“When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, ‘Why do you just keep looking at each other?’ 2 He continued, ‘I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.’3 Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.”NIV

“When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt…” (1).

People know they want and need food, and if they lack it they will go where they can find it. This same principle applies spiritually.

Clearing out some old papers the other day, I came across a prophetic word, given in our church by a visiting speaker on 6th December1992. Someone in the congregation, who happened to know shorthand, wrote it down and afterwards gave me a copy. It included these words:

‘I am your God who will uphold you and strengthen you and carry you through. There are days coming in the Church in this nation, and the signs are already being seen, when there will be a famine of the Word of God. I have been moving amongst my people, and preparing an oasis in the wilderness. I have been preparing for that time, so there may still be food in my house for my children.’

Jacob sent his sons to where the food was.

There is so much about today’s culture that is trite and superficial and empty. People are ‘discipled’ by this crass material all day long; they are shaped by it. They are fed on this diet of junk food, and it does not satisfy their gnawing inner hunger. When the church tries to ape the world in its approach, placing style over substance, it is not doing ‘the starving’ any favours. It is in fact failing in its core mission.

One of the main features of the first Christian church in Jerusalem was their devotion to Scripture (see Acts 2:42-47). It wasn’t just about the Bible teaching. There were other key elements such as a close-knit fellowship and prayer. But the leaders spent lots of time in the kitchen preparing tasty, nutritious ‘meals’, and the people happily gathered around the table to ‘eat’.

I have long believed that the hungry will go to where they will find food.

Of course, it is not simply the Bible we need – it is rather the Christ who is at the heart of Scripture. He is the true Bread from heaven.

PRAYER: Lord, may your churches be places where the hungry find food.