In the Right Season

Yael Eckstein  |  August 10, 2023

I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit. — Leviticus 26:4

Prayer in Judaism is defined as “the work of the heart,” which profoundly changes the nature of prayer from one of entreating God to an act that transforms who we are—not what God does. These devotions focus on different facets of prayer and what lessons we can learn about the power of our prayers.

No matter how hard we try to establish healthy eating habits, one of the constant struggles of parenthood is treats. One of my friends handled this demand for treats in the following way. Instead of saying “no” all day long, she allowed her children to eat as much sugar as they wanted. Ice cream for breakfast, chocolate sandwiches for lunch, and pancakes with sprinkles for dinner, with some other candy scattered throughout the day.

Needless to say, by evening, her kids were having meltdowns, not to mention upset tummies. The next day, no one asked for any treats.

While this lesson was surprising to her children, adults understand that all good things come in moderation—at the right time and in the right amount. What may be slightly less obvious to us, however, is that the same thing is true for the blessings we pray for from our own Father.

In the Right Season

In Leviticus, we read a list of blessings that will be bestowed upon Israel, including: “I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.” The Jewish sages teach that there is not one extra word in the Bible. So, why does Scripture specify “rain in its season”? Why not simply say, “I will give you rain, and the ground will yield its crops?”

In order for plants to flourish, they need the right amount of rain in the right season. Just like too little rain can damage crops, so can too much rain or rain in the wrong season. It works the same way with our blessings.

We need the right amount of God’s blessings at the right time in order to thrive. You might be going through a dry season right now, but perhaps that is exactly what you need to yield your maximum benefits. The rains will come.

Your Turn:

Pray not only for abundance, but also for blessing to come in the right way and in the right season.