Topical Bible: The Harvest: Failure of Occasioned by Drought

◄ The Harvest: Failure of Occasioned by Drought ►

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical context, the harvest is a significant event, symbolizing not only the provision of sustenance but also spiritual truths. The failure of the harvest due to drought is a recurring theme in Scripture, often serving as a divine instrument of judgment or a call to repentance.

Biblical Instances and Symbolism

Drought, as a cause of harvest failure, is frequently depicted in the Bible as a consequence of the people's disobedience to God. In Deuteronomy 28:23-24 , the Lord warns Israel of the repercussions of turning away from His commandments: "The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron. The LORD will turn the rain of your land into dust and powder; it will descend on you from the sky until you are destroyed." This passage underscores the direct correlation between spiritual infidelity and physical calamity.

The prophet Jeremiah also speaks to this theme. In Jeremiah 14:1-4 , the drought is described as a national disaster, affecting both the land and its inhabitants: "The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: Judah mourns, and her gates languish; her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. The ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land; the farmers are dismayed and cover their heads."

Theological Implications

The failure of the harvest due to drought is not merely a natural disaster but is often portrayed as a divine response to the covenantal unfaithfulness of God's people. It serves as a tangible reminder of the dependence of humanity on God's provision and the futility of relying on one's own strength apart from Him. The droughts and subsequent harvest failures are calls to repentance, urging the people to return to the Lord with contrite hearts.

In 1 Kings 17, the prophet Elijah declares a drought upon the land as a direct challenge to the worship of Baal, a Canaanite deity associated with rain and fertility. This narrative highlights the sovereignty of the God of Israel over the natural world and the impotence of false gods. The drought ends only when the people acknowledge the Lord's supremacy, as seen in the dramatic confrontation on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18).

Practical and Spiritual Lessons

The failure of the harvest due to drought serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual barrenness. Just as the land suffers without rain, so too does the soul without the life-giving presence of God. This theme is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus speaks of Himself as the "living water" (John 4:10), offering spiritual sustenance that quenches the deepest thirst.

Moreover, the biblical response to drought and harvest failure is often one of prayer and repentance. In 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 , God promises restoration if His people humble themselves and seek His face: "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."

In summary, the failure of the harvest occasioned by drought in the Bible is a multifaceted theme that underscores the relationship between divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and the call to spiritual renewal. It serves as a reminder of the need for faithfulness to God and the blessings that follow obedience.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

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.
Torrey's Topical Textbook