30 HOUR FAMINE BIBLE STUDY


FEEDING THE HUNGRY
PREVIEW:

• WHAT GOD HAS WANTED ALL ALONG
The model for a just society, as articulated in the Law.

• WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE WHEN ISRAEL ACTUALLY GOT IT RIGHT.
How Boaz treated a poor and hungry Ruth.

• WHY GOD GETS TORQUED
God rips into His people for abandoning His model.

• IT’S NOT LIKE GOD REQUIRES A WHOLE LOT FROM US.
It’s really very simple.

• JESUS MODELED THIS FOR US.
When people were hungry, He fed them-no question asked.

• IN CASE WE STILL DON’T GET IT…
The Apostles don’t let us Christians off the hook either.


WHAT GOD HAS WANTED ALL ALONG
The model for a just society, as articulated in the Law.

Read these verses from the Bible-aloud, silently, as an impromptu choral reading, whatever. Just keep it interesting.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29

At the end of every third year bring the tithe of all your crops and store it in the nearest town. Give it to the Levites, who have no inheritance among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work.





Deuteronomy 24:19-22

When you are harvesting your crops and forget to bring in a bundle of grain from your field, don’t go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Then the LORD your God will bless you in all you do. When you beat the olives from your olive trees, don’t go over the boughs twice. Leave some of the olives for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. This also applies to the grapes in your vineyard. Do not glean the vines after they are picked, but leave any remaining grapes for the foreigners, orphans, and widows. Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. That is why I am giving you this command.


Psalm 146: 7-9

(God) gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry.

The LORD frees the prisoners.

The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.

The LORD lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads.

The LORD protects the foreigners among you.

He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.


Ezekiel 18:15-17

Suppose this son…. does not exploit the poor, but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. And suppose this son feeds the hungry, provides clothes for the needy, helps the poor, does not lend money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and laws.

Your Thoughts....?

• You get the feeling that God has a big soft spot in His heart for foreigners (immigrants and aliens), orphans, and widows. The reason is clear: In ancient times-and generally today too these are the people most vulnerable, least able to provide sufficiently for themselves, and therefore usually the most needy. See how the psalmist lists the hungry right in there with others whom the Lord cares particularly about: the oppressed…prisoners…the blind…. slaves to the economy…. the aliens…the fatherless and orphans…widows.


• In what ways, if at all, do food growers or grocers in your town follow the spirit of the Hebrew Law and sacrifice some efficiency for the sake of feeding the hungry? What do they do with the produce and baked goods that are just old enough to not be fresh? Does this food go into the dumpster, or do they call local homeless shelters for a pick up?

• Notice some of the ways the economic system God drafted for Israel took care of those who could not feed themselves.

• Harvesters weren’t to be too efficient, but rather intentionally leave a little out in the fields or in the orchards for the poor to glean for themselves. (Deuteronomy 24)

• Finally, it has always been a virtue to feed the hungry, however you do it-by donating canned food, by baking a casserole, by buying a guy a hamburger, by writing our congressional representatives to support legislation the provides for the hungry, or by building awareness and fundraising by doing the 30 Hour Famine.

• Does your church’s, or denomination’s, statement of faith or doctrine include anything about the hungry of the world-or of your community? If it does, what is it? If it doesn’t, why not?


Created by Youth Specialties (www.youthspecialties.com)