In recent meditations, we learned of people’s propensity to relocate from famine spots to greener pasture elsewhere. It is a manifestation of the survival instinct in man. There is a different angle to the subject. The Bible recognizes another type of famine apart from scarcity of food. This is what is noted in our text as the famine of the word of God. Whereas the famine of food and water is a terrible thing, the famine of the word is worse in comparison. As we shall demonstrate shortly, if there is no famine of the word we can navigate successfully through any austere season.

Connecting with the word of God will invariably lead to the place of abundance amid scarcity. One of the greatest prayers we can make is to ask God not to afflict us with the famine of the word.

Take note that the famine of bread is not a new thing. Abraham experienced famine; so did Isaac and Jacob. They all survived the famine because of access to the word of God. Another example is that of Elijah. Shortly after he proclaimed to Ahab that there would be no rain in the land, the word of the Lord instructed him to go to Cherith. In that seclusion, the ravens brought him food morning and evening while he drank from the brook. When the brook dried up, the word of the Lord came to him again to go to Zarepath. In his new location, a widow sustained him all through the time of famine. Job 5:22 states that we can laugh at famine. How is that possible? Connecting with the word of God will invariably lead to the place of abundance amid scarcity. One of the greatest prayers we can make is to ask God not to afflict us with the famine of the word. A famine of the word will not only leave us scratching for survival, but also leave us confused not knowing what next to do. Saul suffered a famine of the word; and ended up going to the witch at Endor. It was one of the reasons he ended miserably.