Deuteronomy 11:14
That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.
Moses told Israel before entering Canaan that God would send autumn and spring rains in season to ripen grain, grapes and olives for gathering. He would also make grass grow for livestock so people would eat and be satisfied. The gift was conditioned on loving the Lord and serving Him with all heart and soul in full obedience, while turning aside to other gods would shut heaven, make rain as dust, leave the land barren, and bring swift perishing from the good land. That same law of blessing through obedience and curse through disobedience still applies to God's people now, in the home and in diligently teaching children continually.
Promise and Its Setting
The promise belongs to Moses' rehearsal to Israel before they entered Canaan. God pledged to give the rain of the land in its due season, the first rain and the latter rain, at their appointed times, so that corn and wine and oil could be gathered in. That agricultural abundance — grain, wine, and oil — was presented as provision secured for an obedient people.
The same gift extended to grass in the fields for cattle, so that the people would eat and be full. Obedience would also bring flourishing crops and increase of cattle. Rain falling in proper season and abundant vegetation were signs of God's care for the land.
Sunshine together with the early and latter rains develops and ripens the harvest. Those rains are gifts from God, given with sunshine and other blessings to make food grow for His people. The former and latter rains, with sowing and harvest, belong to a natural order that teaches spiritual principles.
Condition of Blessing and Curse
The rain in its due season, the first rain and the latter rain for gathering in corn and wine and oil, is given only on condition of diligently hearkening to God's commandments, loving the Lord, serving Him with all the heart and with all the soul, and keeping His charge, statutes, judgments and commandments always. The temporal blessing depends on wholehearted obedience, with grass also sent in the fields for cattle so that the people eat and are full. If the heart is deceived to turn aside to serve and worship other gods, the Lord's wrath is kindled and shuts up heaven so there is no rain, the land does not yield her fruit, and the people perish quickly from off the good land the Lord gives them. Turning to other gods therefore brings withheld rain, drought, crop failure and loss of life on the good land.
The curse means heaven over them becomes as brass and earth under them as iron, and the rain is made powder and dust until destruction. The warning shows God as longsuffering and full of compassion and love, yet punishment follows the transgressor when rebellion and obstinacy continue until the boundary line is passed. Because sunshine and rain come from God to develop and ripen the harvest and produce food, He is the proprietor of the fields and their produce, His people are stewards, and the firstfruits of the harvest are to be consecrated to Him.
Application to Later Generations
The lessons of the chapter belong to God's people now as truly as to Israel, that obedience to God's commandments brings blessing and disobedience brings a curse. Through each successive age that requirement rests with grave responsibility upon all who know the truth. They are to lay up God's words in heart and soul and keep them constantly before them. They are to teach them diligently to children at home and on the way and night and morning, and to write them on house and gates, so that days are multiplied as the days of heaven upon the earth.
The instruction is given to parents and children together, so that faithful obedience in the home matters. Failure to follow God's plan causes His blessing to be withdrawn.