Let's start with the Word....
Genesis 47:13-19 - And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.
Matthew 24:3-4,7 - And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them,...For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
I want you to notice carefully what you have just read:
Genesis 47:13-19 - The monetary system had failed. The economy was at an all time low. The result of the economic downturn was that it led to widespread famine. The people living in Egypt and Canaan needed to eat but their only source of provision was at the hands of the Pharaoh. In the first year of the famine, the people had "commodity money" (money that has intrinsic value, it has worth in an of itself; e.g livestock) to trade with, they were ok for that year. But the famine lasted longer than their resources. In the second year, the famine was greater than their ability to feed themselves, so therefore they resorted to going back to Pharaoh, only this time their only currency was that of themselves and their security. They were willing to become voluntary servants, slaves if you will, just so that they could eat and live!
Matthew 24:3-4,7 - Two of the many signs that Jesus told His disciples to "watch" for in preparation for His second coming were "famines and pestilences." These two things would, like in Genesis 47:13-19, bring the people to a point where their needs would be greater than their ability and resources to meet those needs. The result then, as scripture informs scripture, would be that in the days leading up to the second coming of Christ, we will see increasing famines and pestilences leading people to do to give up freedoms, sell possessions just so they can eat?
In both cases, a crisis arises that leads people to depend on state approved assistance.
I'd like to share with you again Ecclesiastes 1:9. - Meditate prayerfully on this verse and the preceding passages.
Could it be that one sign of the times facilitates another? Let's have a look...
Headline: 'No end in sight': hunger surges in America amid a spiraling pandemic
"Millions of Americans must rely on charity to put Thanksgiving dinner on the table this year, as hunger surges amid a devastating spiraling of the Covid-19 pandemic which the Trump administration has failed to get under control."
[That's famine and pestilence in the first paragraph of the article]
In what is traditionally a season of celebration, less than half of US households with children feel “very confident” about having enough money to afford the food needed over the next month, according to the US Census Bureau’s latest pandemic survey. A staggering 5.6m households struggled to put enough food on the table in the past week.
Overall food insecurity has doubled since last year due to record unemployment and underemployment rates. For families with children, hunger is three times higher than in 2019, according to analysis by Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, director of the non-partisan Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University...
Now, as states across the country contemplate new lockdowns to slow down the rampant spread and record hospitalizations, the unprecedented demand for food aid is on the rise, according to the Guardian’s latest snapshot survey..:
One woman in Cleveland, who didn’t want to be identified, discharged herself from the hospital against medical advice so that she didn’t miss the Thanksgiving food box delivery. “That’s the depth of need and desperation some families are feeling,” added Warzocha.
Earlier this month, there were long lines in Dallas as the North Texas Food Bank provided groceries to just over 25,000 people – its busiest day on record. The food bank distributed 7,000 whole turkeys that day, and a total of about 600,000 pounds of food. “Hunger isn’t hidden any more,” said Trisha Cunningham, CEO of the food bank. “If it isn’t you, then this is your neighbor, this is your child’s classmate, this is your hairdresser...”
Hunger is not new in America. Even before the pandemic, 35 million people relied on food banks every year, according to Feeding America. But the pandemic has been catastrophic – despite initial lauded federal interventions such as the stimulus cheques and enhanced unemployment benefit. As many as 50 million people could experience hunger this year, including a quarter of all children.
New Lines of the times
50 million in 2020. Up from 35 million before the pandemic
10 million meals a month
Texas 2 million children will go hungry
“History tells us, elevated demand for the next two years”
Here is some additional reading that you can do at your leisure:
Ministry of Healing - Chapter 12 - Help for the Unemployed and Homeless
Ministry of Healing - Chapter 13 - Helping the Poor
You download the whole book here:
We may not be able to help in the USA but know that this problem is a global one. This problem of famine is affecting people we know, even if they never say anything to us. This problem of famine could even be affecting you the reader. Don't suffer in silence. These are difficult times for everybody, we are all in this thing together. We may be the person in need, or, we may be the tool that God uses to alleviate someone else's need.
Either way, God sees and knows just what you need.
If He can feed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish...He can feed you today!
How can we help? A few ideas:
- Buy an extra items of food and give it as a gift to those who you know may be hungry.
- Donate as often as you can to a local food bank.
- Buy less take-away meals and use that money to stock up on supplies that can be given away when the need presents itself.
- Team up with a group of like minded people and put together parcels of food and go into the "highways and byways" searching for those in need.
Let me leave you with these promises:
Luke 6:38 - Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Acts 20:35 - I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
May God bless you to be a blessing!
Maranatha!
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