Why do millions die of hunger when God promises throughout the Bible to feed us physically?

[Erikaspirit16]

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible interprets Matthew 6:28-30 by saying “Anagogically: God supplies our physical needs to signify His greater concern for our spiritual needs. As His care for the lilies and the grass it outmatched by His provision of clothing for us, so the garments we receive prefigure God’s desire to clothe us with glory and immortality in heaven.”

This confirms my belief that this passage is literal.

I"m not sure we are communicating–or that we can. It’s like I’m holding up an apple, and you’re saying, “That’s a moose.” Nope, it’s an apple. Your passage answers your own question, but you seem not to see it.

Besides the literal meaning (and yes, some verses are literal!), there are three spiritual meanings: 1) allegorical (what is the relationship to Christ?) 2) moral (guidance to help us act justly) and 3) anagogical (what is the eternal significance?)

So yes, the Ignatius Bible explains that the anagogical explanation is that this is really all about Heaven (“God’s desire to clothe us with glory and immortality in heaven.”). Yes. It’s NOT about the how God will provide physical food for us. It’s using an analogy.

Catechsim, p. 32: "“In Sacred Scripture, God speaks to man in a human way. To interpret Scripture correctly, the reader must be attentive to what the human authors truly wanted to affirm and to what God wanted to reveal to us by their words.

In order to discover the sacred authors’ intention, the reader must take into account the conditions of their time and culture, the literary genres in use at that time, and the modes of feeling, speaking, and narrating then current. ‘For the fact is that truth is differently presented and expressed in the various types of historical writing, in prophetical and poetical texts, and in other forms of literary expression.’”

So tell me, what is God going to all this trouble to affirm and reveal? That he’s going to feed us? Really? Or that we should trust God because he will take care of us spiritually and lead us to Heaven? What’s the Bible about? Food distribution or Heaven?

I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt, but these are the sorts of baiting questions asked by atheists, etc.

 

[PJM]

There are MANY verses all over the Bible of God telling us not to worry because he will provide for our physical needs. One example is Matthew 6:25-34… "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Many of the teachings in the bible; especially in the NT are metaphorical. They are not to be understood literally. Wee this NOT true; Jesus would NOT have taught the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter five.

The poor, the underprivileged, the homeless, and so on exist so that WE MIGHT show our love of GOD by aiding and helping them. God does not expect Us to change the world; BUT God does expect each of US to use the talents and gifts HE does provide US; to be shared with others in need.

Matthew 5: 46-48 “[46] For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? [47] And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this? [48] Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.”

To those that God gives much; God expects MUCH

But Even those not super-abundantly blessed; God expects SOME Loving action on our part.

Easter Blessings,
Patrick

 

[SuperLuigi]

They lack the money to buy enough food to nourish themselves. Being constantly malnourished, they become weaker and often sick.

Malnourishment and starvation are 2 different things.

 

[ericc]

So why do millions die of hunger, dehydration, and lack of shelter? It seems that God isn’t keeping His promises?

First of all, Jesus was addressing the Jews and not the gentiles pagans. Verse 19 starts it off “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…” So Jesus starts it off by telling them not to focus on getting rich which naturally flows into food to eat and clothes to wear. Verse 32 He knows intimately the Gentiles also seek all these things but the message to His people is Verse 33 seek first his kingdom and righteousness and all these things shall be yours. This is the qualifier.

Hence

1. the promise is to His people, not pagans.
2. You need to seek his kingdom and righteousness first.
3. Is the promise targeted at earthly life or the Kingdom of God?

So the question is whether those that die of hunger met the first 2 above items? And third whether the promise was earth bound or heaven? Those in hell obviously will not enjoy that promise.

Matthew 6 is not a blanket guarantee for good things in earthly life but is an urging to seek God’s kingdom i.e. after life. And all those things will be provided there. In fact, a close reading of those verses did not say God will provide all these earthly needs. All his many other verses focus on the after life such as don’t worry about those that kills the body but the soul Mat 10:28.

Finally, freewill of man can prevent good things from happening. Wars cause hunger, directly and indirectly. Living in a barren and unfertile place eg desert environment also makes it difficult to have enough to eat. Politics, greed and wars can prevent aid from reaching the needy.

 

[phil19034]

So why do millions die of hunger, dehydration, and lack of shelter? It seems that God isn’t keeping His promises?

There is enough food, water, and shelter for every human on the planet.

The problem isn’t God, it’s humans - esp corrupts leaders and govts.

 

[PennyinCanada]

When people do experience the multiplication of food in their fridge, in their cupboard, or someone happens to bring food just when it’s most needed, it doesn’t get broadcast on the evening news.

When God does something amazing, really, who can you tell? I have had God intervene in life and even some people who go to church would look at me like I had 2 heads. If you want to be ridiculed and ostracized, just share with people what God has done in your life.

God does intervene. He does care about us. And those who die of starvation, they are received like Lazarus was. If I was given a choice to live to 80 and have to work out my salvation for 80 years, and maybe not make it to heaven, or die at 7 and be received into the bossom of Abraham, I would chose 7 years old, in a second. People seem to think that dieing at 7 years old is awful. I wish I had a generous, kind, and pure heart of a 7 year old when I come before God. They will be radiant souls in heaven. Ones to be envied.

 

[Reuben_J]

Lynsey3:

So why do millions die of hunger, dehydration, and lack of shelter? It seems that God isn’t keeping His promises?

There is enough food, water, and shelter for every human on the planet.

The problem isn’t God, it’s humans - esp corrupts leaders and govts.

This would answer the OP very well. God gives enough food and shelters for everybody, when the world is created. When people have not enough food, it is due to the sin of man, not the fault of God, as everything is available and enough for all on this beautiful planet earth.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible interprets Matthew 6:28-30 by saying “Anagogically

“Anagogic” is not the same as “literal”. From Wiki:

Anagoge (ἀναγωγή), sometimes spelled anagogy, is a Greek word suggesting a “climb” or “ascent” upwards. The anagogical is a method of mystical or spiritual interpretation of statements or events, especially scriptural exegesis, that detects allusions to the afterlife.

You’re taking a spiritual interpretation and saying this confirms your belief that the passage is literal.
It’s explicitly NOT a literal interpretation if it’s anagogic.

God is saying that people’s primary concern should be with their spiritual needs, not that He’s going to send you food, water and clothing.

As for why some people on earth don’t have these things: it’s generally due to man’s sins, as in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. These days, when people are starving en masse, it’s generally due to a war or government corruption interfering with them getting needed food, both of which are a product of men’s sins.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I’m Catholic which means I’m a Christian =)

While I agree with you that Catholics are Christians, I suspect this question was asked because you are persisting in a literal interpretation of the Bible.

Catholics do not teach that a literal interpretation is the only way to understand the Bible. Those who take the Bible 100 percent literally are generally non-Catholic Christians.

You’ve gotten quite a few reasonable, non-literal explanations on this thread. As Erikaspirit said, if you insist on a literal interpretation of this passage, you’re not going to get anywhere here.

 

[Lynsey3]

I posted this question on this forum because this has been a deep struggle for me for a couple of years now. I have been a passionate follower of Christ for the past 18 years and this is the first time in my walk that I have struggled with my faith. It has been very hard for me because no one can claim they have THE answer to this. Yes, many on this post have said you can’t take it literally, but what is your authority to claim that? Who are you to decide what is literal and what isn’t? I am not insisting that these verses must be interpreted literally, actually I don’t want them to be literal! I know that there are many verses in Scripture that shouldn’t be taken literally. But there are some where it is hard to tell, and your comment on this thread comes across as arrogant and prideful. You talk down to me with a condescending tone and that makes me not want to have a conversation with you at all. I know what p.32 of the Catechism says, I read it before visiting this website. The way you talk in your post is very uncharitable and if you talk that same way to non-Christians, you are going to push them away from seeking the Truth, who is Christ. All the other comments before yours were kind and calm, so I would much rather talk to them. PS… There are many other Christians out there who struggle with this, and you would do well not to group their questions with the “baiting questions asked by atheists.”

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It has been very hard for me because no one can claim they have THE answer to this. Yes, many on this post have said you can’t take it literally, but what is your authority to claim that? Who are you to decide what is literal and what isn’t?

Who are you to decide the other way?

God expected us to thoughtfully and prayerfully use our brains when we read the Bible.

Unfortunately, you yourself are coming across as someone who has totally made up her mind that God has made a false promise and are hung up on doubt about it and simply cannot get off that point or open your mind to any new interpretation.

I don’t think anyone means to talk down to you, but it is frustrating when many people give reasonable answers and you ignore them and continue with your original point because you don’t trust our answers. So, you don’t trust God, you don’t trust our answers either, and that makes this whole discussion rather pointless.

If you persist in thinking literally and coming back to the “why does a loving God cause little children to suffer” etc. type of thinking, you will never be able to move your thoughts forward.

There are plenty of saints who took reasonable steps to provide for themselves and others, but still looked to God to provide, in some way, food or whatever was needed when there was an emergency or when a whole bunch of poor people suddenly showed up hungry, etc. There are many stories of God somehow “coming through” to help these holy people in their time of need. However, that doesn’t mean we just do nothing and sit in the street waiting for God to provide. Also, if God doesn’t provide, perhaps there is a lesson there like he wants us to do something else, look somewhere else, make an effort in another direction, learn from a “failure” etc. Many dimensions to this whole idea. And also spiritual dimensions. The authors of the study Bible would not use the word “anagogically” if that’s not what they were considering. But if you keep seeing it as a “pray to God and get food and clothes” thing, you’re missing a lot.

 

[Lynsey3]

I haven’t insisted that I’m right about believing it’s literal. You guys are insisting you are right. I don’t know the answer and I am humble enough to say that. I am here to say I DON’T KNOW what to think. I HAVENT MADE UP MY MIND. I wouldn’t still be on this thread if I had. And I am “thoughtfully and prayerfully using my brain” but thank you for that nice comment. I’m not ignoring anyone’s comments, I just havent seen an explanation that puts me at peace. If that frustrates you, then feel free to move on to another persons post. Actually, I’d appreciate if you moved on to another person’s post anyway. I only want to talk with kind-hearted, patient, sympathetic, humble people. I never said we should sit in the street waiting for God to provide. Wow. Loving these comments. In my quote, right after I said Anagogically, I quoted “GOD SUPPLIES OUR PHYSICAL NEEDS…HIS PROVISION OF CLOTHING FOR US…” But I don’t want to argue with you. Going to conclude this by thanking everyone else for speaking kindly with me.

 

[Erikaspirit16]

It has been very hard for me because no one can claim they have THE answer to this. Yes, many on this post have said you can’t take it literally, but what is your authority to claim that? Who are you to decide what is literal and what isn’t? I am not insisting that these verses must be interpreted literally, actually I don’t want them to be literal!

Well, you can say I’m arrogant or whatever. As I said, it’s very frustrating to me (and others too, I’m sure) to point out the obvious and have you say it isn’t so. As I said, it’s like I’m holding up an apple, and you claim it’s a moose. Who am I to say it’s an apple? Right? 'Cause it sure looks like a moose to you. (One key question: how many other people think it’s a moose?) Does the Church think it’s an apple or a moose?

First, I have to say that I personally hear alarm bells when someone writes “I have been a passionate follower of Christ…” Passionate. How about logical? Rational? For example, I would say “I am a rational follower of Christ.” But each to his own, and there are many paths.

If you have noticed in your years of passionate following, there is no “official” Catholic commentary on the Bible. There are, of course, many Catholic commentaries, ranging from the historical-critical St. Jerome Commentary to the Opus Dei Navarre Bible. All are “Catholic” in the sense they are approved by the Church; but they do not agree on a host of topics. That’s because there is no “official” interpretation of the Bible. There are, however, “wrong” interpretations of the Bible, and when that happens the Church steps in and says, “Nope, that’s outside the limits of what is Catholic.” But the Church is a big tent, and many opinions are acceptable. God = liar is not one of them.

Now you are free, as a Catholic, to interpret those verses literally. But then you have a massive problem, as you yourself have found. IF they are literal, then God is either lying or disguising his intent so well that he is failing to communicate. Either way, you’re on the road to atheism.

If you approach the Bible in a logical, rational way, you first have to take a leap of faith: the Bible contains God’s communication with mankind. If you assume that, then you have to ask yourself at each step: What is God trying to communicate by this book, chapter, passage, etc.?

Take a passage from Kings: Elijah has a contest with the priests of Baal. Each offers a sacrifice to God. Whose will be accepted? The priests of Baal can’t get their fire started. Elijah’s sacrifice burns up on cue. The king then says the priests of Ball are frauds, and he executes all 900 of them. Nice story. What’s the point? You could take it literally and interpret it any number of ways–God will always accept the sacrifice of true believers, God’s prophets will always win over pagan prophets, you should execute anyone who doesn’t believe in the true God…etc. Really? That’s the best you’ve got? How about this: God wants obedience to him. God wants you worship him. Simple. To the point. And yes, it confirms a host of other passages where God is saying the same thing.

 

[Erikaspirit16]

more…

I once had an English professor who knew Faulkner personally. He once asked Faulkner what his short story “The Bear” was about. Faulkner thought for a few minutes, and simply said “Christ.” A whole short story summarized in one word.

What is Star Wars about? Wookies, droids, and death stars? Or is it about man’s search for freedom? Or good vs. evil? You could interpret anything literally, but I personally think you would be better served looking for a deeper meaning.

Now move to the Bible. Something written in Hebrew and Greek anywhere from 1900-2500 years ago in a completely different culture; and not only that, but the culture of Israel in the 1st century was completely different than the Jews sitting in Babylon in the 6th c. BC. They are not writing for you. They are writing for their contemporaries. So they use all sorts of literary devices, many of which are not familiar to us unless we have a deep knowledge of Hebrew or Greek. (For example, what if I wrote “I am so hungry I could eat a horse” or “His eyes were as big as saucers” and 2,000 years later someone came along and said, “Wow, those guys back then liked to eat horses! and “eyes as big as saucers” obviously means aliens! Cool!”) That would be ridiculous, right? And yet…

If you go down the path of literalism, an infinite number of problems opens up before you. Have you read the account of the Resurrection in all four Gospels? Most of the details are different in each one: who arrived first at the tomb? What did they find? Was the stone rolled away or not? Was there an angel to greet them or a young man? Did the angel/person who was there talk to them? Did one of them go into the tomb? Who went in? Etc. etc. etc. Now if you believed the Bible was the literal word of God, inerrant in every way, you’ve got a real problem. Or you could be like Garry Wills in his book “What the Gospels Say” and say “So what?” And, of course, “so what” is correct. The details are irrelevant: what is the point of the story? That’s the thing.

So I’ve said everything I have to say, and I’ll bow out. But I have to say that if you keep taking all this literally, there IS NO EXPLANATION.

 

[PennyinCanada]

Like I said, when God provides for people, it doesn’t get broadcast on the news. I have had coffee and visits with different folks in the church and your jaw would drop open if you could hear some of the stories. Maybe that’s something you could make time for over the next while. It’s eye opening for sure.

Sometimes we don’t have because we don’t ask. I know plenty of people who, when things don’t go their way, they shake their fist at God and swear at him. We sinners often have an attitude problem.

The other thing that doesn’t get broadcast on the news is the countless number of believers who are suffering and are offering their suffering in union with the suffering of Christ the Redeemer of the world for the ‘conversion of sinners and peace in this world’ as our Blessed Mother asked at Fatima. Maybe they don’t live until 80, maybe they are gone too soon. They are radiant in the next life.

Peace.

 

[rose321]

Love conquers all. Love your neighbor as you love yourself!

Peace

 

[ericc]

I posted this question on this forum because this has been a deep struggle for me for a couple of years now. I have been a passionate follower of Christ for the past 18 years and this is the first time in my walk that I have struggled with my faith.

Have you read my response? Care to rebut? It is a literal response. God ask us not to worry, not that he is guaranteeing a free flow of earthly goodies. There is a tendency to extrapolate into what was not actually written.

 

[JoeFreedom]

Sorry but every time I volunteer with the Christian charity called Feed My Starving Children, volunteers watch a video before hand on how to pack food and who they pack it for. The video says thousands of people die every day due to starvation. 1 in 9 people suffer from real true hunger (not the kind of hunger people have if they miss a meal…). So I think more people in the world die from hunger than you might think. The numbers have improved, yes, but there is still millions who need our help.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I’m not saying people don’t need help. I was commenting on what is meant by starvation.

 

[JoeFreedom]

Apologies. Misunderstood.