Rain

Can we talk about? We’d better, for that appears to be the only time we’re going to hear the word. Oh, for the sound of a shower against the window. To smell the swift breath of ozone before a thunderstorm. To see the splash of huge droplets sink into the tilled fields. What a blessing a shower would really be!

Instead, I hear the whipping rush of another dry wind. I see the burn ban signs down each road. I watch in dread for clouds of smoke as before. Empty skies hold no promise of moisture. Not even the falseness of virga – the unfulfilled promise of raindrops, evaporating before saturating our dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (Psalms 63:1b)

We seek Ezekiel’s written promise: and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. (Ezekiel 34:26b)

For a great deal of our United States has become a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (Psalms 63:1b)

Drought stretches through California into Texas across to Georgia and up the Carolinas. The map shows ranges from yellow D0 – Abnormally Dry, to the severe red at level D4 – Exceptional. And that’s not good. That affects our groceries.

The predictions don’t look any better – check this map. Careful, they change the colors. Be certain to check the legends.

In the Old Testament drought often spoke of God’s displeasure with His people. For Elijah the rain would come only at his spoken word:

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. (1 Kings 17:1)

After three years he stood before Ahab and told him why:

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. (1 Kings 18:18)

Perhaps we’ll do as Zechariah suggested: Ask ye of the LORD rain (Zechariah 10:1a)

For we need not only spring showers but the fruit the blossoms promise.