Joel 2:23 (NLT) Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the LORD your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring.
The former rain, and the latter rain. The former rain prepares the land for seed-time, and the latter rain prepares it for harvest.
Zechariah 10:1 (NKJV) Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.
In Israel, rain is always a blessing much needed for the successful growing and harvesting of crops. There are generally two rainy seasons mentioned in Scripture: the early or former autumn rain and the latter spring rain. With the former rain, farmers begin to plough and plant seeds. Then, the latter rain, which is even more important, matures the crops for harvesting.
Isaiah 44:3 (NKJV) For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
Deuteronomy 11:14 (NKJV) . . . 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.
This verse not only promises a double blessing (the early and the latter rain) but the expected result of the double blessing:
- Grain, the core ingredient of the bread of life, meaning a fresh revelation of God’s Word
- Wine, a fresh anointing
- Oil, symbolic of God’s power
Not only will God give these three harvests, but after the double-blessing rains, your life will overflow with these blessings:
Joel 2:24 (NKJV) The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
Isaiah 61:7 (NKJV) Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.
To unlock the double portion of blessings God has for you, it’s crucial that you fulfil His conditions. God gave us the firstborn son’s responsibility. In biblical times, the firstborn son received a double portion of his father’s inheritance. This was not due to preference but because he would be responsible for caring for the family after his father’s passing. Today we are considered firstborn sons after we are saved. We are to care for others just like
Jesus, as first born, cares for us. When we receive this principle into our hearts, God makes His double-portion blessing available to us.