"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord God, "that I will send a famine on the land..."(Amos 8:11) How shall we get prepared? Store canned food in the basement, buy up gold instead of savings or stock, build a fallout shelter with stockpiles of water and survival food, get guns and ammunition, stock up on toilet paper? Man, in his limited wisdom, has attempted all of these steps to somehow outsmart and survive the coming famine. None of this will save us!
God's promises and warnings in Scripture are sure. He is not mocked; they will happen just as He says. So it is important to consider the rest of that famine verse. "...not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord." The famine is about hearing the words of the Lord. He further states that people "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.
Our first thought is that they will take away our Bibles, so we better memorize the Word. While this is a useful discipline with great rewards - "Your Word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." (Psalm 119:11), it is not the focus of this particular instruction. Notice the famine is not for the Word, but of hearing the words of the Lord. Jesus said it this way, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (Matthew 11:15)
Hearing requires more than letting the sound vibrations reach our ears. It also involves a definite response to the words with appropriate action or change of heart. Remember when Jesus gave the example of building your house on the rock or the sand, declaring "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand." The coming famine will be an attitude of not giving heed to what God has said in His Word, or thinking man's opinions overrule God. However, the rule of Romans 3:4 will always hold: "Let God be true and every man a liar."
Proverbs 1:25-31 points out that those who hated knowledge and refused correction will not find God as a refuge in the day of trouble. However, there is also given the key to what does work. Notice verse 33, which declares "whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil." Those who listen to God will not fear. However, it seems that more people talk about hearing God's voice than those who really do. So how do we learn to hear Him and receive His instruction in a way that protects us from what is coming on the world?
The majority of Christians say they want to, but really don't, hear His voice. First, we wouldn't even know Jesus is the Son of God if the Father hadn't revealed that truth to us, so we have already heard Him. His voice is the same as when you received conviction that you need Jesus to save you and to be your Lord.
Secondly, we can't expect God to keep talking if we haven't done what He has already told us. Being faithful in little is the key to receiving more. In your heart of hearts, or the part of you that just "knows" things, what has God said to you? Maybe in your reading of the Word, in counsel of godly teachers, or in your reflections during quiet times. By the way, God doesn't mind repeating things if you really don't know. Ask Him. Then do what you believe He has given you, so you can receive more.
Thirdly, take time to seek Him. The world continually nags us to be busy with all kinds of things, but didn't Jesus say in the parable of the sower that the cares of this world choke the Word? We all know people who want to talk to us, but they keep talking so much that we can hardly get a word in. Are we that way with God? There is a reason Psalm 46:10 says "Be still, and know that I am God." The Word repeats many times the admonition, seek Him or seek His face. Deliberately, come into God's presence with thanksgiving, praise, and worship (Psalm 100), and then wait for Him to speak. Give Him as much time to speak as you have taken His time to speak to Him. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength and mount up with wings like the eagles.
God is seeking those who seek Him. A famine is coming. Isaiah 60 reminds us about coming darkness on the earth and deep darkness on the people, but God's plan for believers is for His light to come to us and His glory to be seen in us. We avoid the greatest famine, which is of hearing the words of the Lord, by asking the Holy Spirit to help us hear His voice, and to do what He says. Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it, according to Jesus.
Holy Spirit, today I choose to take time to hear Your voice. Help me wait on You and seek Your voice. Open my heart to hear, and to be faithful to do what You say.
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