“Then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.”
Deuteronomy 11:14
There are times in our walk with God when we see His hand working so clearly. Prayers are answered, doors open, and we feel encouraged by what He is doing. But there are also quieter seasons, when life returns to its normal routine and we find ourselves waiting, praying, and wondering what God is doing behind the scenes.
The Bible reminds us that these quieter seasons are not without purpose. God does not stop working simply because we cannot see the results.
This is something we can learn from a very special time in Israel’s biblical calendar.
The people of Israel have just celebrated the Fall Feasts, including Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. These are meaningful days filled with prayer, worship, remembrance, and celebration. But once the feasts are over, life returns to its ordinary rhythm.
The Hebrew month that follows is called Cheshvan, known in the Bible by its ancient name, Bul. It is the eighth month of the biblical religious calendar, and it comes at a time when the land of Israel begins looking toward the rainy season.
After months of dry summer weather, the first rains are especially welcome. They soften the ground, prepare the soil, and make it possible for farmers to begin planting again.
For the people of ancient Israel, these rains were a reminder of their dependence upon God. Without rain, there would be no harvest. And without a harvest, families would struggle to provide for themselves.
In Deuteronomy 11:14, God spoke to Israel about sending rain upon the land in its proper season. The Hebrew Scriptures distinguish between two important rains. The early rain, called yoreh, prepares the soil for planting, while the latter rain, malkosh, helps the crops mature before the harvest.
Both are necessary, but they do not come at the same time.
And there is something here that speaks to our lives as believers today.
We all have things we are trusting God for. Perhaps it is a family member who has been on our heart for years, a difficult situation at home, a financial need, or simply a desire to grow closer to the Lord. We pray, we believe, and sometimes we wait much longer than we expected.
Waiting is not always easy, especially when we cannot see any progress. But the example of Israel’s seasonal rains reminds us that growth takes time. The ground must first be prepared before anything can be planted, and even after planting, there is a season of growth before the harvest comes.
We cannot always understand God’s timing, but we can trust His character.
He knows what we need, He hears our prayers, and He remains faithful even when life feels uncertain.
There is another beautiful connection between this Hebrew month and the Scriptures.
In 1 Kings 6:37–38, we read that Solomon completed the construction of the Temple in Jerusalem during the month of Bul. After seven years of work, the building was finally finished.
Imagine how much preparation, patience, and labor went into those seven years. Stone by stone, the Temple took shape until everything was completed according to God’s plan.
Later, when Solomon dedicated the Temple, the glory of the Lord filled it. God’s presence among His people was at the very heart of what made the Temple so significant.
But through Jesus, we are reminded of an even greater blessing.
The apostle Paul writes:
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
1 Corinthians 3:16
What an encouraging truth! God’s presence is not limited to a building or a particular place. Through Jesus, we have been brought into a relationship with our Heavenly Father, and His Spirit dwells among His people.
This means that even in the most ordinary moments of our lives, God is near.
We do not have to wait for a special celebration, a powerful worship service, or an extraordinary experience to draw close to Him. We can seek Him in our homes, in our workplaces, in our families, and in the quiet moments when no one else is watching.
And perhaps that is what makes this season of the biblical calendar so meaningful. After all the celebrations have ended, the Lord is still present. The rains begin to fall, the soil is prepared, and life continues. God’s faithfulness is seen not only in the great moments, but also in the simple ways He sustains His people day after day.
Dear friends, whatever season you may be walking through right now, be encouraged. If you are waiting for an answer to prayer, continue trusting Him. If you are carrying a burden, bring it before Him. And if you have experienced His goodness recently, take time to thank Him.
The same God who faithfully provides the rains for the land of Israel is the God who knows your needs, hears your prayers, and walks with you through every season.
As we look toward this new biblical month, may we be reminded that our hope is not in the circumstances around us, but in the Lord who never changes.
Shabbat Shalom and blessings,
Pastor Israel Pochtar