Scarceness, often understood as a lack or insufficiency of resources, is a theme that appears throughout the Bible, highlighting both physical and spiritual dimensions. The concept of scarceness is frequently associated with divine judgment, testing, and the call to rely on God's provision.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, scarceness is often depicted as a consequence of disobedience to God's commandments. For instance, in Deuteronomy 28, God outlines the blessings for obedience and the curses for disobedience. Among the curses, scarceness is described as a lack of rain, resulting in barren land and failed crops: "The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron" (Deuteronomy 28:23). This imagery underscores the severity of divine judgment when the Israelites turn away from God.

The account of Joseph in Genesis also illustrates scarceness, but in a different light. Pharaoh's dreams, interpreted by Joseph, foretell seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41:29-30). Here, scarceness serves as a test of faith and wisdom, as Joseph, guided by God, prepares Egypt to endure the famine. This narrative emphasizes God's sovereignty and provision even in times of scarcity.

New Testament Insights

In the New Testament, scarceness is often used metaphorically to describe spiritual conditions. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, addresses the anxiety over material needs, urging His followers to trust in God's provision: "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’" (Matthew 6:31). Here, Jesus contrasts earthly scarceness with the abundance of God's kingdom, encouraging believers to seek first the kingdom of God.

The Apostle Paul also touches on the theme of scarceness in his letters. In Philippians 4:12, Paul writes, "I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need" . Paul's contentment in both abundance and scarceness reflects a deep trust in Christ's sufficiency.

Spiritual Implications

Scarceness in the Bible often serves as a reminder of human dependence on God. It calls believers to trust in God's provision and to prioritize spiritual wealth over material abundance. The biblical narrative consistently points to God's faithfulness in providing for His people, even in times of scarcity. This theme encourages a posture of gratitude and reliance on God, recognizing that true abundance is found in a relationship with Him.

Practical Applications

For believers today, the biblical concept of scarceness invites reflection on the priorities of life. It challenges Christians to examine their reliance on material possessions and to cultivate a heart of trust in God's provision. The call to generosity, even in times of personal scarcity, is a testament to faith in God's ability to supply all needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).(n.) Alt. of Scarcity.4544. miskenuth -- poverty, scarcity
... scarcity (1). scarceness. From micken; indigence -- scarceness. see HEBREW
micken. 4543, 4544. miskenuth. 4545 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4544.htm - 6k

Of Divers Friendships of Good and Ill, and if they Can be Loosed ...
... BOOK II CHAPTER IX OF DIVERS FRIENDSHIPS OF GOOD AND ILL, AND IF THEY CAN BE LOOSED:
OF THE SCARCENESS OF FRIENDSHIP OF MEN AND WOMEN: AND OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP ...
/.../rolle/the fire of love/chapter ix of divers friendships.htm

Triumphant Prayer
... Lord thy God giveth thee a good land, a land full of brooks and water, rivers and
depths, a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/triumphant prayer.htm

The Gospel Feast
... and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil, olive, and
honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness; thou shalt not ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon xii the gospel feast.htm

Of the Setting of Man's Life
... abstinence be holiness; and they trow they can not be worthy of great meed with
God unless they be known as singular of all men by scarceness and unrighteous ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter iv of the setting.htm

The Fire of Love
... CHAPTER IX OF DIVERS FRIENDSHIPS OF GOOD AND ILL, AND IF THEY CAN BE LOOSED: OF
THE SCARCENESS OF FRIENDSHIP OF MEN AND WOMEN: AND OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP, AND HOW ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/

The Sermon that the Reverend Father in Christ
... to represent things absent) not only ought to be covered with gold, but also ought
of all faithful and christian people (yea, in this scarceness and penury of ...
/.../sermons on the card and other discourses/the sermon that the reverend.htm

Corn in Egypt
... They had a total lack of bread. They might have borne with scarceness: but a total
lack of bread was horrible in the extreme. Such is the sinner's case. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/corn in egypt.htm

The Poet.
... XVII.5 f. Mark the scarceness of abstract terms, the concreteness of the figures:".
Cursed the wight that trusteth in man Making flesh his stay! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/lecture ii the poet.htm

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party ...
... and Assembly upon this invasion, renews the same bond of our former engagements,
yea, and speaks expressly in the case of fewness and scarceness of instruments ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section iii that the employing.htm

Typology
... [119] 1:Cor. 7:31 "The fashion of this world.". [120] Deut. 8:9. "Bread without
scarceness.". [121] Luke 11:3. "Our daily bread.". [122] Ps. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section x typology.htm

Scarceness (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Alt. of Scarcity. Multi-Version Concordance
Scarceness (1 Occurrence). Deuteronomy 8:9 a land in which ...
/s/scarceness.htm - 6k

Scarcely (14 Occurrences)

/s/scarcely.htm - 10k

Runagate
... run'-a-gat: A runaway: "The runagates continue in scarceness" (Psalm 68:6, Prayer
Book Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "The rebellious ...
/r/runagate.htm - 6k

Rocks (48 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 8:9 a land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness, you shall
not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills ...
/r/rocks.htm - 21k

Dig (24 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 8:9 a land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness, you shall
not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills ...
/d/dig.htm - 14k

Palestine (1 Occurrence)
... and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and
honey; a land wherein thou shalt not eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt ...
/p/palestine.htm - 89k

Scarce (6 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 8:9 a land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness, you shall
not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills ...
/s/scarce.htm - 8k

Scarcer (1 Occurrence)

/s/scarcer.htm - 6k

Lack (86 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 8:9 a land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness, you shall
not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills ...
/l/lack.htm - 33k

Mountains (221 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 8:9 a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, where thou
shalt lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose mountains ...
/m/mountains.htm - 37k

Scarceness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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