A Mighty Famine in the Land - Luke 15:14

The beloved physician Luke wrote how Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living”, and in chapter fifteen and verse fourteen of his book Luke wrote how Jesus said, “there arose a mighty famine in the land” where we read:

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

The verse reads, “And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land;” Luke began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “he had spent all” which means “the younger son wasted, consumed and squandered each, every, the whole and everything he owned”, “there arose a mighty famine” or “it happened and there became a strong, powerful and valiant scarcity of harvest and dearth” “in that land” which means “within that particular country, territory, region and ground in which the younger son was living”. Luke shared how Jesus said the younger son squandered everything he had, and afterward a “powerful dearth” came upon the country in which he was living.

The verse goes on to say, “and he began to be in want.” Luke continued with the words, “and he began to be” or “and the younger son commenced to exist” “in want” which means “in lack, devoid of sustenance, destitute and suffering need”. Luke shared how Jesus said the younger son commenced to “suffering need” and being “destitute” when all his resources were gone.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn the fate forged by this younger son squandering all he possessed. Though he “lived it up” for a while, the famine in the land brought him to a place of “suffering need”. God provides all resources, and many people “squander” them with “riotous living”. When a time of “destitution” comes along, they become very much like this “younger son”. God's desire is to have a relationship with everyone through His Son Jesus, and when they yield their lives to Him, they understand all “good things” come from God and He will take care of them. (See James 1:17) Those who are wise will not only recognize the “source” of their belongings, but also His passionate desire to relate to them to whom He so freely gives.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says the son, “went and joined himself to a citizen of that country”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".