A Famine In The Land

By: Bob Winston

"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). God plainly promised that the time was coming when a famine would ravage the land; it would not be a literal famine in which there would be a lack of food. This famine would entail a scarcity of God's word. The people affected would be starving for the word of God, but it would not be accessible as before. God had sent Amos and a host of other prophets to deliver to his people his word. They had rejected the messages and persecuted the prophets (Compare Acts 7:51-53; Matthew 23:37-38; 13:1-17). God would bear with them only so long; he would give them sufficient warnings through the prophets, and ample opportunity, to return to the way of holiness, but when they persisted in their rebellion, he would send punishment. They would long for the time when they could hear God's will, but the prophets would no longer be present to reveal it to them (Psalm 74:9). For four hundred years, from Malachi to John the Baptizer, there was no new word from heaven.

"And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst" (Amos 8:12-13). They would seek to hear from God, but would be disappointed. Even the young people would faint from thirst. In a literal famine, it is usually the young grownups who fair best, but those who are best prepared to cope with this famine of God's word would falter.

"They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again" (Amos 8:14). Idolatry was the sin of Samaria. It encompassed the whole land, and because it led people from God's Law, they turned to oppressing the poor, materialism, immorality, and profligacy.

Before a nation decays morally socially and politically, it will first decay in religion (Psalm 9:17). Survey the present state of America, and weep for the tragic future that awaits us -- unless there is true repentance on the part of the many!