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Just before the turn of the century, John Piper wrote an thought provoking devotional at Desiring God called, The Great Work of God: Rain. It is an inspiring explanation regarding the naturalistic ‘miracle’ of what is commonly referred to as ‘rain’. Each and every day throughout the world, massive volumes of water is transported, purified and re-distributed. It’s a scientific marvel which we readily take for granted. As Job proclaims in chapter 5:8-10.

But as for me, I would seek God,

And I would place my cause before God;

Who does great and unsearchable things,

Wonders without number.

He gives rain on the earth,

And sends water on the fields.

Job 5:8-10

I heard Simon Manchester read the content of that article at a ministry conference at the Presbyterian Theological College in Victoria recently, and it left me somewhat spellbound. Because when you consider all of the specific details which need to happen for rain to occur, it leaves one well and truly in awe at the wisdom and power of God. How incredible are the works of the LORD! As David writes in Psalm 19:1-2,

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

Night after night they display knowledge.

Psalm 19:1-2

But during one of the conference breaks, one of the college students—who happened to be a former farmer—expressed his personal reservation and disquiet at Piper’s explanation. As someone who had spent a large proportion of his life working the land enduring the heartbreak of both drought and flood, but especially as a student of the Word, something just didn’t ring true. For he correctly discerned that Job’s words relayed an even deeper and more profound truth than that which Piper was expressing.

The Context of Job

As everyone knows, Job went through more than his fair share of suffering. In the space of a single day, Job suffered the loss of almost all that he had: five hundred of his oxen and five hundred donkeys were stolen by the Sabeans; his flock of seven thousand sheep were burned to a crisp; his three thousand camels were stolen by the Chaldeans; and, worst of all, his seven sons and three daughters were killed by a ‘satanic storm’ which caused the house they were in to collapse. Rarely, if ever, has anyone experienced the personal devastation which Job endured that day.

And yet, despite all of this, we’re told that in response Job worshipped God, saying, “Naked I come from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21). This was not just a display of great faith—in direct contrast to what Satan said Job would do—but also goes a long way to explaining what Job means later on about the role of rain in chapter 5.

Blessing God’s Name in Good and Evil

Understood in context, Job recognises that rain is not just a blessing from God, but sometimes also a means of judgment (see Genesis 6-9). Too little rain leads to a drought, whereas too much results in a flood. Yet both are directed by the sovereign hand of God.

What’s more, depending on the time of the year and season, even moderate rain can be either a blessing or a curse, depending on whether it’s time to sow or harvest. People who make their living from the land are especially cognizant of this.

My first pastorate was in a cotton farming district in outback NSW. I still marvel at the faith of those men and women. Nearly all of them continued to observe the Lord’s Day regardless of what time of the year it was. During harvest, this meant that tens of thousands of dollars could be lost by their coming to church and resting from their labours. The church itself had thick glass walls, and there were occasional nervous looks at the skies above to see any threat of an approaching storm.

But those who were there would testify to God’s faithfulness as they continued to worship Him. And not just in success, but also in failure, because it’s not like they held to some kind of prosperity gospel. As one elder quoted to me from the book of Habakkuk one day, with tears welling up in his eyes:

Though the fig tree does not bud

And there are no grapes on the vines,

Though the olive crop fails

And the fields produce no food,

Though there are no sheep in the pen

And no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Rain: The Great or Terrifying Work of God

All of which is to say, rain is both ‘great’ or ‘terrifying’ depending on your circumstances. Yes, it is incredible how the LORD can move such massive bodies of waters regularly across the skies. But what is even more remarkable and marvellous is the faith which can continue to praise Him in the good times, as well as the bad. As the former famer, now a Bible College student, told me:

‘When Job looked out across the horizon he saw both possibilities. A sovereign God who generously gives, but also a loving heavenly Father who sometimes wisely takes away.’

This was something which Job himself had lived through and was something which none of his three friends understood. Indeed, in chapter 4, Eliphaz had both callously—and erroneously—relayed to Job his dreamt-up opinion (4:12-16) that those who belong to the LORD will only ever experience His blessing. However, this is not only untrue, but also a misunderstanding so egregious that God later tells Job to make prayerful intercession for him (Job 42:8-9).

The point of Job’s observation regarding rain then is ultimately this: Whatever we receive from the Lord’s hand, whether it be good or ill, flood or drought, we ought to continue to worship God, and to respond to the blessing or hardship which rain brings with both thankfulness and even joy (Rom. 5:3-4; Jam. 1:2-3).

Why? Because we know we have a loving heavenly Father who is ordering all things together for our good, even when we’re never informed as to why He acts as He does. As the apostle Paul writes:

“And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

Postscript: There is one other aspect which this article has not addressed but really should be mentioned. And that is, in Matthew 5:45 Jesus says, “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” This truth is something which is also worth reflecting upon. God is so gracious and good that He consistently showers (!) His blessings on those who reject His loving and righteous rule.

– Mark Powell