Times of scarcity and hunger are a recurring theme in the biblical narrative, often serving as a backdrop for God's providence and redemption. In Genesis, Abraham faces famine in Canaan, while Joseph's wisdom helps Egypt prepare for and endure a severe famine. The prophets, such as Amos, warn of a greater famine - one of hearing the words of the Lord. Jesus also speaks of famines as a sign of the end times, as recorded in Matthew and Luke, emphasizing the need for spiritual preparedness amidst earthly uncertainty.
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Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
There will be great earthquakes, famines, and pestilences in various places, along with fearful sights and great signs from heaven.
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.
When the seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end, the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was famine in every country, there was food throughout the land of Egypt. When extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.
“I beset all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. “I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered. People staggered from city to city for water to drink, but they were not satisfied; yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. “I struck you with blight and mildew in your growing gardens and vineyards; the locust devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD.
If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”