Famine

Famine. It’s coming. 

An odd theme to consider in the middle of Thanksgiving season. But there it is. In my daily Bible reading.

Amos the herdsman delivers this word of the Lord. To a people nonchalant. Complacent. And ultimately resistant. 

Unwilling to repent. 

And this is no scarcity of grain in lean years. Nothing like the famine of Joseph’s day. 

Famine

Amos clarifies. 

“Look, the days are coming—
this is the declaration of the Lord God—
when I will send a famine through the land:
not a famine of bread or a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the Lord.”
Amos 8:11

People will stagger and roam everywhere, “seeking the word of the Lord, but they will not find it” (Amos 8:12).

Silence is coming, he says.

And it does.

Silence

Four hundred years. No prophets speaking His message. Undeniable famine. And people grow accustomed to silence.

But one day at the altar of incense in the temple, an elderly priest hears the word of the Lord from an angel. Gabriel. 

And in his questioning of the message and feasibility of fulfillment, Zechariah is struck mute. Cannot speak.

Silence. And a lot of hand signals. 

Until later, when the word is fulfilled with the birth of his and Elizabeth’s son John. [Luke 1]

John the Baptist. Voice crying out in the wilderness. “Make straight the way of the Lord”(John 1:23). Getting the people ready.

The word of the Lord

The word of the Lord comes to a young woman. Mary. 

She listens. Fearful. And curious. “How?” 

Gabriel explains further. Then says, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

And she immediately surrenders. Willing and obedient. 

Her betrothed, too. In his own encounter with the word of the Lord. 

The Word

This flurry of utterances from God interrupt such a long famine. After generations have come and gone in the silence.

Then, the Word becomes flesh. And dwells among us. 

Bread of Life. Living Water.  

The Word speaks, declaring, “If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

And, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

No more famine

People are drawn to the beauty and depth and clarity of His voice. “He speaks with such authority,” they say. 

But some turn away. Taken aback by His requirements. Hard sayings. “Deny yourself, take up your cross daily…” doesn’t sit well. (Luke 9:23)

For those who turn and follow Him? No more famine. 

And when skeptics scorn, we join Peter in affirming, “To whom will we go? He has the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that He is the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69)

Alleluia.

What about you?

How are you celebrating “the Word made flesh” this Christmas season? How do you pray for those who seem satisfied with famine? 

Related posts

My soul magnifies the Lord – How can this be? – He is enough – Daily abiding – Seek His face – Obadiah – Step by step – 

Amos 8:11-12 – Matthew 1 – Luke 1 – John 1 – John 6:68-69 – John 8:31-32 – John 14:6 – Luke 9:23 –