Morning
April 4

Deuteronomy 11:13-14 13So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today–to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul– 14then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil.


Many of the promises of God are conditional. There is an "if you..." and a "then I will..." In this passage God tells the Children of Israel that their economy is dependent on their obedience. God did give them certain laws that would make their agrarian lifestyle more productive. He also brought them to a land that was dependent on seasonal rains. Farmers throughout the ages have had to depend on the Weather Maker. It was an incentive to obey God. When in times of drought Israel turned from the true God to Baal and his promise to bring rain.

As I write this, the place I am living is experiencing extreme drought. The government of the area recently repealed what they called 'antiquated laws', laws that had to do with sexual morality. "Those came from the Bible and we don't all believe in the Bible anymore," they said. But that is not true. All western law is Biblically based. Society has just chosen to pick and choose the laws they will enforce. That does not change the promises of God.

In this drought with devastating forest fires, I have not heard one person say there is a need for us to repent. I hear, "Pray for rain." That is general enough and offends no one. We have forgotten that God is the Weather Maker, and that many of His promises are conditional.

Consider: Difficulty can be an expression of grace to turn us back to God.