Providence: “It is Raining” versus “God sends Rain”

A few days ago I was caught off guard with a sudden and unexpected rain. I was outside my home and my three year old verbally made the observation that it was raining. I responded by saying, “Jesus is making it rain.” I immediately chuckled when without any hesitation she responded, “He’s making it rain really hard.” I thought it amazing that she didn’t question my claim when I directly ascribed the activity of rain to the Lord. When it finally stopped raining my son and I went to the backyard to play catch despite the mud. Moments later my three year-old emerged through the backdoor, looked around with astonishment and exclaimed, “Jesus made it a mess!” D.A. Carson makes the observation that, “The writer of Ecclesiastes knows of the water cycle, but Biblical authors prefer to speak of God sending the rain than to say, ‘It is raining.’”1 This is an observation we shouldn’t miss for it speaks of the sovereignty and providence of God. Jesus too said, “For [God]…sends rain…” (Matt. 5:45, cf Acts 14:17).

1. Carson, D. A. "The Mystery of Providence." How Long, O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2006. 180. Print.