Today is a rainy day and it reminded me that rain is mentioned often in the Bible.
• The Garden of Eden was watered by a mist not rain (Gen. 2:5).
• The rain fell and covered the earth during the Great Flood (Gen. 7).
• God promised seasonal rain to the Israelites (Lev. 26:4).
• Samuel prayed and God sent thunder and rain (1 Sam. 12:18).
• Elijah announced that there would be no rain for three years (1 Kings 17:1).
• Elijah pronounced that the rain would return (1 Kings 18:44-46).
• God held back the rain when they disobeyed (2 Chron. 6:26).
• A contentious woman is like the drip from a heavy rain (Prov. 27:15).
However, there is another time rain was mentioned in the Old Testament. God mentioned it in Isaiah 55:10-11 to illustrate what happens when He says something.
- What does it say? (Isaiah 55:10-11)
The rain and snow come down from the sky but do not return. They water the earth, cause plants to grow, and provide seed for the farmer and bread for the eater. In a similar way what God speaks will go out of His mouth and not return without accomplishing something. What He says will accomplish what He desires and will prosper whatever He intended. - What does it mean?
Rain accomplishes what God intended (Isa. 55:10).
Sometimes we don’t like the rain. While living in Painesville, we had rain water pour past a basement window into the footer drain. One of my coworkers got his vehicle stuck in the deep water of an underpass. And this morning, we noticed that the water had flooded the gravel road next to the church parking lot. But for the most part, we understand and appreciate the rain. God has designed it to accomplish what He intended.
So, how does the rain work. As God says here, the rain or snow comes down from heaven and doesn’t return. You might be thinking that this is a conflict with what actually happens in nature. The rain comes down and eventually returns to the sky by the process of evaporation. While that is true and God designed it to work that way, He was making a point. The rain comes down and doesn’t immediately bounce back into the sky. When it comes down to the earth, it is designed to stay there and accomplish something.
What does the rain accomplish on the earth? Along with other purposes, the rain waters the earth so that plants can grow. Rain enables the plants to produce seeds for the farmer and bread for people to eat. God has designed it to work that way. Without water, there would be no plants, seeds, or food.
God’s word accomplishes what He intended (Isa. 55:11).
With that illustration in mind, God now compares His sayings to the rain. The rain comes down and doesn’t return without accomplishing what He intended. In the same way, what God speaks proceeds from His mouth and does not return void, empty, or fruitless. It will always accomplish what God intended.
First, it accomplishes what He pleases. The Hebrew word here means delight.1 God has something that He delights in doing. And when He speaks, that delight will always be accomplished.
Second, it prospers in what He intends to accomplish. Just as rain causes the plants to grow, so what God says will have results. It will successfully accomplish whatever God intended. Think of what Jesus said about the grain dying in the ground but becoming fruitful (John 12:24).
When God speaks, what He says accomplishes what He delights in and successfully accomplishes what He intended to take place. - How does it apply?
See the faithfulness of God in creation.
One of the first things taught in Scripture is that God is the Creator of everything. Over a period of six days, God spoke everything into existence and caused it to work properly. The sun, earth, and moon remain in the exact place that God intended so that life can continue as He designed it to. The rain, snow, wind, and clouds all work together to accomplish what God intended. Together they keep water in the right proportions so that we can have what we need. This ecosystem continues for two reasons. First, God promised that the seasons would continue (Gen. 8:22). That promise gives us hope that things will continue the way that God designed them to for our good. Second, Jesus is the One who keeps things working as they should (Col. 1:17). He is both Creator and Sustainer. For these reasons, we should daily be in awe of the God who both designed and continues the processes He created from the beginning.
See the faithfulness of God when reading your Bible.
In the New Testament, Christians are told to study the Bible to be approved by God, unashamed, and capable interpreters of what He has said (2 Tim. 2:15). But why should we do that? We should want to read the Bible because it is inspired by God and profitable to equip us for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Does that remind you of what God said in Isaiah 55:11? It should because what God has said is designed to accomplish something in our lives when we read it. The Bible is not just a book. It is a book that is designed to guide, correct, strengthen, encourage, and motivate us. And when you take the time to read the Bible each day, it will accomplish something in your life. Will you let it? Will you read it?
See the faithfulness of God when sharing the Bible with others.
We have learned that God’s word (the Bible) is designed to accomplish what God delights in and what He intends to accomplish by it. This is not the same thing as always producing a positive result. God desires that people turn from their sin and believe in Him. When the Bible is quoted it will inform them of what God desires but it will not always cause people to believe as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:15-17. To those who believe it, the Bible will seem like a life saver. To those who reject it, it will be viewed as something describing their coming death.
However, we have every reason to believe that quoting God’s word to people will accomplish something. In Romans 10:17, we learn that faith comes from hearing the word of God. So, we must be careful to know what God says and share it with people. I have noticed lately that I have had to quote Bible verses to people who were misunderstanding what God wanted. I didn’t use arguments to convince them—only Scripture with proper interpretation. This is what God has called us to do because He has designed the Bible (God’s word) to accomplish something in everyone who hears it.
Conclusion
While we may not have enjoyed walking in a wet parking lot today, it has been a good reminder that God sent the rain to accomplish His purposes. And one of those purposes was to remind us that God’s word will faithfully work in the hearts of people. Hearing God’s word is an important part of every Christian’s life and it should also be an important part of our conversations with others. This week will be a test of what we have learned today. Will you allow God’s word to do its work in your life and conversations with others?
Bibliography
Barnes, Albert, Barnes’ Notes on the Bible as viewed in Pocket Bible for Android.
Leupold, H. C., Exposition of Isaiah, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1977, orig. 1968.
Martin, John A., “Isaiah” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament, USDA: SP Publications, 1989.
Footnotes