The Former and Latter Rain

UV 1217/10,000 The Former and Latter Rain

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.


Joel 2 v 23

Both a flood and famine can turn into a curse. A famine happens when expected rain in due time does not fall. A flood when unexpected quantity of rain falls in a short period of time. The Lord will rain down His blessings in due season. He will send down His doctrine or teaching like a rain and His blessing as a shower. He not only sends the rain of guidance and blessing at the precise timing of our need but in terms of quantity too. He sends the dew on the grass, the light rain on the tender herb, the moderate shower on the maturing plant and the heavy torrent on the oak trees and the large trees of the forest. The children of Zion or the children of God by faith are not compared with earthen vessels to collect the precious rain but the Word says that we are vessels of finest gold in the eyes of the Lord.

Instead of taking shelter under an umbrella, we should seek to soak in His great blessings. We should rejoice as children dance in the first rain after a hot summer. We should rejoice as people would who derive pleasure from wine. Just as we cannot count the raindrops, we cannot count the innumerable blessings the Lord has given us this far. Just as we cannot gather the rain in our cupped palms, we cannot comprehend or remember the full extent of His leading, His anointing, His blessings with the finite brains or intellect that we have. The great and wonderful things He has done in our lives and is doing is the former rain. The even greater and even more wonderful things He is going to do in our lives is the latter rain. When we recount or remember the deeds of the Lord and His wonderful plan of salvation He has prepared for mankind, we will be filled with gladness and exceeding joy. We will have strength for the day and hope for the morrow.


Everything that has happened so far in our lives is not an accident but caused by the Lord. What might look or seem natural like the rain is supernaturally caused by the grace of God. Another interpretation of the former and latter rain is that the promises and precepts of the Old Testament constitute the former rain while the promises and teachings of the New Testament constitute the latter rain. The latter rain is the rain that comes just before harvest. It helps to moisten, soften and ripen the fruit or crop for harvest. It is the blessings, teachings and happenings that happen in the days of our spiritual maturity. As the rain falls downward on our heads, we need to send upward a constant stream of our praise, worship and thanksgiving shooting up to the throne room of God from a heart of gladness and joy.

Prateep V Philip