Famine

As I watch the combines work the harvest, it is hard to think about famine.

 

But famine is a reality. And it manifests itself in different ways.

 

Are you praying for the "famine" in your child's life to end?

 

What if you are praying for the very thing to go away that the Lord has purposed to turn your child to Himself?

 

What does God's Word tell us about famine?

 

Here's a few things I've learned: 

• Famine can be brought by God to test our faith. Will we trust the Lord's protection/provision? (Genesis 12:10)
• Famine can be sent by God to call attention to sin so it can be dealt with. (2 Samuel 21:1)
• Famine can be a tool of God to turn us back to Him in obedience. (2 Chronicles 6:13, 26-31)
• Famine can be a punishment sent by God. (Isaiah 3:1-8; Jeremiah 14:11; 29:17-19; 2 Kings 25:1-3)
• Famine has been sent by God throughout history as a consequence of sin. (Ezekiel 14:13-21)
• Famine will be a part of life here in this fallen world particularly as we move towards the end times. (Luke 21:7-11)
• Famine, though, can be used to benefit God's own people. (Genesis 41-43)
• Famine can sometimes not be prayed away even by the righteous. (Ezekiel 14:13-21)
• Famine, in fact, sometimes is not something the righteous should pray away. (Jeremiah 14:11; 29:17-19)

In other words—God is the One who brings/allows famine, through weather or other means. He sovereignly uses famine for His purposes—to test, to call attention to sin, to punish, even to protect/benefit His people and to orchestrate history (as He did by moving Israel to Egypt). God has done this throughout time and throughout the world.

 

The hardest thing for us moms, though, is that God will not turn back famine even at the request of the righteous until His purpose is accomplished. That is because no one can thwart the purpose of God. And His ultimate purpose is a reflection of Himself—righteousness.

 

So, what if the famine in your child's life is God's goodness or mercy in disguise, as Laura Story sings? What are you and I as mothers to do then?

 

If our prayers won't change the famine, then perhaps it is our prayers that need to be changed.

 

By example, Jesus taught us to pray.

 

Our Father in heaven, let Your name remain holy.

Bring about Your kingdom.

Manifest Your will here on earth, as it is manifest in heaven.

Give us each day that day’s bread—no more, no less—

And forgive us our debts as we forgive those who owe us something.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

[But let Your kingdom be, and let it be powerful and glorious forever. Amen.]

Matthew 6 (The Voice)

 

We ask for His kingdom rule to be manifest here in our own lives and in our children's lives. We do as the Lord spoke to Solomon.

 

…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves,

and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,

then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

 

We pray these scriptures for our children so that the Lord's purpose of famine will be accomplished. So that the "times of refreshing" will come.

 

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,

so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

Acts 3:19 (NKJ)

 

And we remember in faith—God is righteous. Psalm 145:17 from the Amplified puts it this way—

 

The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways

and gracious and merciful in all His works.