Hebrew Word Study – Famine – Ra’av

Habakkah 2:4: “The just shall live by his faith.”

“Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.”  Samuel Taylor Coleridge – Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Most of us in the United States do not know or understand what a famine is like. This verse has little interest to us in this country. Our bellies are filled so this verse has not really personal meaning for us.  However, there is a little play on words in the Hebrew that would bring real meaning to this verse for our day and at this time.

The Zohar (80a) gives an interesting insight into Genesis 12:10. The word for “there was” (yehi) can also be rendered “and he was becoming.” Of course, we do not translate it that way because it does not fit the word famine, famine is an it, not a he. But then again maybe “and He was becoming” does fit. I often encourage my Hebrew students to be on alert for the many word plays found in the Hebrew. This is one of them. Sure, contextually there was a literal famine, a lack of physical food in the land, but suppose we also rendered this “and He was becoming a famine in the land.” This little play on words gives you a double meaning. The Zohar does not overlook this play on words and comes right out and says that not only were people suffering a famine for physical food but for God as well. The Zohar gives the flip side of the spiritual rendering as “There was a lack of faith in the land.”

“And He was becoming a famine in the land.” Many believers in this country are becoming aware of the fact that that is a famine for God in this land.  I know that sounds strange, that God would become a famine in this land that is filled with churches, Bibles, TV, Radio ministries, books, CDs, DVDs, streaming services, etc. Yet, as I share just the simple Word of God I find Christians with bookshelves filled with Christian Books, CDs, and DVDs lapping up every word as if they were starved. There is much teaching on how to live successfully, prosperously, etc., but so little deep study in the Word of God. Listen to what you do not hear from preachers and teachers in churches and media, not what you hear. What you hear sounds good. We are to love, be inclusive, accepting. We must end violence, poverty, the immigration crisis, political crisis. We must mobilize political actions and all sorts of wonderful, noble things. But how much do you hear of the need for repentance, the blood of Jesus and redemption? Our new Speak of the House, Mike Johnson, third in line for the presidency of the United States said it best: “The solution is not gun control but changing the hearts.” Christians can rally together to get votes to pass legislation against abortion, but no matter what laws are passed abortion will still take place. The real solution is for God to change the heart. This strange lack of Gospel preaching with a Biblically centered message sort of makes the words of Samuel Taylor Coleridge ring true. “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink.” Bible, churches preaching everywhere but where is God’s message?

The word for famine is ra’av which is spelled Resh – prideful man, Ayin – greed, Beth – feelings of spiritual superiority. As you can see the very structure of the word for famine tells us what brings about a famine, spiritual pride, and greed. This brings not only famine to a nation but an individual. Maybe not a famine of food but of God. 

But let me not point a finger at the nation or the church, but at myself. As I read the Zohar’s rendering of Genesis 12:10 I realized there was a famine in my own life. Lately, I have been wandering through a desert land trying to find my way in ministry. Everything seemed to be coming unglued. Everywhere there is advice, words of wisdom, and knowledge, but not a drop to drink. There was a famine in Old Chaim or as the Zohar would render a lack of faith.

I then read in Habakkuh 2:4 that the just shall live by faith. Actually, in the Hebrew, there is a little different rendering: “The just shall live in his faith.” I realized I had stepped out of my faith. I allowed my pride to soar and I was trusting in my abilities, and my relationships, but not God. I realized that if I lost my job, my relationships, and my health I would be hopeless. I remembered an old hymn I used to sing as a child in church:

My hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ the solid rock I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

Oh, by the way, the word translated as faith in Habakkah 2:4 is amen. That has the idea of being constant or to completely rely upon. But in its Semitic root, it is even more direct. The word amen is spelled Aleph, Mem, Nun. This letter combination expresses the idea of “trusting in the revealed Word of God.”    

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