Rains

Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.                                                                                                                                                            Joel 2:23

As we prepare to enter another season (in the northern hemisphere), Autumn, I read this passage about Autumn rains and Spring rains. When these passages were written, they were written to an agricultural and herding people. They completely depended on the seasonal weather patterns that would make or break their crops.

Today, we feel that we are somewhat insulated from such dependence because we have a global economy, and we can import grains and fruit from around the world. Of course, we are still dependent upon the weather! Droughts and floods and natural disasters can devastate parts of the world with famine and starvation. We are dependent upon the weather systems that the Creator put into place at the beginning of the universe.

Yes, those patterns have changed, and they will continue to change as part of a dynamic planet. While we have found ways to accommodate, and have even invented ingenious ways to get more food production from an aging planet, we are still quite dependent upon those rains that were discussed in the ancient book of Joel.

So, we rejoice when it rains, reminded that we are still dependent on God’s providential plans.

Prayer: We look to the heavens, and rejoice in your creation, Amen.