Contemplative Bible Reading

Amos 8:11-12 (New Living Translation)

11 “The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord,
“when I will send a famine on the land—
not a famine of bread or water
but of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 People will stagger from sea to sea
and wander from border to border[c]
searching for the word of the Lord,
but they will not find it.

We don’t have famines in America. We probably have never experienced a famine. Droughts? Other bad weather? Yes. Famine? No.

In the Old Testament times, a famine was one of the worst things that could happen. The prophet uses the word “famine” to describe a horrible time that is coming. There will be a famine of hearing the words of God. People will want to hear from God, but they will not be able to do so.

I have in front of me the Internet where there are dozens of English translations of the Bible. The words of God flood at me. No problem. I have no concept of a famine of the words of God. Blessings are drowning me. How can I ignore them? Why would I ignore them?

Still, I have days when I do ignore them. What is wrong with me? Please God, help me in my unbelief.