" Famine in the Land "

 

Amos 8:11-12 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the WORD's of the LORD: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east they shall run to and fro to seek the WORD of the LORD, and shall not find it."

     Famines are horrendous disasters that have occurred hundreds of times in a multitude of lands throughout the history of mankind. The WORD of GOD records famines that played a major role in biblical history. A famine in the land that was promised to Abraham caused him to sojourn in Egypt where he failed to trust GOD. His son Isaac repeated Abraham's sin and lack of trust in the LORD, allowing a famine to drive him to Abimelech, King of the Philistines. Yet, it was a famine that facilitated Joseph, who had been sold into slavery in Egypt, to preserve the lives of his Father, Brothers, and their families. Famine in the Promised Land led to the events that brought Ruth, a Moabitess, into the lineage of the MESSIAH, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

     Famines are dreadful events of dearth -- a lack of food and water that brings starvation to many. However, as grievous as physical famines can be, another type of famine, a spiritual famine, is far more devastating -- "not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the WORDs of the LORD" (v.11). Those words, given to the nation of Israel, are extremely sobering. The LORD GOD HIMSELF spoke to HIS people, warning them, "I will send a famine in the land, not . . . of bread" (v.11). HIS additional message was equally terrifying: "They shall run to and fro to seek the WORD of the LORD, and shall not find it" (v.12). What was true concerning the condition of Israel in the past is becoming more and more evident in our day. A famine is in the land, not of bread, but of the WORD of GOD. HE has spoken and is speaking, and people are not listening. May we not be guilty of failing to hear and heed HIS WORD to us. JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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