Topical Encyclopedia 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, Scripture also presents instances where rain is withheld as a direct consequence of human iniquity, serving as a divine response to sin and a call to repentance.Biblical Instances of Withheld Rain 1. Deuteronomy 11:16-17: The Mosaic Law explicitly warns the Israelites of the consequences of turning away from God. "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 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 judgment upon Israel during the reign of King Ahab, who led the nation into idolatry. "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 displeasure and the tangible impact of national sin. 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 divine judgment. "If I shut the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust 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 pathway to restoration. Theological Implications The withholding of rain as a consequence of iniquity serves several theological purposes within the biblical framework: · Divine Sovereignty: It affirms God's control over nature and His ability to use natural phenomena to achieve His purposes. The cessation of rain is a reminder of humanity's dependence on God's provision. · Moral Accountability: The conditional nature of rain underscores the moral accountability of individuals and nations. It serves as a tangible reminder that sin has consequences, not only spiritually but also materially. · Call to Repentance: The withholding of rain is often accompanied by a call to repentance, inviting individuals and communities to return to God. It is both a judgment and an opportunity for restoration, as seen in the repeated biblical theme of repentance leading to divine mercy. · Covenantal Relationship: The relationship between obedience and blessing, disobedience and curse, is central to the covenantal framework of the Old Testament. Rain, as a blessing, is intricately tied to the covenantal faithfulness of God's people. Prophetic and Eschatological Dimensions The prophetic literature often uses the motif of rain to convey messages of both judgment and hope. In Joel 2:23, the promise of "the early rain for your vindication" is a symbol of restoration following repentance. Similarly, eschatological visions in the prophets anticipate a time when God's people will experience abundant blessings, including rain, as part of the messianic age. In summary, the withholding of rain in response to iniquity is a multifaceted theme in Scripture, reflecting God's justice, mercy, and the call to a righteous life. It serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of spiritual and physical realities in the biblical worldview. Torrey's Topical Textbook Deuteronomy 11:17And 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. Torrey's Topical Textbook Jeremiah 3:3 Jeremiah 5:25 Amos 4:7 Library The Intercession of Christ Spiritual Culture. Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in ... Treatise viii. On Works and Alms. The Doctrine of God Letter cviii. To Eustochium. Sermons on Selected Lessons of the Gospels. Against Jovinianus. St. Gregory the Great. The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus Resources What is the Latter Rain Movement? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that the rain falls on the just and the unjust? | GotQuestions.org What is fervent prayer (James 5:16)? | GotQuestions.org Rain: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Rain of Christ in the Communication of his Graces Rain of the Doctrine of Faithful Ministers 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: 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: Overflowing 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: 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 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 Impeded Travelling in the East Rain: Often Succeeded by Heat and Sunshine Rain: Promised in Due Season to the Obedient Rain: Rainy Season in Palestine is in the Ninth Month, Corresponding to December 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: Withheld for Three Years and Six Months in the Days of Elijah Rain: Withheld, in Answer to Prayer Related Terms Thunder-flames (8 Occurrences) |
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