The Weatherman

Then I will provide rain on your land in its season   Deuteronomy 11:14

Rain – “What’s the weather going to be today?”  If you’re like most of us, the weather report is one of the first things on your list in the morning.  The weatherman is probably the only person in the world who doesn’t get fired for being wrong half the time.  Why do we joke about this?  Because we all know that the weather is fickle.  Anything can, and sometimes does, happen.  Who knows what the weather will really be?

The Bible actually answers that question.  God knows.  It’s easy to forget that God is completely sovereign.  He is in full and total control of the weather.  He employs the weather to accomplish His purposes.  Weather is not accidental, random or chaotic.  Neither, by the way, is anything else.  It’s good to be reminded of this fact because it brings into focus the true relationship between our human efforts and God’s divine provision.  Moses was no weatherman, but he knew this:  weather is spiritually determined.  God would deliver rain (matar) – and it’s subsequent provision for life – on the basis of Israel’s obedience.  Weather was not contingent on ice flows, the jet stream, fluctuations in ocean temperatures or global warming.  Weather was contingent on faithfulness to God!  God sends it according to our faithfulness.

Let that sink in a bit.  If the weather (certainly one of the least controllable experiences in this world) depends on our collective spiritual faithfulness, how many other facets of life are also contingent on obedience?  How much of what we assume we control is really far beyond us?  How arrogant are we to imagine that we can be disobedient to the Creator of weather and still expect every day to be perfect?  Sin affects the weather!  Sin not only disrupts my inner peace, it disturbs the tranquility of the entire world.  Our collective sinfulness plays havoc with the environment.  It is all spiritually connected.

In this world, nothing is more important than the daily reminder that I am not in charge, but I am responsible!  God is in charge (fortunately).  But that does not remove my responsibility.  Because the universe is a spiritual-physical interlaced matrix, actions in one sphere always affect actions in the other.  It is far more than the “Butterfly Effect.”  The truth is that there is a constant handshake between the spiritual and the physical.  No wonder the Bible warns us that the battle concerns powers in high places.

Today, take a close look at the weather.  Remember Who sends the rain.  Then remember why God sends the rain in its season.   Obedience is a meteorological term.