They do not say in their heart,
Let us now fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain in its season,
Both the autumn rain and the spring rain,
Who keeps for us The appointed weeks of the harvest.
Jeremiah 5:24
Earlier on in the spring, I wrote about this Bible Verse.
There is something comforting in knowing God is sovereign over the rain in the spring and in the autumn and every moment in between.
Even now when we have had so much rain that the farmers are worried their crops are getting mold, even now God controls the rain. Farmers bend the knee more often in prayer than anyone asking God to send rain or hold off with the rains. I know, I am a farmer’s daughter and rain is a very important commodity to the farmer.
By God’s providence the spring and autumn rains fall in seedtime and before harvest time. As we depend upon Him in all seasons, the rain falls at its appointed times. God’s goodness, power, and faithfulness shine brightly as the rains falls in due season and the farmer garners the harvest at its appointed time.
As God brings the seasons, and provides the timely rains, the wheat, beans, corn, grapes, and fruit is ready for harvest and put away for the winter. Man depends upon God for the rain to be sent, and the rain to stop. He depends upon God for the sunshine and dry weather for harvesting. Not one is so dependant upon God for the weather as the farmer.
As thanksgiving day approaches, it reminds us to be thankful along with the farmer as they gather the crops. Many see God’s providence and it moves them to overflowing gratitude, for God’s mercies in allowing the harvest to proceed year in and year out.
This year we all need to join the farmer in praying for the crops which have seen an abundance of rain, perhaps causing mildew and root rot. As we depend upon the God of all things to bring the harvest in one more year here in Canada.
For only a few weeks each year the crops get harvested and provide food for the rest of the year.
In Jeremiah 5, God informs Judah that her sins have withheld the blessings of rain and a good harvest. Those blessings held back because they broke their covenant with their God and wandered from His ways. It was the people who were to blame, not God.
If only we would all acknowledge the sovereignty of God. As Acts 14 verse 17 teaches us; “Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”
There you have it. God’s common grace to all men.
Do you see harvesttime as an obvious demonstration of God’s goodness, love and power to all?
As you drive along the countryside, why not thank God, along with me when you see the combines bringing in this year’s crop of beans and corn? Or, as you see, the mechanical harvesters straddle grapevine trellises to remove the clusters of ripe goodness from the heavily laden vines? Perhaps you will serve as a witness to the plum trees being plucked as its purple fruit gets tossed into six quart baskets made of paper and wood. And that is just the harvest here in Ontario, Canada.
I would one day love to see the olive trees harvested on the Mediterranean coastal plain. And since I have a French heritage (yes, it goes a few generations back to the Huguenots…) it would be fascinating to see the grape harvest in France. But if I never get the chance to travel there, I will enjoy what I have in front of my eyes and that is and always will be…
God’s goodness and majesty at harvesttime!
For those who have eyes to see… let us thank God today for His goodness to us in the spring rains and in the harvest rains, and for the harvest. His harvest.