Hunger was the most basic need God addressed from the beginning.
It’s incredible of all the various wants and needs developed since then and from then it remains the basic need of the human experience. Whether it’s mental stimulation or sexual gratification it can all be classed as a form of ‘hunger’ that needs feeding.
God’s way of meeting that need from the beginning was abundant – literally. All the fruits of the garden was available and only one tree was to be avoided to continue to enjoy that arrangement. At his disposal, on tap, as he nurtured the garden and kept it at his fingertips man’s hunger was satisfied.
Since sin entered the world the dynamic has changed drastically. Realising and often ignoring our spiritual need for completion in God we have wondered longing for something that would satisfy. We have looked to fill the God-sized hole with anything and everything from noble sentiments to depraved acts. All they have done is highlight just how hge the void is and how pathetic and inadequate every alternative is.
Nothing else can fill the hunger.
So reconnecting back with God through the Bread of Heaven is truly engaging with the meal fit for the King. We can see why the Messiah Himself said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. Indeed going to the right spot for the feeding satisfies all needs and leaves us longing for nothing else. Truly the Bread of heaven feeds us till we want no more.
Not only that though, there’s sufficient provision to feed ourselves and others. Which leads to a wonderful insight I got from a favourite biblical passage.
2 Kings 6:15-23 is the completion of an episode of hostilities between Syria and Israel. The Syrian King is perturbed by his plans being exposed to the enemy in advance. So perturbed that he thinks there must be a mole who is leaking the information he has kept watertight. His advisors assure him the only leak going on is the divine kind as the prophet Elisha has the inside track on everything said in the King’s private chambers.
The King obviously decides it’s important to snuff out the prophet. Leading to the epic scene of a village being surrounded by the army and Elisha’s assistant being nervous and frightened of what faces him. Elisha, however, has a better perspective on things and asks God to do a job on his servant’s eyes so that he can see the reality. The servant sees the mighty heavenly host far outnumbering the Syrian platoon. Keeping with the vision thing, Elisha asks for the soldiers to be struck blind and then he leads them all right into the hands of their enemy.
When Israel’s King discovers the boon he asks Elisha if it’s clobberin’ time. That’s reasonable. Here’s the enemy right on your doorstep, you have the advantage, you can rout them and send a message to everyone else that you don’t mess with Israel.
Elisha says something remarkable. Nope, don’t kill them. Don’t hurt them. Feed them and let them go.
Say what? Do what now? Are you kidding me, Elisha?
When I’ve read that episode before I got excited about the whole vision thing of seeing and then being able to let those who think they see don’t see. That whole vision thing got me excited.
My friend, recently, however, pointed me to Elisha’s instruction to feed the enemy. Meet the need of the enemy. Bridge the gap of the enemy, treat them as you would treat a beloved friend. Feed them.
It brought me back to mind that in Jesus Christ, God feeds His enemies. We who were once not His people, not a part of the fold, not His; we who were enemies through sin, now have a chance to be made right as we feed by faith in Him who liberates captives and feeds them.
An understandable first reaction to someone who has wronged you is to wrong them. If you’re not going to wrong them you will certainly not look to engage or associate with them again. Yet what does Jesus practice? Not only does He say bless those who despitefully use you – He shows that on the cross. Just to show it’s not just something that Jesus can do, Stephen asks God to forgive those who are stoning him to death. Among those giving their approval is Saul, a man who would then get converted to following the Way of the Bread of Life.
Feeding them is literal and spiritual. Even your enemy hungers. Maybe they oppose you because they are not satisfied. We are given enough role models to see that the answer is not to spite them, scorn them or mistreat them. Our response as Jesus responded is to feed them.
God ever help us as we feed them so they will feast on Christ and hunger no more.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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