God in the time of Famine

And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. (Genesis 45:5-7, ESV)
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: You said, 'Woe is me! For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.' Thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD: Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up--that is, the whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go." (Jeremiah 45:2 -5, ESV)
We live in a time of growing economic uncertainty. As I listen to people from Taiwan, China, the United States, Canada or Japan, I hear the uneasiness in their voices. What’s going to happen? The economy of the U.S. is stumbling. A believer in California told me yesterday that the banks in Europe are in great fear of a U.S. collapse because they have invested heavily in the U.S. housing market. The local university here in British Columbia has lost millions in the housing market. In some areas where there has been much wealth, there is a growing fear that everything will be lost. The Financial Times of London has predicted higher prices for things such as wheat and rice. Food will be expensive. People will lose their homes, their jobs.
How does the Christian respond to all of this? When we read the story of Joseph and his brothers, we often forget that the famine that came to that part of the world was severe, so much so that Jacob and his sons despaired of life. Joseph was able to reassure them after the many years of separation that what the brothers had done evilly was God’s plan for preserving a nation. When we read Jeremiah we are somewhat perplexed at the message to Baruch. Baruch was the scribe who wrote for Jeremiah. It seemed he despaired at the loss he was about to incur. For some reason, Baruch felt he should be spared the loss that was coming on the whole nation. God’s reassurance to Baruch is that what is coming on the nation is God’s doing and that Baruch will lose a lot, too. However, God promised Baruch that he would live, he would keep his life “as a prize of war.” In other words, just as soldiers come out with only their lives, Baruch will live much the same way, but it won’t matter where he goes, for he will still be protected by God. In the book of Daniel, when the terrible things come upon Judah at the hands of Antiochus Epiphanes, God reassures the people that they will be delivered, although it seems some will die for the promise is that they shall rise from the dust to everlasting life.
We read the words of the Sermon on the Mount and when Jesus says to not worry about the things the Gentiles worry about, we agree with Him, as we continue to worry about our jobs, homes and our futures. But remember, His promise is to provide the necessities if we seek first His Kingdom and His Righteousness. Merely sitting on the pews in church is no sign that a man or woman is truly seeking God’s Righteousness. Our lives must be permeated with the smell of death, a willingness to die for Christ, should that be necessary. That means we should be willing to endure the hardship that may be coming on the world, without anxiety, but with a sense of solid trust in the One who gave His life, His all, that He might bring us to eternal life. Make no mistake about it: if hardship comes, it will come to the nations plural, not one nation, singular. We are encouraged to “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. . .” ( Philippians 2:14-15, ESV) Lights in the Bible often refer to stars. Stars shine their brightest when other light is least visible. If Christians will truly live their lives incarnadine, dying to self and living to Christ, then the world will be able to see a Risen Savior who reigns in heaven. They will see Him through us as we live as true believers. Salvation will come to many who have never believed before.