What does the Bible say about famines?

Famines in the Bible are often presented as instruments of divine judgment, tests of faith, or catalysts for God’s provision and deliverance. They appear throughout both the Old and New Testaments, often in connection with spiritual or national sin, but also as part of God’s sovereign dealings with nations.

In Genesis, famine led Abraham to go to Egypt (Genesis 12:10) and later caused Isaac to sojourn in Philistine territory (Genesis 26:1). Most notably, famine brought Jacob’s family to Egypt, where Joseph had already been providentially positioned to preserve life through God’s revelation and preparation (Genesis 41:28–32, 56–57).

Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 list famine among the curses that would come upon Israel if they broke God’s covenant. Leviticus 26:19–20 says:

“I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze… for your land shall not yield its produce.”

In the time of Elijah, a famine lasted three and a half years as judgment on Israel’s idolatry under Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17). Yet during that famine, God miraculously provided for Elijah, a widow, and her son (1 Kings 17:8–16).

Jesus also foretold famines as part of the signs of the last days. In Matthew 24:7 He said:

“And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”

In Acts 11:28, the prophet Agabus predicted a famine during the reign of Claudius, which came to pass. The church responded by sending relief to the brethren in Judea, showing Christian compassion in times of crisis.

Famines serve as wake-up calls in Scripture, calling people to repentance, dependence on God, and often positioning God’s people to serve others. They reveal both human vulnerability and divine faithfulness.

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