Food Insecurity

Dorothy Day Feeding the Hungry, by Julie Lonneman

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Isaiah 58: 6,8

God’s people asked Him, “Why have we fasted and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?” In response, God begins to speak strong words to his people, and there is much for us to consider. Last week we examined the first part of God's response; today, we will look at what he says next.

After speaking of setting the oppressed free and breaking every yoke, the next aspect of God's chosen fast is this: "Is it not to share your food with the hungry?"

Further into the passage, in verse 11, God specifically calls out the issue once more; this time as part of the "IF" verses we highlighted on Day 2 : "If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry..."

In other words, God wants his people to do just that – to spend themselves for those who have less to eat, who go to sleep each night with empty bellies, uncertain from where their next meal may come.

In fact, Scripture abounds with references and directives about feeding the hungry; this passage in Isaiah 58 is just one of many. His heart for the hungry is evident throughout his Word. We even step back from hunger to first understand the essential and primal connection between food and being human and Scripture's focus on this theme. From the abundant food in the Garden of Eden to the feasting imagery of Isaiah 25 that describes heaven, meals are essential. Part of God's reshaping his people towards his vision of a new society, after slavery and in the wilderness and before the promised land, involved feeding them manna daily. Food matters to God.

The Eucharist is drink and food that anchors our story as followers of Christ, who charged us with meal remembrance of him and his story. The language in this core Isaiah 58 passage of "a true fast," and the language of this core practice of Lent is "fasting." Choosing in some way to go without. Being hungry is having that choice taken from you by circumstances.

This God cannot bear, and the prophets and the early church knew this and acted; and when they didn't act, God challenged. Therefore, we open ourselves up to being challenged.

THREE SCRIPTURE PASSAGES

"And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat."
Exodus 16:17-18

“Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.”

Psalm 146:5-7

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and he who has no money, come, buy and eat,
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food."
Isaiah 55:1-2

Food insecurity is an issue all over the world, including North America. Few of us know what it is like to be perpetually hungry, but it is actually all around us. God is calling us to help alleviate that hunger – not only to share our food with those who do not have enough to eat, but to think bigger:

What is causing food insecurity? How can we be part of ending this problem? How can we be part of bringing God's shalom to the hungry?

This is the kind of fasting God has chosen. This kind of fasting is part of our calling, and part of our identity as God’s people. People who live with food insecurity are people just like us: parents who are trying to provide for their children, the elderly who can no longer afford food, the single father working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Each are created in God's image, and He deeply loves them. Consider in this that we are talking about nourishment, and the quality of our food determines health, mental capacity to learn in school, and energy to make good choices. God sees. God cares. And, therefore...

God asks us not only to share our food with the hungry, but to spend ourselves on their behalf. Reflect on the words "spend yourself." There is no ambiguity in this biblical language. We will take time this week unpacking what this might mean for us.

"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? " James 2:15-16