...Then the Lord will Provide

Do you remember learning about cause and effect in school?  Or maybe you have simply witnessed it in life.  For instance, if I drink my juice (the cause) then my glass will be empty (the effect).  Did you notice the "if" and the "then" there?  (I hope so, I made them bold for a reason. hehe.)  The Bible is FULL of "if...then" clauses.  God is telling us that if we do something then He will do something!  Cause and effect!  

Deuteronomy 11:13-15 - 13 It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, 14 then He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil.  15 He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied."

We have already discussed what it means to love the Lord with all of your heart as well as what it means to serve the Lord with all of your heart (check out those blogs here and here).  But this verse says it clearly: we are to do both.  

So if we do that, if we love the Lord AND serve Him with ALL of our hearts then what?

Then the Lord will provide.

The verse says that He will give rain in its "season" which in the Hebrew is actually defined as "time" (Strong's H6256).  He will send rain in its time.  The verse then goes onto discuss the early rain and the late rain.  While this may seem insignificant this reference was vital to their way of life!  

The early rain fell from late October to early December (Strong's H3138).  November is about the time they would sow their seeds so if there was not an early rain then there would not be vegetation come harvest (Clarke).  

The late rain fell in the months of March and April before harvest time (Strong's H4456).  This rain would grow ripen the crop, rendering them "plump and perfect" so if there was not a late rain then there would be no harvest due to lack of ripening (Clarke, Welsey).

This shows us that "the very rain of heaven falls by particular direction, and the showers are often regulated by an especial providence" (Clarke).   

The thing is, God knows the right season, the right time that we need rain and He knows the right time that we need sun...MUCH better than we do.  We think we know what we need and when we need it and so we become frustrated when we feel like the Lord isn't providing.  But you see - He will!  Every time!  IF we love and serve Him with ALL of our hearts THEN He will provide in HIS time!  

"The favor of God shall put gladness into the heart, more than the increase of corn, and wine, and oil will" ever be able to (Henry).  And He has promised us that favor! 

Rest in His favor today.