The Bible records the reason why drought comes on a nation, and it also records God's instruction for dealing with the situation.  "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. " (2 Chronicles 7:13-14 New International Version)

According to the Bible, drought (or other catastrophes) comes on a land whose people have turned their backs on God.  There are many historical precedents for this, the most remarkable is perhaps that of the country of Ethiopia.  Whilst this country is now drought and famine ravaged it was many centuries ago a prosperous, bountiful, economic Christian country.  When they forgot God, then over a period of time the blessings stopped flowing.  Certainly the average Australian no longer has any room for God.

An even more remarkable illustration is to take a list of the worlds nations who are majority Christian, or who have had a Christian heritage and compare it to the productivity and prosperity of those nations. Nations like Australia, England, New Zealand and the USA have always been blessed because they have given God a place in their lives and values. Nations however that have ignored God, or worship idols or animals........like Asian, AFrican or South American nations are the nations that suffer with poverty, famine, pestilence and disease.....and droughts. I don't say this because Australia is any better than these nations.....because in fact we are now also forgetting our God, and the blessings that come with it are beginning to cease. Hence, we are in the worst drought ever.

So doesn't that make God sound a bit cruel? I guess in some ways it might........but if the truth were known, it is actually the kindness of God that he gives us signs and warnings such as these, so that we can turn back to Him. A loving parent will always tell his or her child what is right and wrong, but in the end it is the childs decision whether to listen or not. God has provided many such warnings in the Bible........sadly we have not been paying any attention and now we are beginning to reap the consequences of our decisions.

An illustration of the above is a bit like a young man who lives at home with Mum and Dad receiving 3 square meals a day and a roof over his head.  While ever he remains at home, this will continue, but when he leaves home it will stop.  A young man who leaves home prematurely may realise that it was an unwise decision and that he was better off at home, and that's how it is with God.  He longs to provide and care and nourish, but we have chosen to leave that place of provision.  Also, unlike the young man, we are not independent of God, we require His help constantly. 

In short.....it is our waywardness and sins that have brought and end to God's blessings. This being so, God has allowed the drought to come to perhaps shake us out of our complacency. Now, we must put God back in our lives and give him the time He deserves, and the blessings will once again begin.

Continued...Page Two