He will rain bread from heaven

Hunger is not a third world problem, it is a global problem. Hunger can lead people to do things that are morally bad in order to be filled. In the Old Testament, we saw how Esau carelessly sold his birthright for a bowl of red stew (Genesis 25:33-34) because he was very hungry. At one point, the army of Israel was so hungry that they ate animals with their blood in it (1 Samuel 24:33). At another time, the king of Israel was disgusted and angry to know that two women decided to eat their own children because of hunger and they succeeded in eating one child (2 Kings 6:28-29). In the 21st century, hunger is the course of most of the vices that happen on the street. People go the extra mile to hurt and even kill others in order to satisfy their hunger. If these stories of hunger are unpleasant, imagine leading a whole hungry nation for days. This was what happened when the people of Israel experienced hunger in the wilderness:

The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”‭‭ (Exodus‬ ‭16:1‭-‬3‬).

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. ‭‭(Exodus‬ ‭16:4‬)

Imagine over a million people screaming at Moses and Aaron to do something about their hunger. These were the same people who had experienced the manifest power of God through the working of miracles. They experienced a great deliverance that took them from Egypt to their current location. Yet, when they were hungry, they totally forgot that the God who easily parted the Red sea can so easily provide them with food to satisfy their hunger. Before you consider the Israelites as ungrateful people, just consider the many instances the Lord God has graciously provided for you, yet at the sight of another situation, you murmured and complained as if God has never done anything in your life. We are all guilty of this. Whether hungry or filled, we should acknowledge that God still provides. How did God deal with this situation? In Exodus‬ 16:4-5‬, the Lord God said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

“Bread from heaven” was God’s solution to a national hunger crisis. The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:31‬). The Israelites survived on manna for 40 years. God did not cease in those 40 years to rain manna for the people to be satisfied. This amazing miracle of God’s provision sustained an entire nation for 40 years until they tasted the produce from their new home. God did not miss out in providing bread to the people. As the people delighted in the bread so much and saw it as the sustenance, God reminded than in ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:3‬ that even the hunger was His own way to humble the nation and then feeding them with manna, which neither them nor their ancestors had known, to teach them that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Thus, bread is good but is not the only way to survive. Man’s survival also depends on the word of God which is an eternal bread. During Jesus’ temptation, “after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:2‭-‬3‬).

Jesus reminded the tempter that “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:4‬). As we seek God’s provision to satisfy our physical hunger, we should more than anything also desire not to be just bread consumers but word consumers. Understanding that our spiritual hunger can only be satisfied by the word of God Himself should encourage us to develop an intimate relationship with God. In John 1:1-5, John the apostle revealed a profound truth: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus is the Word incarnate, He is the bread of life. No wonder before He was crucified, He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:19‬).

Enjoying the bread of heaven goes beyond the sacrament of the Holy Communion, it is also a deliberate effort to be daily filled with both the logos (written word) and the rhema (revealed word for a specific situation). Don’t be a hungry believer, there is too much to be consumed each day.

The mother who ate her son because of famine

Women are naturally considered as possessing the following traits: sensitive, sweetness, nurturing, gentleness, supportive, calmness, expressive  affection, empathy  tenderness, being emotional, kind, kind, helpful, devoted among many others. These traits are mostly revealed in females and although we have individual differences, most women will likely possess two or more of these traits. The compassion of a mother towards their child is so much expressed in different cultures that in some cultures of the world, God is attributed with motherly qualities that show his deep love and care for His children.  The Bible also shares some of the attributes of God using feminine metaphors. For example, Isaiah 49: 15 compares God to a very committed nursing mother: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
Isaiah 66:13 presents a metaphor of God comforting His people just as a mother comforts her child: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”
These verses among many others show God’s love, care, compassion, comfort, protection etc. revealed in feminine metaphors. On a daily basis, we experience mothers who go all out to ensure the sustenance of their children. No wonder mother’s day is highly patronized and celebrated across the world. For most people who grew up in broken homes, their mothers were the pillars of their lives.

As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, “Help me, my Lord the king!” (2 Kings 6:26)

Thus, it is highly unlikely that a mother would suddenly become so mean, cruel and wicked to her own children. But, it is possible and on daily basis, some mothers are charged with child abuse claims. The Bible records the story of famine in Israel and its consequences. The Aramean king  Ben-Hadad mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria. Samaria was the capital of Israel (Northern Kingdom and Jerusalem was the capital of Judah ( Southern Kingdom). This siege brought a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels (see 2 Kings 6:24‭-‬25). Thus, everyone was affected. In a similar incident of famine (commanded by Elijah) we saw the widow of Zarephath concerned about her life and that of her son. However, in this famine, we have different types of women. Two women planned to kill and eat their sons in order to survive the hunger. What! They went ahead and killed the first son and ate him. But, the second woman was unwilling to release her own son to be eaten. The king of Israel passed by the wall and the woman whose son was eaten cried to the king, “Help me, my Lord the king!” (2 Kings 6:26). The king replied, “If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you? From the threshing floor? From the winepress?” (2 Kings 6:27). The king thought the woman was looking for food. 

Then the king asked her, “What’s the matter?” The woman answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him today, and tomorrow we’ll eat my son.’ So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, ‘Give up your son so we may eat him,’ but she had hidden him” (2 Kings 6:28-29). The king was appalled by these words, and he tore his robes. What type of a mother eats up her son? What sort of wickedness is this? When did this woman lose all her traits of feminine and human sense and turned to a cannibal? Was she the only mother going through the famine? What type of woman was she? What type of friend was she keeping? Was she mentally stable? We could go on asking different questions as to why a mother had the courage to do this barbaric and wicked act to her own son. This woman was living in a war zone like many others, her source of livelihood was taken and the city was shut. The armies of Aram made it impossible for anything to enter or leave Samaria. In this state of extreme lack and vulnerability, this woman and her friend planned and performed a barbaric act that could potentially lead them to be ostracized from the society. They lost every respect and their statuses as mothers were questioned.

What will cause people to be so helpless and vain to the extent of eating their own children? For the people of Israel, they had a covenant with God and breaking this covenant made them susceptible to commit some of the heinous sins of the neighboring nations. Leviticus 26:14-46 lists some punishments for the disobeying God. Leviticus 26:27-29 states this: “ If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over. You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters.” Thus, the woman’s action reflected the evil of the wider society. 

But, we should take note, whenever you are at your lowest point, be careful of what you say, where you go, what you do and who you talk to. Don’t allow yourself to be at the mercy of the law because you failed to control your emotions. Hunger is real, but no hunger should necessitate that you kill to eat. Be open and ask for help when possible.  No murderer, thief or wicked person had a place in Heaven (Revelation 22:15). If your condition has caused you to become accustomed to sinful acts, a clarion call is being made to you today. 

Naomi: Leaving to escape the unpleasant situation

Famine is an unpleasant situation and no one wants to deliberately experience it. If you are extremely hungry, the feeling can be sore and unpleasant. Therefore imagine if in spite of the soreness in your stomach, there is actually no food to eat. Growing up in Ghana,  my mum used to share her experience with famine. There was a significant drought between 1983-1984 and the result was the 1984 famine in Ghana. Many people experienced the excruciating effects of hunger and the cost of food increased exponentially. In ancient Israel Biblical history, different accounts of famine are recorded. When there is famine, people express different reactions: leaving to another place, staying back, becoming wicked in order to survive, among others. Today, we shall consider how famine caused a family to leave their home to find food in order to survive. For the next few posts, we shall dig deeper into the book of Ruth. The book stands as a connecting bridge between the period of the judges and the beginning of the reign of kings. Let’s begin with Naomi.

In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. (Ruth 1:1)

Like many women in the Bible, Naomi’s story teaches us profound lessons in life. This is how her story begins: “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.” (Ruth 1:1). Naomi was the wife of Elimelek and they had two sons: Mahlon and Kilion. The family were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. So, relocating from Bethlehem to Moab was to avoid the consequences of the famine. This really sounds like a good decision to make in such an unpleasant situation. However, as we read along, we realized that moving to Moab led to a far worse situation for the family. Naomi, like any other woman, might have been worried about the future of her family in the face of the famine. Therefore moving might have been the best option for her and the husband. But wait! They were living in Bethlehem, the House of Bread. How can the House of Bread suddenly become the house of hunger? The town of Bethlehem is significant in the history of God’s people because of the different major events that took place there. God’s desire is not to cause His children to suffer.  However, when the worst happens,  God still makes a way for survival for those who trust in Him.

Moab is a land very close to the Promises land and in fact, before the Israelites finally took possession of the lands God gave them, Moab was one of the cities they had to cross. Moab was built by the incestuous son of Lot. That is, the descendants of the son of Lot which he had with his own daughter, built the city of Moab. The Israelites considered the Moabites as sinners who have no reverence for God. So why will an Israelite family relocate to a land that reminds them of sin and evil? Certainly, it was as a result of the famine. Important to note is that Naomi and her family were probably not the only people that migrated to escape the famine. There could have been others too. However,  Naomi’s story leads to a very significant person in the history of Israel. Naomi might have breathed a sigh of relief when they finally settled in Moab. Her family had escaped the famine, she might have thought. A better life awaits them in Moab. They would have thanked God for taking them safely to Moab and as religious Jews, they might have had offered some sacrifices. As they look back to where the city they had left,  they might have wondered why God would allow famine in a city which is known as the House of Bread.  

Like Naomi, many of us run away from the slightest sight of discomfort. Irrespective of the consequences of us leaving, we tend to dwell on the benefits of leaving rather than the discomfort of staying back. If there is hunger in the House of Bread, where else can you survive? Any decision we make ultimately affects us positively or negatively. Before you make a move, go to God and know if His plans for you will be fulfilled even in that move. Life is full of uncertainties but with God on our side, we shall overcome. 

Trust Him to satisfy your hunger

Have you ever felt so hungry and tired from a long journey? What did you do? In the West, not many people have first hand experience of real hunger. Thankfully, governments in most developed countries have placed measures in place for people to have access to benefits even when they are unemployed. This is not so in many developing countries. Basically, everyone is on their own and hunger has caused some people to do things that have landed them in prison. 
But what will you do if you follow a popular person/ an influencer for hours and days and as a result become hungry and tired? You will likely expect to be fed by the organizers of the event if such arrangements were made. If not, you are on your own! Over 5000 men besides women and children had followed Jesus on foot. These people were looking forward to hearing the word of God and to receive their miracles. In the 1st Century, this would have been a big crusade and considering the absence of social media and automated transport systems, these people chose to follow Jesus. 

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (Matthew 14:20)

Getting tired and hungry would be a natural reaction of such a crowd. Jesus had compassion on the crowd and healed their sick (Matthew 14:14). But the people were hungry for food. With good intentions, the disciples approached Jesus (Matthew 14:15), and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” This seemed like the right thing to do. But Jesus replied in verse 16, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” The disciples showed their frustration; they had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. How can that feed a crowd of over 10,000 people (5000 men not counting women and children)? That is when Jesus came in to satisfy the hunger of the crowd with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. Verse 19 records that Jesus gave an order for the people to sit on the grass (crowd control) and He gave thanks, broke the bread and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. Miraculously, “they all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.” Jesus didn’t waste the twelve basketfuls of broken pieces. They were all picked up (Matthew 14:20). 

Whenever I am reminded of this miracle, I know that God will satisfy my hunger. Many people hunger for food that perishes, others also hunger for a deeper satisfaction of their souls. Jesus satisfies all hunger. As we pray for our miracles to happen, we should position ourselves to receive from Him. If you have strength to work, do not spend all day sleeping with the hope that your plate would be full by evening. The crowd walked to Jesus. They exerted energy. They left their homes and towns to meet Jesus. Be not slothful but diligence in all your ways and in due time, your hunger will be satisfied. Feeding a huge crowd with very little provision is a great miracle and shows that with God, all things are possible. If there is any impossible situation in your life today, call on the way Maker and the miracle Worker to make the impossibility become possible. Cast all your burdens on Him and trust Him to satisfy your deepest hunger. When your hunger is satisfied, don’t waste what can feed others. You can also donate to your local food bank to keep others satisfied. 

Arise and eat

If you have not experienced real hunger, you may never appreciate food. In fact the biggest global pandemic that has been with humanity longer since the history of mankind is hunger. It is the only pandemic with a cure yet it has taken the world 1000s of years to solve it. If you have not experienced extreme hunger before, you may not understand the gravity of it. Do you remember those scenes on your TV with babies with countable ribs? Have you ever seen footage of people holding empty bowls and going through a stampede just because a van carrying food arrived in their community? It is very heartbreaking to know that hunger is not a third world pandemic but a worldwide pandemic. The next time we pour leftover food in the trash can, know that someone else could have survived on that meal. 

And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” (I Kings 19:7)

There cannot be any conversation on healthy lifestyles without stressing on eating appropriately. However if you do not have access to food, a healthy lifestyle is just a delusion. A hungry man is naturally an angry man and anger causes emotional stress. The body doesn’t function well when one is hungry. The limbs become weak, the muscles lose strength and one is likely to faint. No talk on fitness should avoid the fact that we need to eat. A lack of appetite for food (anorexia) can be a medical condition or an emotional condition and needs immediate attention.The Bible presents a unique example, Elijah was afraid for his life and he ran away. He went on “a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:4). We would expect God to tell Elijah on the spot that “you will not die.” But, on two occasions, the angel of God gave him food. 1 Kings 19:7 (NKJV) records that “And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 

“Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God” (1 Kings 19:8). Definitely, we see the sustenance of God in this scripture. What we need to know is that even God admonished a hungry prophet to eat. Hunger can cause one to live wayward and most childhood thefts among children of third world countries are caused by hunger. What can we do as a church to help poor members in our communities? What can we do to minimize the impacts of hunger? James asks these questions in James 2:15-15: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”

Jesus has made us aware that on the day of judgement, “the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:34‭-‬35‭, ‬40)

You can make a contribution to any organization that helps in food crises, you can drop some food at the food bank and you can invite that lonely person in your church to have supper. You will save lives. God bless.

Man shall not live on bread alone.

The temptation of Jesus and the temptation of Adam and Eve is connected. In both temptations, the devil asked for something to be done. Adam and Eve failed this temptation because they could not resist the offer to be like God. Therefore when the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it and gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it (Genesis 3:6). On the other hand, when Jesus was asked to turn stones in bread, He replied that “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God “(Matthew 4:4). Both had knowledge of what God’s word was but not all of them passed the test.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”(Matthew 4:4)

The desire for food and the craving to satisfy one’s hunger can cause people to do the unthinkable. Esau sold his birthright for a bowl of food because he was legitimately hungry. Esau didn’t consider the implications of his actions until his blessings were transferred to Jacob. Hunger can make people do things they will not do if they are not hungry. In fact the biggest and most lingering global pandemic that has stayed longer is hunger. More people have died of starvation than any other pandemic. The cure for hunger is food and tonnes of food are wasted each by those who have more than enough. If you can support any worthy cause that supplies food to the hungry, please do.

There is another form of hunger which is a spiritual hunger. This hunger cannot be satisfied with bread but with spiritual food. Mankind’s connection with God is the reason we sometimes feel this moment of hunger and emptiness that is not filled by food. The only way to fill this hunger is by the word of God. The devil is aware of mankind’s need for God and always tries to bring other things to satisfy that hunger. However, when we know the truth, it will set us free from the devil’s lies. Jesus is the truth and He is the only way to God (John 14:6). Bread cannot satisfy your internal hunger. There are many hungry people around us who need the truth.

Today, share the love of God with someone. Lead someone to Christ and tell them of God’s plan for their salvation (John 3:16). Remember, bread is good but it doesn’t satisfy our hunger for God!
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