A Famine Of Hearing God’s Word

“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 8:11What a terrible condition for a land, a nation, a church or an individual to be in. Starving souls and a famine of hearing God’s word, that is, the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God”, says Paul. Then what else can this famine mean, what else can this famine produce, but a scarcity of faith? A deprivation of true spirituality imposed by God Himself.

Men imagine they can exercise faith as they please, by their own free will, but if God will not give it, nor the hearing of the gospel produce it, then not only is the gift withheld but, so too, is the means of revealing that gift. Men have neither faith in their hearts nor Jesus Christ, the object of faith, set before them in the gospel.

If God sends this famine it will not be broken by an evangelism committee or church-growth programme. Not all the plowing, sowing or watering, suppose we wet the ground with our tears, will cause such a famine to lift. Salvation is of the Lord!

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”

Lord, remember mercy. Send us preachers. Create in us a hunger and thirst after righteousness, and feed Thy people with the Bread of Life.