GOD DOESN’T WASTE WORDS. When he uses an example from nature to remind us of a spiritual truth, it must be worth our while to consider why he used that particular example.

The words in Isaiah 55:10-11 are no exception:

What can we learn about our relationship to God’s word from observing the relationship between the earth and the rain and snow?

THE QUICKENING RAIN

Without rain there can be no growth. A farmer can plow, plant, and fertilize; but if there is no rain, the ground produces nothing. Irrigation is only a temporary solution, for if rain does not fall sooner or later, even the water for irrigation will be gone.

Isaiah draws our attention to the fact that when the rain has watered the earth, things begin to bud and flourish. We often have this kind of experience with the Bible. Upon reading a portion of it, things begin to happen: We see changes that need to be made in our lives, and as we apply the principles of the Bible to these needs, growth results. Our lives begin to spiritually bud and flourish.

THE SLOWER WORKING SNOW

And what about the comparison to snow? In some areas of the world, snow covers the ground for months at a time. It seems so useless lying on the ground, doing nothing for such long periods, with no visible sign of any resulting growth.

But finally, circumstances change. The sun grows hot and melts the snow, which then waters the earth-and again the earth buds and flourishes, bringing forth life.

This too reflects our experience with the word of God in our lives. Many are the times we read or study a passage which seems to have no immediate application. We think about it and mull it over in our minds, but cannot see how it fits any of our needs. At such times we may even be discouraged by the lack of visible growth in our lives.

But then God changes our circumstances, much like he changes the weather so that the sun’s heat causes the snow to melt. Under these new circumstances God’s word takes on new meaning, and we begin to understand those things God had shown us so long before.

How then should we respond to the fact that God’s words may require much time to bear fruit in our lives?

It is essential that we continue to saturate our lives with the Scriptures, always seeking to apply them in the most practical way possible. We should continue to read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Bible with a view to application. But if we find no immediate application we should not despair. The word of God is never ineffectual, but perhaps the need a certain passage addresses is not yet apparent to us.

HEAVEN’S WATER

His word comes sometimes like rain, sometimes like snow-heaven’s water for us, coming sometimes fast and sometimes slow, but always meeting us eventually at our precise point of need. Like the plants from the ground, we live and grow as we drink the water in, abounding in God’s grace.

Praise God that he does not operate mechanically, never varying his way of speaking to us! Let us allow him to send us both rain and snow, neither of which will return without watering our lives and causing them to bud and flourish.

Michael M. Smith is a Navigator communicator in Bonn, Germany.