Topical Bible: Famine: Often Severe

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Topical Encyclopedia

Famine, a severe shortage of food resulting in widespread hunger, is a recurring theme in the Bible, often serving as a tool of divine judgment or a catalyst for significant events in the biblical narrative. The Bible records several instances of famine, each with its own context and implications, reflecting both the physical and spiritual dimensions of scarcity.

Old Testament Instances

One of the earliest mentions of famine occurs in the time of Abraham. In Genesis 12:10 , it is recorded, "Now there was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while, because the famine was severe." This famine prompted Abram to seek refuge in Egypt, setting the stage for future interactions between the Israelites and Egypt.

The account of Joseph provides a detailed account of famine's impact and God's providence. In Genesis 41, Pharaoh dreams of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of severe famine. Joseph, interpreting the dream, advises Pharaoh to store surplus grain during the years of plenty. Genesis 41:54 states, "And the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food." This event not only saved Egypt but also brought Joseph's family to Egypt, fulfilling God's plan for the Israelites.

The Book of Ruth opens with a famine in the land of Judah, prompting Elimelech and his family to move to Moab (Ruth 1:1). This famine sets the stage for the account of Ruth, highlighting themes of loyalty, redemption, and divine providence.

Divine Judgment and Prophetic Warnings

Famine is often depicted as a consequence of disobedience to God. In Leviticus 26:19-20 , God warns the Israelites, "I will break down your stubborn pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze, and your strength will be spent in vain, for your land will not yield its produce, nor will the trees of the land bear their fruit." Similarly, Deuteronomy 28 outlines blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, including famine as a form of divine retribution.

The prophets frequently warned of famine as a judgment for Israel's unfaithfulness. In Jeremiah 14:12 , God declares, "Although they fast, I will not hear their cry, and although they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague." Such warnings served as calls to repentance and reminders of God's sovereignty.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, famine is mentioned in the context of prophecy and early church history. Acts 11:28 records a prophecy by Agabus: "One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted through the Spirit that a great famine would sweep across the whole world. This happened during the reign of Claudius." The early church responded by providing aid to those affected, demonstrating the Christian principles of charity and community support.

Symbolic and Eschatological Significance

Famine also carries symbolic and eschatological significance in the Bible. In Revelation 6:5-6 , famine is one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, representing scarcity and economic hardship in the end times: "When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, 'Come!' Then I looked and saw a black horse, and its rider held in his hand a pair of scales. And I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, 'A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, but do not harm the oil and wine.'"

Throughout Scripture, famine serves as a reminder of human dependence on God for sustenance and the consequences of turning away from His commandments. It underscores the importance of faith, obedience, and the compassionate response of God's people to those in need.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 12:10
And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 18:2
And Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 52:6
And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Reformation Lessons
... which it is said mothers ate their own children through extremity of famine. ... disfigured
all his life"certainly to require long and often severe treatment by ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxxii reformation lessons.htm

Orphanages.
... West, and as the famine was specially severe in that ... each child, by a grant from
a Famine Fund which ... the occasion of great melas children are often lost, and ...
/.../life and work in benares and kumaon 1839-1877/chapter xiii orphanages.htm

Of the Third Seal.
... any thing should be extorted concerning famine and the ... He was a most severe judge
against thieves, accusing ... do on another's?' and he very often exclaimed what ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the third seal.htm

Of the Fourth Seal.
... seal is an assemblage of sword, famine, and pestilence ... an external enemy, though
that was very severe, the Barbarians ... also sonic friends who had often given him ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/of the fourth seal.htm

Chapter xlvii
... the two lands primarily affected by this famine actually were ... under Egypt's dominion,
as happened so often both before ... make us feel how very severe the famine ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlvii.htm

Of the Advent of Jesus; of the Fortunes of the Jews, and their ...
... when they were distressed by famine and want ... the impious and ungrateful people with
severe punishments, and ... the Judges the people had often undertaken corrupt ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap x of the advent of.htm

Book 20 Footnotes
... Of this famine also, and queen Helena's supplies, and ... those Annas and Caiaphas so
often mentioned in ... these Sadducees were usually very severe and inexorable ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 20 footnotes.htm

Hillis -- God the Unwearied Guide
... of the walls, all the horrors of famine and of ... heart is young, the limitations of
life had become severe! Environment often is a cage against whose iron bars ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume 10/hillis god the unwearied.htm

The Exile at Cucusus
... Letters were often lost en route, for the brigands who infested ... He was shaken by
a severe cough. ... fugitives who fled to it for safety, and famine and pestilence ...
/.../chapter lxvii the exile at.htm

The Great Power of God
... Sometimes, indeed most often, to these little companies ... Lewis, were far more terrible
and severe than those ... Earthquakes, tempests, and famine spread terror and ...
/.../bevan/three friends of god/chapter xiv the great power.htm