Gordon Wenham: The Right Season

Gordon Wenham: The Right Season

I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit. Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land. Leviticus 26:4-5

“For maximum effect the rains must come at the right season. Verse 4 promises this, and the consequence is described in verse 5; the farmers will have to work non-stop to gather in all the crops. The grain was usually gathered in early summer, then there was a gap of two months until the grapes and olives were ready to pick. Once the rains began in late fall or early winter, sowing would commence. The magnificent harvests will mean that there will be no worry about food supplies. Jesus also promised that those who put God’s kingdom first need not worry about food and clothing (Matthew 6:25-33).”

Gordon Wenham in The Book of Leviticus (NICOT; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1979) 329.

God promises His people in the Old Testament that He would provide what they needed in the right season. Likewise Jesus makes a similar promise to those who seek Him first.

The journey of generosity has times of hard work, times of rain, times of harvesting, and it always requires faith. This faith is rooted in God who promises to do His part in the right season.

As we start another week, let us pause to give thanks that we serve a dependable and generous God.  We who trust in Him need not worry. As He blesses us with provision, we get to bless others.

To share where I am at, I have been praying for rain for GTP, for God to supply through the gifts of His people. In precipitation terms, clouds are forming and it’s started to sprinkle. Would you pray with me?

Just as outlined in Leviticus, there are seasons for work, seasons for waiting for rain, and then comes the harvest. I’m in that praying for rain part and watching it start before the harvest.

If you are a ministry worker, board member, or fellow servant who can likely relate, reply with your story. I will pray with you. Together our faith will grow as God brings rain in the right season.