GOD & TEXAS: Water Woes

Texas is known for lengthy droughts. In the journals of Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca, as he reconnoitered West Texas in the early 1500s, he reported that the Indians living near what is now Presidio were praying for rain! Even the first colony of Stephen F. Austin in 1822 lost its initial food crop due to a severe drought.

The most devastating dry spell on record in Texas stretched for about seven years, finally ending in 1957. During that time, it is estimated that the number of farms and ranches decreased by almost one-third, and our rural population declined drastically.

Sometimes called liquid gold, water is essential for human life. Animals and agriculture cannot exist without life-giving water. Texas has seen several violent skirmishes over the availability of water. In the early 1880s, there was a terrible drought. When cattlemen wanted access to water for their stock, they cut the fences of local landowners. This led to the bloody confrontation known as the Texas Fence Cutters Range War.

As the early pioneers migrated to Texas, they knew that water was a necessity. Initially, they settled near rivers and springs. They also followed the trails of animals and indigenous tribes assuming that they knew where water was located. As the population grew, the settlers ventured out into lands where water was not as plentiful. This required them to dig deep wells and to build cisterns that would capture rainwater for later use.

But weather was often fickle. Moderate to severe droughts forced the settlers to get creative when needing water. Some turned to willow witching or divining for water. Sometimes referred to as water dowsing, a seeker of water would hold the “Y” end of a willow branch with two hands, and point the bottom part straight ahead until it began to vibrate and point down to the water.

Out in West Texas where water was scarce, the Comanches knew how to survive. They had discovered pockets of water hidden in the sand hills and used topographical markers to locate them while traversing this vast desert.

When a drought became unbearable for the pioneer Texans, some would turn to prayer. Early Spanish immigrants would sometimes pray for rain through the intercession of St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers. In other communities, churches would have fasting and prayer services.

Praying for rain was a Biblical teaching. Elijah prayed for rain in 1 Kings 18. And the Lord promised King Solomon that He would heal the land and send rain in 2 Chronicles 7. When we pray for rain, or any other need, we can claim 1 John 5:14-15 NKJV, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

Try it. Prayer works!

--------------------------------

For more inspirational reading please visit www.davidroseministries.com

To purchase the historical non-fiction book GOD and TEXAS by David G. Rose visit www.amazon.com