Spiritual Cannibalism
Study No. 34
What Happens When There is a Famine of the Word?
During the prophesied spiritual famine, people wander, run to and fro seeking the word of God, but are unable to find it, the young faint for thirst, and some resort to idols, Amos 8:11-14.
There is a desperate seeking for some minister, but there are almost none who have light in them. People will be spiritually hungry and fret, and many will give up and blame God, Isaiah 8:19-22.
The leaders have caused God’s people to go astray, no man shall spare his brother, every man shall eat the flesh of his own arm, Isaiah 9:13-21.
All the synagogues of God in the land are burned up, we see not our signs; there is no prophet; no one knows how long this time of trial will last, Psalms 74:8-9.
All lie in wait for blood, everyone hunts his brother with a net. Sons and daughters rise up against their parents, husbands and wives fight against each other, Micah 7:1-7.
Because of sins, some shall eat the flesh of their own sons and daughters, Leviticus 26:26-29.
Many Have Lost Natural Capacity for Love and Tenderness
What is the only way to escape such things? To obey God’s laws, Deuteronomy 28:53-68, especially verse 58.
Does This Happen Even Among Remnant of God’s People?
Read Ezekiel 5:9-11.
n A Time of Famine, Food is Nigh at Hand, Through God. Those Who
Don’t Have Faith in God to Feed Them Will Die
Read II Kings 6:24-33, 7:1-20. Consider the parallel to the time of spiritual famine.
Horrendous Things, Because of Sins of the Prophets
Unbelievable destruction happens to God’s people, because of the sins of the prophets, Lamentations 4:5-14.
Read also Jeremiah 19:9 and Zechariah 11:8-9.
Lamentations 2:20-22 describes the day of God’s anger.
Evil Eye Against Brother
Instead of co-operation, the carnally minded turn on others. Deuteronomy 28:54 shows that " . . . his eye shall be evil toward his brother . . . ."
Deuteronomy 15:9 "Beware that . . . thine eye be evil against thy poor brother . . . ."
Some have an evil eye against those that are good, Matthew 20:15.
Foes In Own Household, Hated by God’s People
There will be variance, a great deal of it, in the household of God, Matthew 10:32-39.
Before the gospel shall be preached in all the world for a witness, we shall be delivered up to be afflicted, be killed, be hated. Many are to be offended, betray one another and hate one another. The love of many shall wax cold, Matthew 24:7-13.
Some will bite and devour, and consume one another, Galatians 5:15.
Frightened Sheep Allow False Ministers to Devour Them
Not knowing what to do, frightened sheep pursue self-destructive paths, II Corinthians 11:13-15, 19, 20, Psalms 14:1-7, and Micah 3:1-3.
What Should We Do in The Time of Spiritual Famine?
Habakkuk 3:17-19 "Yet [in spite of the famine] I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet [a swift deer], and He will make me to walk upon mine high places." Call upon Him to feed you, Proverbs 30:7-9.
Some people curse God when a famine comes. Others, like Job, cry out to Him. Which type of person will we be?
Remember II Kings 6 and 7. Don’t ever doubt that God can feed you in a spiritual famine. Don’t run from sea to sea. Open your eyes. God is waiting to feed you. Don’t give up doing good and eat your own flesh, Ecclesiastes 4:4-5. Don’t be a self-tormentor, Isaiah 9:20, 49:26.
Avoid spiritual cannibalism by never giving up doing good, I Corinthians 15:58. W