Topical Bible: Bread: Scarceness of, Sent As a Punishment

◄ Bread: Scarceness of, Sent As a Punishment ►

Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical narrative, the scarcity of bread is often depicted as a divine punishment for disobedience and sin. This theme is recurrent throughout the Scriptures, where God uses the lack of bread as a means to bring His people to repentance and to remind them of their dependence on Him.

Leviticus 26:26 · In the covenantal warnings given to the Israelites, God explicitly mentions the scarcity of bread as a consequence of their disobedience: "When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in a single oven and dole out your bread by weight, so that you will eat but not be satisfied." This passage highlights the severity of the punishment, where even the basic sustenance becomes insufficient, leading to a state of perpetual hunger and dissatisfaction.

Ezekiel 4:16-17 · The prophet Ezekiel is instructed to act out a sign of the impending judgment on Jerusalem, which includes the rationing of bread: "Then He said to me, 'Son of man, I will cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat rationed bread and drink rationed water in dismay, because bread and water will be scarce; they will be appalled at the sight of each other and waste away in their iniquity.'" Here, the scarcity of bread serves as a tangible representation of the spiritual and moral decay of the people, leading to their eventual downfall.

Amos 4:6 · The prophet Amos conveys God's message of judgment to Israel, where famine is used as a tool for correction: "I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD. This verse underscores the purpose behind the punishment: to draw the people back to God. Despite the hardship, the intended outcome is repentance and restoration of the covenant relationship.

Lamentations 5:9-10 · In the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction, the scarcity of bread is poignantly described: "We get our bread at the risk of our lives because of the sword in the wilderness. Our skin is as hot as an oven because of the burning heat of famine." The lament captures the desperation and peril faced by those who suffer under divine judgment, emphasizing the dire consequences of turning away from God's commandments.

Deuteronomy 28:48 · As part of the blessings and curses pronounced upon Israel, the scarcity of bread is listed among the curses for disobedience: "Therefore you will serve your enemies the LORD will send against you in famine, thirst, nakedness, and destitution, and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you." This passage illustrates the comprehensive nature of the punishment, affecting every aspect of life and leading to subjugation by foreign powers.

Throughout these passages, the scarceness of bread is not merely a physical deprivation but a profound spiritual lesson. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the necessity of reliance on God for provision and sustenance. The biblical portrayal of bread scarcity as a punishment is a call to repentance and a return to faithfulness, underscoring the covenant relationship between God and His people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 105:16
Moreover he called for a famine on the land: he broke the whole staff of bread.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 3:1
For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, does take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Ezekiel 5:16
When I shall send on them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine on you, and will break your staff of bread:
Torrey's Topical Textbook