In Amos 8:11-12, the Bible says, "Behold, the days are coming," says the
Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall
wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and
fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it."
About 750 B.C. a farmer named
Amos was called as a prophet of God. Amos was sent to warn Israel of
their judgment and punishment by God if they did not as a nation repent.
When they did not, of course, the whole nation was led into Assyrian
captivity.
Part of Israel’s punishment
was to be a famine regarding the Word of God.
Today, there is a famine for
the Word of God, but not one imposed by God. Rather, the modern famine
for the Word is SELF-IMPOSED.
In the modern world there a
more copies of the Bible available in more languages than at any other
time in history. Bibles can be obtained for as little as $4-$5 a copy,
or even free if the right sources are accessed. Our own congregation has
multiple copies of the Word of God in each classroom, each pew, in the
church library, in the sound room, and even in the kitchen area of the
annex. These are versions of the Word of God that are textually
accurate, readable, inclusive of concordance and perhaps even other
Bible study helps, and are bound in hardback.
Throughout our building on a
weekly basis that are Bibles found that belong to our members. They are
found not only in the pew, but on the floors, in the restrooms, and even
have been found as they were being used for doorstops and
paperweights.
We have the Bible on
cassette, CD, on computer software, in tract form, and in one little jar
on a desk in one of the church building offices we even have the Bible
in separate verses on pieces of paper rolled up like the messages inside
Chinese fortune cookies.
In our homes we also have the
Bible. Old copies, newer ones, THE Bible we bring to worship and study,
in some cases a “Family Bible” which becomes more the family catch-all
for pictures, important documents, and various items such as dried
flowers, etc. We have Bible verses and chapters on cross-stitch pictures
in our homes, on bookmarks, calendars, and countless other items that
adorn our coffee tables and book shelves.
With all of these copies of
the Word of God at our disposal, surely we also have it hidden in our
hearts (Psalms 119:11). Surely it is at the forefront of our minds as we
memorize it and allow it to dwell in us richly (Colossians 3:16).
Certainly, we know the Bible better than any other book in our personal
collection of reading material.
The truth is…Many times not
only children but adults come to worship the Lord and study from His
Word but WITHOUT a copy of His Word in their hands. Many other times we
find Bibles lying around the church building. Some of these lie in the
same place for MONTHS on end.
The truth is…More of our
adults than we would care to admit wouldn’t know how to find books like
Zephaniah, Ezra, or even Philemon, because they have never taken the
time to find or read them before.
The truth is…We have a famine
for the Word of God Today. And not just in the world. But, even more
regrettably, in the church.
In Hosea 4:6, the prophet’s
words ring with truth even for us today…
"My people are destroyed for
lack of knowledge. Because
you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from
being priest for Me; Because
you have forgotten the law
of your God, I also will
forget your children."
David Decker