THERE IS A DROUGHT

Genesis 41:47, “And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.”
v. 53, “And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. V. 54, “And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.”

I can remember very fondly, old Junior Hill, an evangelist, preaching at the SBC Pastor’s conference a number of years ago with the word, ‘An out of season.’ ‘Preach the Word, brethren, in season and out of season. It is definitely an out of season.’ As a young man, that message stuck with me. I needed to remember the difference of in season and out of season. What season was I in? What does an in season look like? What does an out of season look like? Here in these verses we find the answer.

There was a time, not so long ago, in the 1950’s and 1960’s, and the churches were growing by leaps and bounds. It seemed as if almost everyone was raised in the church. It was the few who were out of church and the majority in the church. Almost everyone knew of the saving Gospel; almost everyone heard the Gospel presented to them. Prayer was a way of life for many in the church, and the Word of God was revered and held in promenience. The nation had been victorious in WWII and was atop of the world. It seemed as if everything was good. But then. . .

Then came the 1970’s, and across North America there were fires burning of revival. IN Canada, there was the revival in 1971. Soon to follow in other places in the United States were movements across Asbury College and other schools. These places saw the glimpses of God in power. Services and opportunities lingered on and on. And the Jesus movement began to sweep in the young people, taking them away from their drugs and sexual revolution and turning them to whole heartedly serve Christ. Then something happened. . .

During those same years in the 1970's there was a change across our land. the very existence of God was questioned in schools. Sin abounded through drugs, sex and worldly entertainment. It was taking root in the lives of the next generation even though these movements of God were happening.

From the 1980’s on till present day, there has been little seen or experienced that compares to the 1970’s. and nothing of the 1970’s comes close to the Great Awakenings, Hebrides, or the Welsh Revival. Oh, to see the out flow of God coming down, not in judgment but in mercy to revive His people. These were the moves of God that are compared to verse 47, ‘by the handfuls’. Not just a few here and there were born again, but thousands upward toward millions were swept into the kingdom of God and kept here by His mighty power to save and keep. And nothing compares to the Hebrides revival of 1949 in the isles off of England. Duncan Campbell makes this statement, ‘we know nothing of back sliding.’ Whole villages and hamlets, whole households were born again and captured for His glory.

Before the revival fell in the Hebrides, one deacon made that cry, ‘Did you not say, God, that You would pour water on the dry ground? Is it not a dry ground?’ And when he ushered those words of promise back to God Who gave them, revival fell on the people. And by the handfuls they were brought into the kingdom. But do you see the scenario? ‘Is it not dry?’ There had been days and years of famine, of drought and then came the harvest. Are we not in such a manner as this now? And for all these excerpts that I would love to recant to you about those things of days gone by, what does that change for the souls of the perishing today? Nothing. It is an out of season. WE are in the years of dearth. As much as we can give thanks, that we can rejoice, that we can speak of all His wondrous works, the truth is upon us, they are lost. Even tonight, millions upon billions around this world we lay their heads to go to sleep without a Savior, without hope, without an eternal home in heaven awaiting them.

Say the prayer, ‘Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep; if I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.’ How many have no knowledge that God will take their soul to heaven? How many have no knowledge that if they should die before they wake, they would wake up in heaven? We are in the dearth for such death as is at hand. It is not a question if God can change the drought to plenty; it is not an issue if God can undo the evil of this land; it is only a question of what the Lord’s Sovereign will is. He is the Lord and can do anything He desires or pleases to do for His glory.

Yet, we know that God also allows for us to reap what we sow. How much sin has been sown? How much unbelief? How much evil? I would imagine that other times have been as bad as this society is; I can imagine that the church has been as carnal and powerless; but I don't want too. It is enough to bear the thoughts and faces of so many facing drought even now. So many crying out for the hunger of the bread, and there is none to present it. So many crying out for water, but the Holy Spirit of water has been withheld. It is so dry and far removed from what God desires or ever intended. But it is that which the church has allowed. We are in dearth.

Could you imagine those that are starving to reject bread? or water? They would take anything and everything. Yet, not so today. The bread is made ready, the water is ready to be poured out; yet these that are starving and perishing refuse and reject all that God would gladly give. I can remember a day when people hungered for the Word. I can remember when so many came to be filled and satisifed. Yet, today they could care less if they receive, or come. They can easily miss church services, prayer meetings, Bible readings and never think a second time about it. Their children and grandchildren are going to hell but who cares. Self is the only god they are interested in pleasing. How callous for anyone to know that their loved one is perishing into an eternal flame of hell and punishment; and never cry a tear, never utter a prayer, never make an effort, never try to save them. We are in the dearth.

So we see that our days of the'seven years' of plenty have come and gone. We see that what ever movement God was beginning has ceased to be. He has withdrawn Himself becuase of our sins. We must remember these Scriptural truths when talking about revival; 'The Lord's hand is not shortened, neither is His ear heavy that He cannot hear. But our iniquities have separated us from Him.' It is our sin and allowance for sin today that has driven the power of the Gospel away from us. That which we see today, would never have been allowed or thought of a few years ago. And God is wondering if His people will ever desire to serve Him and know Him again. Is there such a heart in you? Do you desire Him more now than ever? Oh, how we need the Lord to come and give us 7 years of plenty again. The ground is so dry; the harvest is past; the drought has consumed all growth and vegetation. We need the Lord to rain down on us the power of the Holy Spirit.

I believe for many that during the dearth they deny that it is really happening. Their hope for rain tomorrow is always there. But then suddenly week after week as left them without. They know the need for rain, but that does not mean that it is raining. the church knows the need for revival, but that does not mean that revival is happening. ONe week the green grass turns brown. Soon all vegetation is withering away. Then you begin to hear of wells going dry. Now there is an alaram for the very essence of drinking water has been taken. This stage of alarm has come and gone for the church. They have tried to rally repeatedly, but there is no linger presence to stay before the Lord until He breaks forth.

We could take the calendar and set down and count the 7 years. Figure up that it is 84 months. Know how many days and hours and start clicking it off. Joseph worked and labored during those years of plenty to store up. He used the years of dearth to ration out what he had been led by the Lord to preserve. And also during these days, his restoration was given with his family. His brothers came seeking bread. He had been sent there by the Lord to preserve bread for them to bring them through. God had made a promise unto Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all this was a part of it. It might be that our restoration is needed during this time. A soul seeking desire to know if there be anything for deliverance and forgiveness. For soon the dearth will be over and life of 'normalacy' will begin again.
Update: 7/11/11
Updated: 7/10/11
Posted 7/7/11