God does not control the weather, Utah Governor Cox. Fasting and praying to butter up God for a weather change favor is pointless.
The sun shines on good people and bad people. The rain falls on just folks and unjust folks. —Jesus of Nazareth
One hundred percent of the state of Utah is suffering the effects of a drought, from moderate to severe. Governor Spencer Cox recently told his citizens that he recommends prayer and fasting as ways to possible solutions for this increasingly critical situation. Respecting his right to his opinion, I nonetheless have countless problems with that suggestion.
Foundationally, God does not control the weather. How weather functions is built into the created order, and of course can be impaired or enhanced by how the environment is treated.
Praying that God will adjust the weather, and throwing in a fast or two if the needed weather changes become urgent, are pointless undertakings and theologically misinformed. Being theologically informed is not an insignificant matter.
If what I say is true, then embracing the truth of the following statements is needed.
God does not send or allow natural disasters or weather crises. Therefore
weather events are not divinely ordained rewards or punishments of humans or animals or the created elements on the planet;
blaming God for bad weather is, among other things, a cop out—a way of excusing neglected efforts to correct and protect;
praying and/or fasting or doing rain dances will not alter the weather, in Utah or anywhere else;
refusing to rely on common sense, as well as on the most scientifically sophisticated ways of monitoring weather and preparing for weather dangers is brainless, careless, callous, inhumane, often murderous.
It’s long passed rime to stop acting like God and Zeus are pretty much the same.