Famines

Lately, in my bible reading, there have been lots of references about famine. In our twenty first century mind set where food is everywhere, and many of us are watching our weight (even using intermittent fasting as a technique) we have never experienced an actual famine. Just recently, I realized that I was going through a famine of my own creation. The famine was created by being so busy that I was neglecting the study of the word of God. Have you ever been in that situation? 

In Amos 8:11, the Lord shows Amos a vision for Israel that describes my famine. It says, “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing the words of the Lord.” The problem that I was encountering was that I had drifted away from the daily study of the word. The delusion that I was under was that I was fine. I didn’t even know how starved for the word I was. It’s like when you are past the point of hungry and you just want to take a nap. Well, I wanted to take a nap and not notice that I was spiritually depleted, empty and needed nourishment from the word. In Jeremiah 25:10 it says, “Moreover, I will banish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the grinding of the millstones and the light of the lamp.” The context of this verse is the Lord’s plan of exile to Babylon for the Israelites. The reason for the exile was their failure to follow God’s instructions. This verse describes what He will banish from them: mirth (gaiety, laughter, amusement), gladness, the voices of the bride and groom, the grinding of the millstone, and the light of the lamp. All of these things were important things that brought joy into the lives of the Israelites. Why did the millstone bring joy? In the middle east, bread was a staple of life which wasn’t purchased at Walmart. Grain was usually purchased at villages and then the women would prepare the bread for their household. The milling and preparation of the wheat took approximately 2-3 hours every day to make enough for a family of five. So, the grinding of the millstone was an integral part of daily life which brought nourishment to the entire family. The sound of the millstone, the sizzle of the bread on the stone, or in the oven were all sounds bringing comfort. When the millstone is no longer grinding wheat, it is no longer bringing the nourishment that we need and famine is at our doorstep. 

When we are not in the word of God, we create a famine.

In Isaiah 55:1-2 it says, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?” God’s word is compared to bread throughout the entire bible. This verse is telling us that no matter what we try to substitute for the word it will not satisfy us. The word is also freely given to us without any cost, as a gift. The bread which we need which will be life-giving to us is not just the word but, it is Yeshua who said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” He also came as a gift, freely given to all who will accept Him.

Our need for the word, just like our need for Yeshua, never goes away. It is a daily need. When we open up the word each day, He will satisfy our souls, we will commune with Him and hear His voice. He will feed us with the richness of His word and we will enjoy the jewels that He shares with us from His word. 

14 thoughts on “Famines

  1. Nailed It !!! I have said for a long time now, that people are dying for lack of the “Word” of Adonai in their lives. When He, Yeshua said, I AM the “Bread of Life” that is exactly what the Bible, His Word is to us….LIFE ! Our spirit connects with His HOLY SPIRIT AND LIVES WITHIN US! I cannot imagine life with out Yeshua and His Word living within me.

  2. Thank you for sharing Diana. This came at a time when I have been considering a long needed fast but certainly not from the Word of G-d. This article serves as a motivating inspiration.

  3. Truly, an awesome word for us!
    I can’t live without his food, and I truly know it when I slack even the slightest bit! There is no satisfaction without receiving his word every day!

  4. I signed up for a Bible reading plan to go through the Bible in a year. Our goals are podcast on the first day of the week and we read 23 chapters a week which comes out to 4 chapters a day. Getting the big picture keeps our focus on Yeshua and the nation of Israel which all pertains to Israel. Yes Israel is critical in bringing the King and Kingdom back to earth. Being in Messiah is the ark offered to all right now and I am thankful to be in Him, living free so I can read 23 chapters a day without fear from tyrannical govt.

  5. The Rabbis even mine the word of God on four levels:
    Pshat (literal understanding)
    Remez (a type)
    Drash (explanation plus application)
    Sod (mystery…hidden meaning)
    It is said that every New Testament quotation of the Hebrew Scriptures will fall into one of these four categories.
    Perhaps some day when we know the Lord face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12), we will all understand the complete depth of His words in a very personal way.

  6. Excellently written! Did not realize how deficient I was until I read your article. The busyness of our lives deceives us into believing we are okay. Maybe sips of water and bites of bread here and there (once a week at services) doesn’t cut it!

    Thank you for the reminder!

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