For stricken Israel there was but one remedy--a turning away from the sins that had brought upon them the chastening hand of the Almighty, and a turning to the Lord with full purpose of heart. To them had been given the assurance, "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; if My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:13, 14. It was to bring to pass this blessed result that God continued to withhold from them the dew and the rain until a decided reformation should take place.

Der var kun én redning for Israel de måtte forsage de synder, som var skyld i, at den Almægtige havde lagt sin hånd på dem, og omvende sig til Herren af hele deres hjerte. De havde fået dette løfte: "Dersom jeg tillukker himmelen, så regnen udebliver, eller jeg opbyder græshopperne til at æde landet op, eller jeg sender pest i mit folk, og mit folk, som mit navn nævnes over, da ydmyger sig, beder og søger mit åsyn og vender om fra deres onde veje, så vil jeg høre det i Himmelen og tilgive deres synd og læge deres land." 2Krøn. 7,13-14. For at fremkalde dette velsignede resultat ville Gud vedblive at holde duggen og regnen tilbage, til der havde fundet en grundig reformation sted.