Rain: Withheld As Judgment
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In the biblical narrative, rain is often depicted as a blessing from God, essential for the sustenance of life and the fertility of the land. However, the withholding of rain is frequently portrayed as a divine judgment, a consequence of disobedience and sin. This theme is recurrent throughout the Scriptures, serving as a powerful reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people.

Old Testament Instances

1. Deuteronomy 11:16-17: In the Mosaic Law, God warns the Israelites of the consequences of turning away from Him to worship other gods. "Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut the heavens so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no produce, and you will quickly perish from the good land that the LORD is giving you" . This passage underscores the conditional nature of God's blessings, contingent upon Israel's faithfulness.

2. 1 Kings 17:1: The prophet Elijah declares a drought as a direct judgment from God upon the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab. "Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word'" . This event highlights the role of prophets in communicating God's judgment and the power of God over natural elements.

3. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14: In God's response to Solomon's dedication of the temple, He outlines the conditions for divine favor and the remedy for judgment. "If I shut the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land" . This passage emphasizes repentance as the key to restoring God's favor.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently warned of drought as a consequence of Israel's unfaithfulness. In Jeremiah 14:4, the prophet laments the effects of drought: "The ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land; the farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads" . Similarly, in Amos 4:7, God recounts His withholding of rain as a means to prompt Israel's return to Him: "I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another had no rain and dried up" .

Theological Implications

The withholding of rain as judgment serves as a tangible expression of God's sovereignty and justice. It reflects the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where blessings are contingent upon obedience. The recurring theme of drought as divine retribution underscores the seriousness of idolatry and moral decay, calling the people to repentance and renewal of their commitment to God.

New Testament Reflections

While the New Testament does not explicitly mention the withholding of rain as judgment, the theme of divine retribution and the call to repentance remain central. In James 5:17-18, Elijah's prayer for drought and subsequent rain is cited as an example of effective prayer: "Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops" . This reference serves to encourage believers in the power of prayer and the importance of righteousness.

In summary, the withholding of rain in the Bible is a profound symbol of divine judgment, reflecting the consequences of turning away from God. It serves as a call to repentance and a reminder of the blessings that flow from a faithful relationship with the Creator.
Nave's Topical Index
Deuteronomy 11:17
And then the LORD's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest you perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD gives you.
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Deuteronomy 28:24
The LORD shall make the rain of your land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down on you, until you be destroyed.
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1 Kings 8:35
When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against you; if they pray toward this place, and confess your name, and turn from their sin, when you afflict them:
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2 Chronicles 7:13
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;
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Jeremiah 3:3
Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain; and you had a whore's forehead, you refused to be ashamed.
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Amos 4:7
And also I have withheld the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain on one city, and caused it not to rain on another city: one piece was rained on, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
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Zechariah 14:17
And it shall be, that whoever will not come up of all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even on them shall be no rain.
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Library

From Jezreel to Horeb
... heaven had been for three years withheld from the ... sacrifice; his hand had executed
the judgment of God ... the idolatrous prophets; his petition for rain had been ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 12 from jezreel to.htm

On his Father'S Silence, Because of the Plague of Hail.
... and to be manifested hereafter with Him, and they that have done evil, into the
resurrection of judgment, [3103] to ... I withheld from you the rain; one piece ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xvi on his fathers.htm

Solomon's Repentance
... mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my ... that for all these things
God will bring thee into judgment. ... Nor the clouds return after the rain: ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 5 solomons repentance.htm

Providential Guidance
... long "we must all appear before the judgment seat of ... Chinese house may keep off the
rain"if it ... of Scripture"a confession that GOD had withheld some good ...
/.../taylor/a retrospect/chapter xiv providential guidance.htm

The Life Story of Pastor Wang
... had failed the rains were still withheld, and despair ... Emperor Kwang Hsue, the
longed-for rain fell and ... that broken heart still awaits His judgment Who judgeth ...
/.../cable/the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xiii the life story.htm

Revelation of Paul.
... not fruit-bearing, because they have not withheld themselves from ... we heard that there
was a judgment: behold, we ... to God, and He caused that no rain should come ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/revelation of paul/revelation of paul.htm

On the Glory of Martyrdom.
... their own safety, so that in that judgment-day their ... the desire of an everlasting
remembrance has withheld from the ... For the rain-cloud hangs over us in the sky ...
/.../on the glory of martyrdom.htm

Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in ...
... or herb, and to visit with refreshing influences of the rain and sun ... man to this
circumstance, that God in his righteous judgment had withheld or withdrawn ...
/.../practical discourses on regeneration/discourse vii of the necessity.htm

The Prophet Joel.
... of so little value, should have been withheld from the ... do mainly with Judah, upon
which no judgment of real ... and then He poureth down upon you rain, the former ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet joel.htm

Extracts from the Work on Things Created.
... impiety and pleasures, from whom are to be withheld and hidden ... For they say that
the judgment will come on the ... sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the ...
/.../methodius/the writings of methodius fragments/extracts from the work on.htm

Resources
What is Joel's Army? | GotQuestions.org

Had it ever rained before the Flood in Noah's day? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Elijah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Rain: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Rain

Rain of Christ in the Communication of his Graces

Rain of Righteousness

Rain of Spiritual Blessings

Rain of the Doctrine of Faithful Ministers

Rain of the Word of God

Rain: (Destructive) of a Poor Man Oppressing the Poor

Rain: (Destructive) of God's Judgments

Rain: Answer to Prayer For, Promised

Rain: Canaan Abundantly Supplied With

Rain: Contingent Upon Obedience

Rain: David Delivered By

Rain: Designed For: Making Fruitful the Earth

Rain: Designed For: Refreshing the Earth

Rain: Designed For: Replenishing the Springs and Fountains of the Earth

Rain: Divided Into: Great

Rain: Divided Into: Overflowing

Rain: Divided Into: Plentiful

Rain: Divided Into: Small

Rain: Divided Into: Sweeping

Rain: Extraordinary: After Long Drought in Ahab's Reign

Rain: Extraordinary: After the Captivity

Rain: Extraordinary: During Wheat Harvest in the Days of Samuel

Rain: Extraordinary: Plague of, Upon Egypt

Rain: Extraordinary: Time of the Flood

Rain: Figurative

Rain: Forty Days of, at the Time of the Great Flood of Noah

Rain: Frequently Withheld on Account of Iniquity

Rain: God Causes, to Come Down

Rain: God Exhibits Goodness in Giving

Rain: God Exhibits Greatness in Giving

Rain: God Gives

Rain: God Made a Decree For

Rain: God Prepares

Rain: God Sends Upon the Evil and Good

Rain: God should be Feared on Account of

Rain: God should be Praised For

Rain: Impotence of Idols Exhibited in not Being Able to Give

Rain: Miraculously Caused by Elijah

Rain: Miraculously Caused by Samuel

Rain: North Wind Unfavorable To

Rain: Not Sent Upon the Earth Immediately After Creation

Rain: Occasioned by the Condensing of the Clouds

Rain: Often Destroyed Houses

Rain: Often Impeded Travelling in the East

Rain: Often Succeeded by Heat and Sunshine

Rain: Prayer For

Rain: Promised in Due Season to the Obedient

Rain: Rainy Season in Palestine is in the Ninth Month, Corresponding to December

Rain: Rarely Falls in Egypt

Rain: Sent by God

Rain: Storm and Tempest often With

Rain: The Appearance of a Cloud from the West Indicated

Rain: The Earth Will Never Again be Destroyed By

Rain: The Former, After Harvest, to Prepare for Sowing

Rain: The Lack of Causes the Earth to Open

Rain: The Lack of Dries up Springs and Fountains

Rain: The Lack of Occasions Famine

Rain: The Lack of Removed by Prayer

Rain: The Latter, Before Harvest

Rain: The North Wind Drives Away

Rain: The Plague of, Upon Egypt

Rain: The Rainbow often Appears During

Rain: Thunder and Lightning often With

Rain: Unusual in Harvest Time

Rain: Withheld As Judgment

Rain: Withheld for Three Years and Six Months in the Days of Elijah

Rain: Withheld, in Answer to Prayer

Related Terms

Rain-flood (1 Occurrence)

Rain-storm (1 Occurrence)

Rains (16 Occurrences)

Inches (1 Occurrence)

Rainfall

Showers (20 Occurrences)

Autumn (8 Occurrences)

Shower (22 Occurrences)

Tempest (30 Occurrences)

Rained (11 Occurrences)

Lightnings (17 Occurrences)

Thunder-flames (8 Occurrences)

Mist (17 Occurrences)

Grain-cutting (19 Occurrences)

Rainbow (6 Occurrences)

Moderately (1 Occurrence)

Dew (35 Occurrences)

Winter (22 Occurrences)

Vapours (5 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Vindication (14 Occurrences)

Watering (21 Occurrences)

Withholden (12 Occurrences)

Rainy (3 Occurrences)

Distil (5 Occurrences)

Mists (6 Occurrences)

Ice (20 Occurrences)

Withheld (32 Occurrences)

Dropping (33 Occurrences)

Lightning (49 Occurrences)

Late (24 Occurrences)

Thunder (48 Occurrences)

Brimstone (14 Occurrences)

Descend (34 Occurrences)

Sends (94 Occurrences)

Store-houses (32 Occurrences)

Latter (91 Occurrences)

Vapors (4 Occurrences)

Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

Watereth (9 Occurrences)

Withereth (13 Occurrences)

Fountain (57 Occurrences)

Flaming (40 Occurrences)

Torrents (17 Occurrences)

Thunderstorm (6 Occurrences)

Thunders (20 Occurrences)

Raineth (5 Occurrences)

Reservoir (1 Occurrence)

Raining (10 Occurrences)

Distill (3 Occurrences)

Pouring (21 Occurrences)

Pond (2 Occurrences)

Beat (85 Occurrences)

Cultivated (8 Occurrences)

Streams (80 Occurrences)

Restrained (51 Occurrences)

Drops (27 Occurrences)

Winds (35 Occurrences)

Clouds (99 Occurrences)

Eli'jah (93 Occurrences)

Storm (62 Occurrences)

Drop (32 Occurrences)

Voices (76 Occurrences)

Brightness (36 Occurrences)

Whereupon (30 Occurrences)

Plants (70 Occurrences)

Furthermore (41 Occurrences)

Storehouses (23 Occurrences)

Seasons (43 Occurrences)

Hail (42 Occurrences)

Eagerly (36 Occurrences)

Withered (46 Occurrences)

Months (65 Occurrences)

Causes (89 Occurrences)

Falls (79 Occurrences)

Snow (25 Occurrences)

Due (93 Occurrences)

Dried (66 Occurrences)

Rain: Unusual in Harvest Time
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