Randall Grabau Copyright 2012

People from all over the country prayed for rain.  Churches prayed.  Later in the summer, friends told us that they had asked God specifically for rain for our farm.  I did, too.  I petitioned the Lord for rain on our farm, but also for our friends and neighbors who needed it just as much as we did.

The weather forecasters occasionally offered some hope of rain,but as the predicted day approached the chances of rain diminished.  As the day arrived, we were often disappointed.

On July 17, 2012, the forecast included a chance of rain.  But, as the sun set that evening, it looked as though, once again, the rain had gone around us.
We had baled hay that day, so about 9 PM, as the sun approached the horizon, I had just finished milking our cows and all the other evening chores.  I looked to the southeast as I left the barn and saw a towering thundercloud with plenty of lightning flashing in it.  “Somebody is getting some welcome rain,” I thought.

When I looked up directly above us, I saw a small patch of clouds with clear sky to the north and west.  The setting sun brightened the scene.  Just before I entered the house basement door, I heard a little, wimpy rumble of thunder from the cloud above me.  I thought to myself, “Even if that little cloud does produce some rain, it won’t amount to much more than a sprinkle.”

A Bible story in the book of I Kings tells of a similar situation.  After a 3 1/2 year drought, the prophet Elijah is praying for rain.  Elijah sends his servant seven times to check the horizon as he prays.  On the seventh time, the servant returns to Elijah and says, “A little cloud like a man’s hand is rising out of the sea.” (I Kings 18:44)  Verse 45 adds, “In a little while, the heavens grew black with clouds and wind and there was a great rain.”

“That’s nice,” I responded, “but it won’t last long.”

photo credit: Andy Hay via photo pin cc