Topical Bible: Rain: Divided Into: Great

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In the biblical context, rain is often seen as a direct blessing from God, a sign of His provision and care for His creation. However, the Bible also speaks of "great rain," which can signify both abundant blessing and divine judgment, depending on the context.

Great Rain as Blessing:

1. Provision and Abundance: In the Scriptures, great rain is frequently associated with God's provision and the resulting abundance of the land. For instance, in the agricultural society of ancient Israel, rain was essential for crops and livestock. The promise of rain was a promise of prosperity and sustenance. In Deuteronomy 11:14 , God promises, "I will provide rain for your land in season, the autumn and spring rains, that you may gather your grain, new wine, and oil."

2. Answer to Prayer: Great rain can also be seen as an answer to prayer, demonstrating God's responsiveness to His people's needs. In 1 Kings 18:41-45, after a prolonged drought, Elijah prays for rain, and God responds with a great rain, ending the drought and restoring fertility to the land.

Great Rain as Judgment:

1. The Flood: One of the most significant instances of great rain as divine judgment is the account of the Flood in Genesis. In Genesis 7:11-12 , it is recorded, "On that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And the rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights." This great rain was a manifestation of God's judgment on a sinful world, leading to the destruction of all life except for Noah, his family, and the animals aboard the ark.

2. Warnings and Consequences: The prophets often warned of great rain as a consequence of disobedience. In Ezekiel 13:11-13 , God speaks against false prophets, saying, "I will unleash a torrent of rain in My fury, and hailstones will fall with destructive wrath." Here, great rain symbolizes the overwhelming nature of God's judgment against falsehood and rebellion.

Symbolism and Theological Implications:

Great rain in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of God's sovereignty over nature and His ability to bless or judge according to His will. It underscores the dependence of humanity on divine favor for sustenance and the serious consequences of turning away from God's commands. The dual nature of great rain—as both a blessing and a judgment—reflects the broader biblical theme of God's justice and mercy, calling His people to faithfulness and trust in His provision.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezra 10:9
Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together to Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

'Clear Shining after Rain'
... flood began, the ark grounded, and the two sources, the rain from above ... That time
was divided into stages ... and opens or seals the fountains of the great deep as ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/clear shining after rain.htm

How Bishop Wilfrid Converted the Province of the South Saxons to ...
... there fell a soft but plentiful rain; the earth ... gathered eel-nets everywhere, cast
them into the sea ... fishes of divers sorts, which being divided into three parts ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xiii how bishop wilfrid.htm

How the Sea was Divided Asunder for the Hebrews, when they were ...
... How The Sea Was Divided Asunder For The Hebrews, When They ... Egyptians were not aware
that they went into a road ... Showers of rain also came down from the sky, and ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 16 how the sea.htm

The Description of Jerusalem.
... upper rooms, and cisterns to receive rain-water ... solid building, which was composed
of great stones united ... was twenty-five cubits, and divided into several parts ...
/.../chapter 4 the description of.htm

Elijah the Great Heart of Israel.
... black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. ... of Israel, he went a day's
journey into the wilderness ... struck the waters and they were divided, so that ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxvii elijah the great.htm

Appendix iv. An Abstract of Jewish History from the Reign of ...
... recall of the Pharisees marks a great internal change ... till the Almighty had granted
rain, and that ... Temple, and the Jewish territory, divided into five districts ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix iv an abstract of.htm

Upon the Gathering Together of the Waters.
... in opposition ponds and accumulations of rain water, and ... fire, in spite of its being
divided into minute particles ... The first contain a great quantity of water ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily iv upon the gathering.htm

On the Great Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria.
... and Gomorrah, [3280] whose destruction by the rain of fire ... simple task; but found
it a great one to ... rest who sympathised with us were divided into three parties ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxi on the great.htm

Past Knowledge.
... and on the good, and sendeth rain on the ... the society, small enough already, is divided
into certain classes ... on ourselves and others as one great family, joined ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon li past knowledge.htm

Prayer and the Word of God
... Prayer is the great theme and content of its message to ... By Scriptural warrant, prayer
may be divided into the petition of ... to Ahab, and I will send rain on the ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/xii prayer and the word.htm