Jeremiah 14:22
Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This passage highlights that even the natural forces like the heavens can't bring rain on their own; they are entirely dependent on God. The verse emphasizes that God's power over creation is what allows these "things" – including life-sustaining rain – to happen, making Him the only true source of hope.
The prophet Jeremiah is leading the people in prayer during a devastating drought that has gripped the land. He first acknowledges the severity of their sin and the resulting judgment, lamenting the brokenness of their nation like a deeply wounded maiden. Now, he turns to God, pleading for mercy and highlighting the utter powerlessness of any false gods to alleviate their suffering, directly contrasting them with the unique ability of Yahweh to provide.
When life feels dry and hope seems distant, where do you turn? Jeremiah confronts a people looking in all the wrong places.
The prophet Jeremiah points to the people's misplaced trust. They've been seeking help from 'the vanities of the Gentiles'—useless idols and false gods.
No Power, No Purpose
These idols, according to Jeremiah, have absolutely no power. They can't bring rain, they can't sustain life, they can't solve the deep problems of drought, sin, or judgment. The phrase 'vanities of the Gentiles' highlights their worthlessness. They are empty, powerless things that can offer no real help.
The Contrast with God
Jeremiah starkly contrasts these powerless idols with the living God. Unlike the lifeless statues, the LORD is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, including the very heavens that bring rain. The ultimate point? When you're facing a crisis, looking to anything or anyone other than the true God is a recipe for despair.
Rain doesn't just happen. Even the seemingly natural world points to a divine source. Jeremiah reminds us where true provision comes from.
Jeremiah challenges the idea that the heavens themselves, or any created thing, can operate independently of God. The drought they're experiencing isn't a failure of nature, but a withholding by the One who controls nature.
Heaven's Dependence on God
Jeremiah asks, 'Or can the heavens give showers?' The implication is clear: no. Even the sky, the source of rain, is not an independent power. It functions according to God's command and design. The heavens are God's instruments, not autonomous providers.
The Creator as Provider
The climax of this thought is the affirmation: 'Are you not he, O LORD our God? ... for you do all these things.' This isn't just about rain; it's about recognizing God as the ultimate source of everything needed for life and sustenance. He created the system, and He controls its operations. This truth shifts our perspective from a fickle universe to a sovereign God who orchestrates all.
Understand the original words
hebel · Hebrew Noun
Meaning "vanity" or "emptiness," these represent idols that are powerless and exist only as illusions. They are contrasted with the living, acting God of Israel.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. It signifies His self-existence, eternity, and faithfulness to His people.
qavah · Hebrew Verb
The expectant, confident waiting upon God for deliverance or provision. It is grounded in the assurance that God is faithful and capable of acting on behalf of those who trust Him.
This verse comes during a period of severe drought in Judah, with the people facing potential destruction. Jeremiah points them away from the powerless idols of surrounding nations, reminding them that only the LORD, their covenant God who also brought the current hardships, has the power to provide life-sustaining rain.
Late 8th century BC
Elijah's Confrontation with Baal Prophets
The prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, demonstrating that only the LORD, not the pagan deity, could send fire from heaven and later, rain after a severe drought.
c. 750-700 BC
Assyrian Empire's Growing Power
During Jeremiah's time, the Neo-Assyrian Empire was a dominant military and political force in the ancient Near East, influencing regional stability and the actions of smaller kingdoms like Judah.
626 BC
Josiah Begins His Reign in Judah
King Josiah's reign saw religious reforms aimed at centralizing worship and removing pagan practices, a context that Jeremiah's prophecies against idolatry would resonate with.
609 BC
Josiah Falls in Battle
King Josiah's death at the Battle of Megiddo against the Egyptians marked a turning point, leading to instability and increased foreign influence over Judah.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's plea by showing Elijah calling on the LORD, contrasting Him with the false god Baal, and God answering with fire and then rain, highlighting the LORD's exclusive power over natural elements.
Deuteronomy 11:14This verse directly states that God will send rain in its season and provide harvests, underscoring Jeremiah's point that the power to give such essential life-giving elements belongs solely to the LORD.
Acts 14:17Paul reminds the Gentiles that God has not left Himself without witness, 'doing good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling your hearts with food and gladness,' which directly supports Jeremiah's argument against the impotence of idols.
Psalm 147:8This psalm praises the LORD for covering the heavens with clouds, preparing rain for the earth, and making grass grow, reinforcing the idea that the Creator alone orchestrates the cycles of nature that sustain life.
clarkeJeremiah 14:22: "Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things."
Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles - Probably the dearth was now coming, as there had been a long want of rain. It was the prerogative of the true God to give rain and send showers at the prayers of his people. Therefore we will wait upon thee - If thou do not…
calvinJeremiah 14:22: "Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things."
Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art thou not he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.
An in idolis (vel, vanitatibus) gentium, qui pluere faciat…
This passage highlights that even the natural forces like the heavens can't bring rain on their own; they are entirely dependent on God. The verse emphasizes that God's power over creation is what allows these "things" – including life-sustaining rain – to happen, making Him the only true source of hope.
The prophet Jeremiah is leading the people in prayer during a devastating drought that has gripped the land. He first acknowledges the severity of their sin and the resulting judgment, lamenting the brokenness of their nation like a deeply wounded maiden. Now, he turns to God, pleading for mercy and highlighting the utter powerlessness of any false gods to alleviate their suffering, directly contrasting them with the unique ability of Yahweh to provide.
The prophet Jeremiah is leading the people in prayer during a devastating drought that has gripped the land. He first acknowledges the severity of their sin and the resulting judgment, lamenting the brokenness of their nation like a deeply wounded maiden. Now, he turns to God, pleading for mercy and highlighting the utter powerlessness of any false gods to alleviate their suffering, directly contrasting them with the unique ability of Yahweh to provide.
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When everything else fails, where do we anchor our hope? Jeremiah points to an unwavering source, even in times of judgment.
Faced with drought and the failure of idols, Jeremiah and the people find their only recourse in the LORD. Their hope isn't based on changing circumstances, but on the unchanging character and power of God.
A Deliberate Choice
'We set our hope on you,' they declare. This is a conscious decision, a turning away from false hope towards the true hope found only in God. It's an act of faith, acknowledging His unique ability to deliver and restore, especially when they are suffering His discipline.
Hope Amidst Discipline
Calvin notes that this plea comes even when God is judging them. The acknowledgment that 'you do all these things' includes the judgments they are facing. This means their hope isn't just for relief from drought, but for God's mercy within His judgment. They hope in the God who wounds but also heals, who punishes but also restores. Their hope is founded on God's covenant faithfulness and His ultimate power to bring salvation, even out of calamity.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered Judah, deporting a group of elites, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This event signaled the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
c. 587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's armies destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This was a catastrophic event for the Judean people.
Time of Jeremiah's Ministry (c. 627-586 BC)— this verse
Prophesying During Judah's Decline
Jeremiah delivered God's message during the final decades of the Kingdom of Judah, a period marked by political turmoil, encroaching empires, and the people's persistent turning to false gods.
"Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Are you not he, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for you do all these things." — This passage highlights that even the natural forces like the heavens can't bring rain on their own; they are entirely dependent on God. The verse emphasizes that God's power over creation is what al…
