"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. " (Amos 8:11)
In the novel No Blade of Grass, a virus attacks all the grasses of the world, including wheat, barley, rye, oats, and rice. The world is plunged into famine and violence. People kill for food.
God warns us a different kind of famine, "a famine ... of hearing the words of the LORD. " A lack of food can lead to disease and death. A famine of the Word can produce eternal consequences. Without access to God's Word, we lack wisdom for life and the message of eternal life in Christ. We need "the sincere milk of the word, that [we] may grow thereby. " (1 Peter 2:2)
We can identify with the prophet when he said, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts. " (Jeremiah 15:16)
Give me, O Lord, a strong desire To look in Thy Word each day; Help me to hide its truths in my heart, Lest from Thy path my feet would stray.
