More From Alberto Jerónimo Quesada

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

— Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV)

I was returning on the subway to my home here in Santiago de Chile. The landscape of the mountains of the Cordillera De Los Andes was impressive and beautiful, especially because of the splendor of its snowy peaks after the rain of the day before. Not a painter, with all his technique, is capable of imitating the brushstrokes, tones, and nuances of our Creator, which we can appreciate with rejoicing.

Faced with the beautiful landscape, I remembered the biblical text from Isaiah quoted above because the rain had descended, and due to the low temperature on the tops of the mountains, snow had been fallen.

After a time of prolonged drought, farmers here in the surroundings of Santiago yearn for these rains and snowfalls in the late days of August, to bring about the fructification of their crops.

Then I understood the metaphor of the message of God’s word expressed by the prophet Isaiah.  Just as the rain and snow descend from heaven, likewise, the word of our God is sent to us with a purpose, both for those who do not believe and for us. And indeed best of all, it has been, is, and eternally will be prosperous.