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| 1943 Famine in Calcutta, India |
India has advanced considerably since their independence from the British empire in 1947. No longer a third world country, they haven't suffered from major famines since the early 1970s which even then was averted by emergency foreign aid.
During the middle ages famines were so bad that entire provinces of India were depopulated. Famines continued to rage through the centuries claiming millions of lives up through the time India was incorporated into the British empire.
India was and still is (to some extent) heavily dependent on massive amounts of rainfall for a good harvest. However this year has been a dry one for several regions of India. I have been told that millions of dollars of crops have been lost already, and that there has been some talk of famine. By God's grace it does not appear that this year will be anything like the famines India has experienced in the past.
Famines are pretty sobering experiences, the bible has a lot to say about them. It is natural, even healthy for us to ask ourselves why they happen. Ultimately God says that He is sovereign over all things, including rain (Jer 5:24, Amos 4:7) Jesus points out that it is really amazing that God ever allows rain for those who don't believe in him. (Mat 5:45)
We can't say that anyone deserves drought more than another. Ultimately none of us are innocent - as Christ says about those whom the tower of Silaom fell on (Luk 13:4) - they were no more deserving of that terrible fate than any others. None of us are innocent, we all (Americans) deserve a 9/11, a hurricane Katrina, a Southeast Asia Tsunami, an Iranian Earthquake, and ultimately the greatest disaster of all, the second death that awaits everyone who's lives are not hid in Christ.
It's very sobering.
Here are a few photos that tell the stories of famines past in India.
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| Relief in Bellary, Madras Presidency 1877; more than 5 million died in India |
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| Drought was a major cause of famine |
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| Terrible |
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| The 1876-1878 Great famine was tied to increased taxes and drought |
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| Binnamungalum Relief Kitchen Bangalore 1877 same place as above photo |
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| December 28th, 1943 Famine relief. Royal Air force airman hands out food. |
As I write this article all I can think is how merciful God has been to withhold famine from our land for so long, and how great a warning the previous famines stand to instruct us not to turn away from Him. I pray also, that we will see the goodness of God in sending Christ to die for all our sins, and will live accordingly, by His grace.
I think there is a helpful connection between these two verses:
learn to do good; seek justice; correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow." Isiah 1:17,18
Soli Deo Gloria,
Josh
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| Reform your life and doctrine, meet with God in the text |
3 comments:
Sobering reminder of our complete dependence upon God's grace. We don't experience famine here but we have other 'natural' disasters in every part of our country. Life is fragile. God is sovereign and we bow before Him in submission and in gratitude.
Oh My, I have not given proper thought in years past to try and understand even "What is a Famine?" Or the terribleness of it, why they happen? the causes? etc. Very sobering and helpful post. O' God in mercy send the rain - send the rain - how dependent truly we are upon God who sends the rain needed both to produce crops in our lands, and the rain of His grace to revive us and awaken us as passionate believers in Christ.
How disturbing that first picture is (they are all disturbing), but what troubles in the first is the dying one in the street while the well fed and well clothed wander about his misery unaffected. Terrible.
Thank you for this reminder that every good thing any of us ever experience comes from the sheer grace and mercy of God. All we have is a gift so we should be humbled and merciful to others in return.
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