Is There Famine In The Land?
According to
Genesis 12:10.
there was…
Now there was a famine in the land,
and Abram went down to Egypt to live there
for a while because the famine was severe.
Now there was
וַיְהִ֥י
way·hî
1961
hayah
hayah: To be, become, come to pass, exist, happen
Original Word: הָיָה
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: hayah
Pronunciation: hah-yah
Phonetic Spelling: (haw-yaw)
Definition: To be, become, come to pass, exist, happen
Meaning: to exist, be, become, come to pass
G1510 (eimi):
The Greek equivalent often used in the New Testament to express: being or existence,
as seen in Yeshua/Jesus’ declarations of
I am (e.g., John 8:58).
The Hebrew verb hayah is a fundamental term in the Old Testament, often translated as to be or to become. It conveys the idea of existence, occurrence, or coming into being. This verb is pivotal in expressing states of being and the unfolding of events. It is frequently used in the context of God’s self-revelation, as seen in the divine name I AM – YHWH or YHVH
Exodus 3:14.
(written both with a W and a V).
In ancient Hebrew culture, the concept of being was not merely about static existence but involved dynamic action and purpose. The verb “hayah” reflects this understanding, emphasizing the active presence and involvement of God in the world. The use of “hayah” in the context of God’s name (YHWH/YHVH) underscores His eternal, self-existent nature, distinguishing Him from the false gods/fallen angels of surrounding nations.
To fall out, come to pass, become, be
Come into being, become:
III. Be (often with subordinate idea of becoming); —
1 exist, be in existence (i.e. originally have come into existence),
Here is a little insight from Hebrew.
The word for
There was is yehi
A familiar place that we see this in scripture is in
Genesis 1:3
yehi or (owr) –
let there be light or light be.
1961 [e]
yə·hî
יְהִ֣י
let there be
V‑Qal‑Imperf.Jus‑3ms
3570
הָיָה
verb: fall out, come to pass, become, be
(SI1; SI6 היה, ib3 הית; parallel form of הוה, Arabic ,
Aramaic הֲוָא, ; see הָוָה above) —
Qal Perfect 3masculine singular הָיָה Genesis 3:1 +; וְהָיָה consecutive Genesis 4:14 +; 3 feminine singular הָֽיְתָה Genesis 1:2 +; הָיָ֑תָה Isaiah 14:24 3t.; וְהָֽיְתָה consecutive Genesis 9:13 +; והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qr וְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singular הָיִיתָ Deuteronomy 5:15 +; 1 singular הָיִיתִיGenesis 31:40; 3 plural הָיוּ Genesis 6:4 +; 2 masculine plural הֱיִיתֶ ם Exodus 22:20 +; וִהְיִיתֶם consecutive Genesis 3:5 +; 1 plural הָיִינוּIsaiah 1:9 +; etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִהְיֶה Genesis 1:29 +; jussive יְהִיGenesis 1:3 +; יֶהִ֑י
Genesis 1:3
HEB: וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי־
KJV: said, Let there be light:
INT: said God Let there be light and there
Which is rendered as:
AND HE WAS BECOMING
We don’t translate it that way because it doesn’t fit the word Famine. However, maybe it does from a Hebrew word play; during our studies we are seeing there are many such ‘plays on words’. We also have to remember there are ‘layers’ in the scriptures which we have learned are called:
PaRDeS using the first letters from 4 words.
The four levels of interpretation are called:
Parshat:
pronounced: peh-shaht –
meaning: simple.
The p’shat is the plain, simple meaning of the text.
Remez:
pronounced: reh-mez’ –
meaning: hint.
This is where another (implied) meaning is alluded to in the text, usually revealing a deeper meaning.
D’rash:
pronounced: deh-rahsh’
also called ‘Midrash,’
meaning: concept
Sud:
pronounced either: sawd, or sood [like ‘wood’]
– meaning: hidden.
For more detail and examples click link below:
https://www.minimannamoments.com/pardes-what-is-that/
Gods’ Word is a Living Word and it ministers to the individual reader as they study His Word at whatever level they are at, whether a new believer or a mature scholar; there is always something fresh and new to be discovered in the scriptures.
Of course it is clear from the text that there was a literal famine in the land, meaning of course there was a lack of physical food.
What if we say and read the verse as:
He was becoming a famine in the land?
The Rabbis saw this double meaning, which gives the play on words and they brought out that meaning – that not only were the people suffering from a natural famine for physical food but spiritually for God as well.
Jewish literature gives the spiritual rendering as:
There was a lack of faith in the land.
For many especially in western countries, famine has little to no significance, however if we give Genesis 12:10 this second spiritual meaning:
And He /God was becoming a famine in the land.
It may have more truth to it than we freely want to admit.
There may be exactly what Amos warned of…
a
It sounds strange that this might be true in those nations seemingly overflowing with an abundance of Christian resources and multiple denominations; yet people are buying and consuming books, cd’s, dvd’s, youtube videos and conferences and still not being fed and filled with the simple truths of His Word. Is it because the teaching is on how to live successfully, prosperously and have everything you desire and so little on deep study of the Word of God, obedience and how to walk in holiness and self denial by crucifying the flesh life?
The word for famine in Hebrew is
7458 [e]
rā·‘āḇ
רָעָ֖ב
a famine
N‑ms
7458 raab: Famine, hunger
Resh – ayin – beth
Original Word: רָעָב
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ra`ab
Pronunciation: rah-av’
Phonetic Spelling: raw-awb’
Definition: Famine, hunger
Meaning: hunger
Derived from the root verb רָעֵב (ra’ev),
meaning:
“to be hungry” or “to suffer hunger.”
Greek 3042 (λιμός, limos) –
Often used in the New Testament to describe:
famine or hunger,
as seen in passages like
Matthew 24:7:
“Nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom.
There will be famines and
earthquakes in various places.”
The Hebrew word “raab” primarily denotes:
a state of famine
or
severe hunger.
It is used in the Old Testament/TaNaKH to describe periods of extreme scarcity of food, often as a result of drought, war, or divine judgment.
The term can also refer to the physical sensation of hunger experienced by individuals.
In the ancient Near East, agriculture was the backbone of society, and the success of crops was crucial for survival.
Famine was a common and feared occurrence, often leading to migration, social upheaval, and economic distress.
In the biblical narrative, famines are sometimes depicted as instruments of God’s judgment or as tests of faith. They also serve as pivotal moments in the lives of key biblical figures, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Joseph, influencing their decisions and shaping the history of Israel.
ra”av which is spelled in Hebrew letters:
resh ayin beth
(Recall in the Hebrew aleph bet that the letters b=bet/beth/beyt and v=vet are interchangeable and sometimes spelled differently.)
resh/reysh = prideful man
ayin =greed
beth = feelings of spiritual superiority.
The word for famine has its own built in meaning or picture, it is telling us what exactly brings about a spiritual famine; namely: Prideful man becomes greedy
and
develops feelings of superiority.
This brings not only famine to a nation but to church assemblies and individual lives. We may not be in a famine of food right now, but we may be in a spiritual famine of Gods’ Word and the presence of His Holy Spirit in our lives. We should look first to ourselves and we may find that we are still wandering through the wilderness, a desert land made up of our own hopes and dreams; plans we have made for ourselves so long ago and still not seen them fulfilled because we were the source and initiator of that plan.
Another reason could be that if we are in a place where everything seems to be falling apart all around us, even though there is advice, words of wisdom and knowledge but little helpful scriptural advice and nothing to drink that quenches that thirst in us. Is it, as the rabbis suggest, because that famine in our life is a lack of faith?
Aren’t we to live by faith as stated in Habakkuk 2:4?
This is what a believer is supposed to do but we are also warned that without faith its impossible to please God.
Looking at the Hebrew rendering is:
the just shall live in his faith.
Some translations say
live by faith
and others
by his faith
530 [e]
be·’ĕ·mū·nā·ṯōw
בֶּאֱמוּנָת֥וֹ
by his faith
Prep‑b | N‑fsc | 3ms
530 emunah:
Faithfulness, fidelity, steadfastness, trust, faith
It is relatively so easy to step out of our faith because we allow our pride to rise up; and then we begin to trust in our own abilities, skills, giftings and mental reasoning instead of trusting our Heavenly Father. We must never forget that a mere twenty four hours can change a life forever through circumstances beyond our control such as loss of income, job, spouse, health. Etc etc.
Our hope is to be built on nothing less than
Messiah’s Blood and Righteousness…
Spiritual famine in our lives could be because
Galatians 5:24 is not fully manifested in us.
Those who belong to Him
have crucified the flesh
with its passions and desires.
These passions and desires of our natural, carnal, fleshly man are the things that contribute to spiritual famine. All physical passions, bodily cravings and lusts of the flesh are of the natural life of a person, and they war continually against the spirit. Satisfying cravings, addictions, desires, lusts of the body in all its different requirements have to be tempered by, and subject to, the spiritual man.
The natural life in itself is not sinful but we must abandon sin, having nothing to do with it in any way. Sin has its roots in rebellion, disobedience and pride which belongs to hell and the devil. It’s not a question of giving up sin but of giving up our individual right to ourself, our natural independence and our self will and being conformed to the image of His Son. Romans 8:29. This is where the battle is fought even Paul said he did what I didn’t want to do.
For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
Romans 7:19-25 19.
The things that are right and noble and good from the natural standpoint are more often than not, the very things that keep us from being Gods best. Once we come to understand that self-righteousness and natural moral excellence, opposes or aids in counteracting any attempt to surrender to the Lord God; we bring our soul into the center of its greatest conflict and yet, it is a battle we must not only fight but also win.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1.
What is determined as being bad and sinful is usually obvious however, we tend to argue over what is good and good is usually in opposition to the best. The higher up the ladder of moral excellence a person goes in their own strength and abilities, then the opposition to Yeshua/Jesus greatly increases. This is in contrast to those who are His, they have crucified the flesh of the carnal man that tries to control the lifestyle. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
Galatians 5:24.
The cost to our natural life is not just one or two things here and there, but everything. Messiah made it clear that a person must “Deny himself to follow Me”.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. Matthew 16:24.
We must deny our right to ourselves and fully realize who Yeshua/Jesus is before we will be able to bring ourselves to surrender all.
There is a caveat throughout the scriptures which continually teaches us to trust and rely on our Heavenly Father, and points to us needing to be aware of refusing to go to the funeral of our own independence.
For if we have become one with Him [permanently united] in the likeness of His death, we will also certainly be [one with Him and share fully] in the likeness of His resurrection. Romans 6:5. and 6. We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.…
The natural life is not spiritual, and it can only be made so through sacrifice. If we don’t purposely sacrifice the natural by dying to self, then the supernatural can never become natural to us. The truth is that we should be walking, living and manifesting the supernatural naturally.
John 14:12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
There is no high or easy road and yet everyone can accomplish it, this is not done just by praying but by sacrificing and exercising our will to do so and thereby being obedient by doing His will. Becoming a doer and not just a hearer only.
Here Paul was dealing with the relationship between the natural and the spiritual not simply with sin. He was making it clear that the natural man can only be transformed into a spiritual one through sacrifice; and without that sacrifice an individual person will live a divided life. Our Heavenly Father’s perfect will was for the natural to be changed into spiritual through obedience. Sin is what makes it necessary for that natural life to be sacrificed; this process was of course fulfilled in Messiah Himself.
We read of this in
Genesis 21:8-14.
This process was foreshadowed in Abraham
by him having to first give up Ishmael,
who was the son of the flesh, created using physical, natural, carnal means and their natural thinking of how to fulfill a prophetic promise in his own timeline.
This, before Isaac, who was the son of the spirit, who was given in God’s timing and through His intervention and provision.
Some of us are probably trying to offer up spiritual sacrifices to our Heavenly Father before we have sacrificed the natural. The only way we can offer a spiritual sacrifice to Him is to present our bodies a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.
The work of sanctification in our lives means more than being free from sin, it means the very deliberate commitment of ourselves to the Heavenly Father, God of our salvation and being willing to pay whatever it may cost. The truth is that if we don’t sacrifice the natural to the spiritual, the natural life will resist and defy the life of the Son of God in us; and this resistance will produce continual turmoil and a lack of true shalom. This is always the result of an undisciplined spiritual nature and we go wrong when we stubbornly refuse to discipline ourselves physically, or think we have it conquered in our own strength. We are lazy and are not vigilant over how we live and what we eat and tend to pander to the demands of our own flesh. Many times we do things pertaining to morality which is simply what we choose and want to do, regardless of what the Word says; mentally thinking our way is still the better way and reasoning that it’s ok for us….God understands! We excuse ourselves by saying that we were not taught to be disciplined as a child…there is no excuse, now as an adult we need to discipline ourselves.
Sometimes we lean on a victim mentality, or saying it’s not our fault because of this or that situation; these are all excuses of the carnal mind. We need to change and become what the Word calls us to be. Be holy as I am holy. Leviticus 19:2.
We need to become obedient children, with self-control, reverent fear, and to stay alert both mentally and spiritually. This mental discipline requires a concentrated focus on trusting in our Heavenly Father to get us to our final destination, where we will experience the fullness of God’s grace in Yeshua haMashiach/Jesus Christ.
This reverent fear refers to a humble, respectful awe of God, which motivates us to live obedient, holy lives.
1Peter 1:15-16.
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Through Moses, God spoke to the people, saying, “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” Leviticus 19:2.
Both the Old and the New Testament stress the importance of cultivating personal holiness in the life of every believer:
In Hebrew, the words translated holy and holiness have to do with being set apart, separate, different, or dedicated. The absolute moral purity of God’s character sets Him apart, making Him different from every other living creature. Yet He calls His people to be Holy as He is Holy. Humans generally think of holiness as obeying God’s law. But, for God, holiness is not a mere action or a set of behaviors. Holiness is His essence. Our Heavenly Father is morally and ethically perfect by nature. So how can we set ourselves apart to reflect His Holiness in the way we live?
“You must live as God’s obedient children,” says Peter, “Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires” 1Peter 1:14, NLT.
If we don’t we will ruin our entire personal life for the Lord. Being one way in public to impress, deceive and delude others that we are spiritual, doesn’t fool our Heavenly Father or those with a discerning spirit. As long as we continue to pamper and gratify our natural life God is not actively involved in it. He is not there when we are gluttons or feed the flesh through any number of physical lusts, or anything that is apart from the gospel of His kingdom. Because anything of this world and its’ kingdoms He is not a partaker of or connected to.
Luke 4:5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Obviously, the Kingdom of satan has a king, which is satan himself. Furthermore, it’s not a democracy, and he could decide to give it to anyone he chose.
John 18:36: “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:
John 8:23 – Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
But once we are willing to put our flesh life out in the desert wilderness and are determined to keep it under control of our spirit, starving it of its’ cravings, our Heavenly Father and His Spirit of Holiness will be with us. He will then provide food for the hungry and the famine of His Word will be stopped.
Let’s make sure there is no famine in our very own personal land/house/dwelling and that we are Being filled with all the fullness of God and that Ephesians 3:19 is being completed unto a perfect man.
This kind of filling with the fullness of God implies total commitment to this filling. Our Heavenly Father wants us to be fully like Him because He wants to bring many sons/daughters to glory.
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