Psalms 105:16
Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
Psalms 105:16
“Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.” This line is part of a psalmist retelling of Israel’s ancestral narrative, focusing on God’s sovereignty even over famine and economic hardship. In the ancient Near East, famine was a dire test of security, wealth, and divine favor. By allowing famine, God demonstrates that he governs the resources of the land and uses scarcity to discipline or redirect people toward trust, repentance, or deliverance. The “staff of bread” symbolized daily provision and stability; breaking it signals disruption, vulnerability, and dependence on divine mercy rather than human strength. The historical context includes episodes where famine prepared the way for divine intervention—such as Jacob’s family seeking relief in Egypt, which in turn set the stage for Joseph’s rise to power. The verse highlights a paradox: God’s judgments on the land can be tools for fulfilling his broader covenant purposes and revealing his wisdom and sovereignty to his people.
Theologically, this verse emphasizes God’s governance of natural order and providence. It challenges idolatrous trust in abundance and human systems, redirecting faith to the One who controls bread and needs. It also foreshadows the patterns of exile, famine, and exile as consequences of turning away from God, yet also as opportunities for divine rescue. The divine “staff of bread” being broken does not imply random cruelty but purposeful discipline that can bring about repentance, humility, and dependence on God. The verse invites believers to consider how scarcity or hardship might function as instruments of spiritual refinement, testing faith, shaping character, and recalibrating desires toward God’s purposes. It also serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness: even after famine, provision can return through his timing and intervention.
In contemporary life, famines and shortages—whether literal or economic downturns, job losses, or supply chain delays—can feel destabilizing. This verse invites you to interpret scarcity through a faith-informed lens: what might God be teaching in this season? It can become a call to dependence on God rather than on wealth or control, to reexamine priorities, and to practice generosity even in lean times. Practically, you can diversify resilience—save wisely, grow in skills, support communities that suffer, and resist hoarding or despair. For faith communities, famine moments can foster deeper interdependence—sharing resources, praying for provision, and seeking justice in how food and wealth are distributed. Remember that difficult seasons can be redemptive when yoked to trust in God’s sovereign plan.
Cross-References: Genesis 41:29-36; Amos 8:11-12; Haggai 1:9-11; Psalm 33:18-19; James 5:1-6