Amos 4:7
And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
Amos recounts God's past dealings with Israel, the chosen professed church, before the severest national chastisement fell, delineating their crooked ways to force home conviction of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. That message exposes idolatry and wrongdoing, despising His law and not keeping His commandments, living in perversity, injustice and inconstancy, leaving them wholly unprepared to meet Him except for punishment. Part of that unfaithfulness was heeding the call to worship at Bethel rather than seeking God.
Three months before harvest God by purpose and power withheld rain and distributed it unevenly. He caused it to rain upon one city and caused it not to rain upon another city, upon one piece and not upon another. The piece rained upon bore fruit while the piece whereupon it rained not withered and dried up.
That selective drought was a divine judgment and expression of punishment and displeasure. It came for disregarding His word and neglecting His cause. It came for failing to meet the responsibility that comes with received light and privilege.
It was one of a repeated series of chastisements with famine, blasting, mildew, palmerworm, sword and fire, sent in love to reclaim Israel and to save if possible. It was set forth to warn them, to force home conviction, and to lead them to return, seek God and live. It was to teach them to trust in God rather than in man and false gods. It was to teach them to recognize the value of rain and other gifts and to remember past mercies.
The dealing reveals love and long-suffering mingled with justice and mercy, giving opportunity as individuals to repent before the stroke fell upon the nation. Drought and failed harvests are not mere chance or forces beyond God's rule. God's relation to His church and to the world and His manner of dealing are ever the same in principle because with Him there is no change.
The same power that withholds is used to protect and provide for a particular place amid widespread drought. The judgments divide men into two classes. Some are led to trust in Him, and to them bread and water shall be sure, while others pursue a wilful, disobedient course and are forsaken of God and given over to those they trusted who can give no help.
Despite these warnings the people did not return to Him. Some were rescued as from burning, yet nothing remained but direst measures and the call to prepare to meet God.
The withered crops are linked to the famine described in Joel and were seen as partly fulfilled in the previous season. All these agricultural judgments of withholden rain, blight and failure are signs that the King will soon be seen in His beauty when Jesus comes in glory.