have to look up to God. This is new to these people. 
 
If the people obey divine commandments, loving and serving the Lord with all their heart and their soul, then the Lord will give the rain in due season. Then they will have their harvest and be satisfied. The prosperity of their lives depend on their loyalty to the Lord. Should they chose to obey the pagan gods, they will not receive the rain from heaven in due season. The Lord promised to care for the land from the beginning to the end of the year. Since God has promised, He will see to it. He will keep His word. Nothing will change divine promise. God stakes His honour on it. 
 
According to the studies, the Middle East area belongs to the Mediterranean weather. The average rain received in a year is only twenty percent of the total rain received in the southern part of mainland China. The months of April to October is the dry season of the year. For more than half a year, the country of Israel only receive 6 percent of the total rain received annually. It is very hot in July and August but there is no rain. The people can see the cracks on the land in September, but there is not even a drop of rain received. The Lord does not send the rain in October also. It will build up the anxiety of those who live by sight. Will the sheep and oxen die together with human beings? Have the Lord forgotten His promise? 
 
The raining season begins in the month of November of the year. The rain comes heavily and contributes to 12 percent of the total rain received annually. The rain in December comes slowly but steadily and it will soak the surface of the land. The rain in January contribute the most to the total rain received in the year, about 24 percent. Sometimes the snow comes along with the rain and the rainwater will go to the deep into the ground. Both rain and snow in February contribute to 21 percent of the total rain received in the year. This will replenish the water in the wells. The wells in the Promise Land will not run dry in the dry season. What an amazing provision of God. The storm and heavy rain in the month of March contribute to 11 percent of the total rain received in a year. 
 
The people of God cannot decide the amount of rain received in a month. The Lord is the One who decides. This is a reminder to all of us who know the Lord. The Lord is sovereign. He is the Creator and the Sustainer of life. It is wonderful that He promised to care for His people from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. We are under His watchful eyes. He knows the needs of His people. The responsibility of His people is to obey His Word and serve Him faithfully. God has His wonderful way to provide for us. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8). Let us look up to Him only and do not turn to other gods. Amen. 
 
Rev. Lee Kim Shong