Power of Hunger Pains

The Shocking Message



These weekly devotionals I will be posting come from and are copyright to Pam Iannello, my pastor's late wife who went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2008. They were written by a Godly lady for other ladies young and old so that their walk with the Lord may be strengthened.

Used with permission from New Beginnings Baptist Church.


Learning how to face our family problems through an in-depth study of the troubled home of Joseph.




This devotion is part of the "Family Problems" series.



There is no doubt that one of the strongest motivating forces in life is hunger! No matter how tired we might be, hunger will compel many of us resting on a comfortable couch to rise up and make our way enthusiastically toward the refrigerator. In fact, folks will do things for food they won't do for any other reason! I remember one day in elementary school, during lunch break in the cafeteria, when my craving for a fudgesicle drove me to agree to swallowing a big spoon of mustard before a friend would give me a quarter to buy one for myself. Though I despised mustard and she knew it, I submitted to her demands only to find myself too nauseated to eat the fudgesicle I had been persuaded by desire to earn! Can you ever remember a time when you experienced a strong need or desire for food? Intense cravings such as these reduce our pride and humble us in a way that nothing else can…

Genesis 41:53-57
And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

Again we find through these events that God's Word is sure! The seven years of plenty that had been foretold in Pharaoh's dream had passed and the seven years of famine were now beginning. Famine has a way of bringing us to the place where we realize that our sufficiency is not in ourselves. Such was the case with the Egyptians who were experiencing dearth in all the land. As their hunger grew, their pride dwindled and they were driven to Pharaoh's feet begging for bread. This is precisely where the Lord intended them to go, for Pharaoh confidently pointed them to Joseph, he being a type of Christ who opened up all the storehouses and had plenty enough for all who came.

Ladies, where do your hunger pains take you when you are experiencing a famine? Do you have someone in your life that can point you in the right direction, in the way of nourishing food? Suffering extreme hunger is a humbling process, for it causes us to consume that which we would normally not take in, that which was rejected before. It is then that we find what was once considered distasteful becomes delicious and satisfying! Such as truth… Yes, spiritual famine is just as powerful as physical famine. Being in want reveals to us the true condition of our hearts. If our hearts are pure, suffering famine in our lives should drive us to the Lord and His Word for grace to help in time of need. But if our hearts are filled with sin and selfishness, we will have no appetite for spiritual food… By the way, what have you been eating lately?

Deut. 8:3
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

Scripture is clear that fulfillment is found in the Lord, yet how many of us live as if that were not so? Many of God's people go days at a time without digesting the scriptures! The young babes in Christ go without drinking of the milk of the Word and the older saints go without chewing on the meat of the Word. Therefore, we are an unhealthy lot - none of us maturing in our spiritual life at all! Like the prodigal son, we foolishly choose to perish of hunger in the places we live. We turn our noses up at the convicting smell of the truth and refuse to eat that which will make us strong in the Lord. If we don't watch out, God is going to send a famine our way!

Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

Ladies, a famine of the Word of God is the heaviest judgment. Are you famished for the Word of God today? If people are not interested in what the Lord has to say, God will grant folks their desire and discontinue providing them with a hearty meal from His Word. Are you starving for true bread? If God has to take away your bread to build your desire, He will! Christians who find themselves in non-compromising, Bible preaching churches ought to be thankful for the banquet of truth God prepares for them there. Are you willing to travel as far as necessary to receive solid nourishment for your soul? Satisfaction is guaranteed when the appetite is right. There is nothing quite like the power of hunger pains!

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003 Meet Ms. Pam

Other Rise and Shine Devotionals
New Beginnings Baptist Church Website