The startling elements that occurred during the siege of Samaria ought to fill us with revulsion for the sins that we human beings are capable. They should also fill us with pity. People resorted to eating forbidden and unclean foods as well as cannibalism. Cannibalism is always abhorrent and vile but so are the circumstances which cause it. In this case, cannibalism was the act of desperation brought on by war. War often causes people to do things which they normally find repugnant. It is easy to blame God for causing these troubles as the king does here. He blamed God by means of His prophet, Elisha. Instead, he should have repented for it was his idolatry and sin and the sin of Israel that were at the root of the war.
War and its accompanying atrocities are an entirely human invention. Man must take full responsibility for this sin as well as for all his own sins and the consequences. Yet God uses war to accomplish His will which often includes discipline of His people. He does not delight in war because it is evil and it hurts those He loves. He does take steps to alleviate a great deal of the pain and suffering of war as well as the pains of life. Today, He expects His church to carry out this work. Christians represent the hope for the world. We have been called to share our blessings with others so that they may experience the generous love of Jesus. Yet daily thousands die of hunger and starvation caused by war, “natural” disasters and political unrest because we did not think to help them in Jesus’ Name. It is good to thank God for the blessings of the tasty, safe and nutritious food we enjoy, but a lifestyle that exalts the pleasures of gourmet food and excessive overeating while many starve to death is vile and revolting.
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