What lessons can we learn from God's use of "famine and wild beasts"? Scripture Focus – Ezekiel 14:21 “For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword and famine and wild beasts and plague—to cut off man and beast from it!’ ” Key Observations • Famine and wild beasts are listed as intentional, controlled judgments sent by the LORD. • They come from God’s hand (“I send”), reminding us that nothing in creation acts outside His sovereign will (Job 12:9–10; Lamentations 3:37–38). • Their purpose is corrective and revelatory—exposing sin, calling people to repentance, and vindicating God’s holiness (Leviticus 26:18–22; Amos 4:6–11). Lessons From Famine • God can withhold basic provision to wake His people from spiritual complacency (Deuteronomy 8:3; Joel 1:13–14). • Material scarcity highlights our total dependence on His daily mercy (Matthew 6:11). • Famine often follows prolonged rebellion, underscoring that unrepentant sin has tangible consequences (1 Kings 18:17–18; 2 Kings 6:24–29). • Yet, the LORD preserves a remnant that trusts Him—seen in Elijah’s miraculous sustenance (1 Kings 17:2–16) and Joseph’s preparation in Egypt (Genesis 41:53–57). Lessons From Wild Beasts • Creation itself may turn hostile when humanity rejects the Creator’s order (Genesis 9:2; Leviticus 26:22). • God uses the fear and unpredictability of beasts to humble proud hearts, reminding us we are not masters but stewards (Job 38:39–41). • Wild animals can become instruments of judgment (2 Kings 17:25), yet they will one day be tamed in the Messiah’s reign (Isaiah 11:6–9), pointing to future restoration through Christ. Shared Themes in Both Judgments • Both speak of loss—of food, safety, even life—pressing the reality of sin’s wages (Romans 6:23). • They expose counterfeit securities (stored grain, city walls) and invite renewed covenant faithfulness (Hosea 6:1–3). • Each displays God’s patience: famine and beasts often come after earlier warnings, showing He disciplines gradually, giving space for repentance (Revelation 2:21). New Testament Echoes • Jesus repeats the pattern in His Olivet discourse, listing “famines” among birth pains preceding His return (Matthew 24:7–8). • Revelation’s fourth seal combines sword, famine, plague, and “the beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:8), mirroring Ezekiel and affirming continuity in God’s dealings. • Believers are promised ultimate deliverance: “They will neither hunger nor thirst… for the Lamb will be their Shepherd” (Revelation 7:16–17). Personal Application • Examine whether prosperity has dulled your dependence on God; voluntary disciplines like fasting can keep the heart tender. • Pray for sensitivity to early warnings—a soft heart learns quickly and avoids severe correction. • Steward creation wisely, remembering that harmony with the natural world flows from right relationship with its Maker. • Anchor hope in Christ: whatever earthly shortages or dangers arise, He remains the Bread of Life (John 6:35) and the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). |
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