The Gra (Even Shlama, see also Maalot HaTorah by his brother) says that Torah is akined to rain for it cultivates and raises the middot of a person, if one has good middot it brings them out, if not, it strengthens the bad middot.
The Midrash Bamibar (1:7) says the Torah was given with fire and water. Other places in Chazal it says Torah is compared to water and fire (for ex. Yalkut Yisro 286:11) נמשלה תורה במדבר באש ובמים. I saw Rav Shlomo Miller explain that Torah has two aspects. Torah waters and grows the natural capabilities of a person but it also is fire, it can break a person down and mold him into a better person. With this idea maybe we can add that is the third thing mentioned in the Midrash, a מדבר for the Torah can permeate even one who is desolate and empty as a מדבר and produce something positive from him.
However, it is noteworthy that the Midrash itself gives a different explanation for the comparisons, וְלָמָּה נִתְּנָה בִּשְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הַלָּלוּ, אֶלָּא מָה אֵלּוּ חִנָּם לְכָל בָּאֵי הָעוֹלָם כָּךְ דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה חִנָּם הֵם
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