I’m not sure what thoughts and feelings the Scripture below conjures up, but I keep coming back to the sheer enormity of the East Africa famine; our sense of powerlessness in the face of so much suffering.
12 million people face starvation, camps like Dadaab bursting at the seams, and the age-old question assailing our ears: ‘Where is God in all this?’
Coupled with this, however, is an awareness that, daunting and discouraging though the situation is, God knows, cares, and through MAF and other agencies, something is being doing to provide help to the starving and malnourished.
The Bible verse below prompts me to see a kind of juxtaposition between the world coming to Egypt to get grain because of famine (Genesis 41:57) all those centuries before Christ, and the countries of the world coming to Africa with aid, in 2011AD.
Where is God in all this? He’s drawing the attention of the world to this devastating situation. He’s prompting consciences and prayer. He’s encouraging nations, individuals and organisations, Christian and non-Christian alike, to do something to provide comfort and support.
Rather than be overwhelmed by the staggering images of suffering we see in the media, we can pray to the One who provided grain in Egypt and manna in the desert, to meet East Africa’s needs today.
Let’s pray.
Prayer
Lord, the images I see on the news are upsetting, and when bad things happen I sometimes wonder where you are.
But Scripture and my experiences as a Christian show me you’re right there in the suffering, and that you care for the sick, the dying and the bereaved.
Thank you for the many people of the world who give sacrificially of their time, money, energy and prayers. Thank you for bringing the situation to our attention so we can do what we can to help.
Provide food as you did for God’s people in the desert and for the peoples of the ancient world when they came to Egypt.
In Jesus’ Name.
Amen
Bible Passage
Genesis 41:54-57
The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.’
When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere. [116]