In the biblical context, the concept of scarcity often relates to the themes of divine provision, human dependence on God, and the consequences of disobedience. Scarcity can manifest in various forms, such as famine, drought, or a lack of resources, and serves as a backdrop for demonstrating God's sovereignty and faithfulness.

Divine Provision and Human Dependence

The Bible frequently illustrates scarcity as an opportunity for God to demonstrate His provision and care for His people. In the wilderness, the Israelites experienced scarcity of food and water, which God addressed by providing manna and quail (Exodus 16:4-15) and water from a rock (Exodus 17:6). These events underscore the principle that God is the ultimate provider, even in times of apparent lack. Deuteronomy 8:3 reflects on this, stating, "He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD."

Consequences of Disobedience

Scarcity is also depicted as a consequence of disobedience and turning away from God. In the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, blessings and curses were contingent upon obedience to God's commandments. Leviticus 26:19-20 warns, "I will break down your stubborn pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze, and your strength will be spent in vain, for your land will not yield its produce, nor will the trees of the land yield their fruit." This passage highlights the direct correlation between the people's faithfulness and the abundance or scarcity of resources.

Prophetic Warnings and Promises

The prophets often spoke of scarcity as both a judgment and a call to repentance. In the book of Amos, God uses the imagery of famine and drought to urge Israel to return to Him: "I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away. I sent rain on one town but withheld it from another. One field had rain; another had none and dried up" (Amos 4:7). Yet, alongside these warnings, the prophets also conveyed promises of restoration and abundance for those who would turn back to God. Joel 2:25-26 promises, "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten... You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you."

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, scarcity is addressed through the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, emphasizing trust in God's provision. Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount, "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’... But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:31, 33). This passage encourages believers to prioritize their relationship with God over material concerns, trusting that He will meet their needs.

Spiritual Scarcity

Beyond physical scarcity, the Bible also addresses spiritual scarcity, where there is a lack of knowledge, wisdom, or spiritual nourishment. Amos 8:11 prophesies a time when there will be "a famine of hearing the words of the LORD." This spiritual scarcity serves as a warning to remain diligent in seeking God's truth and wisdom.

In summary, the theme of scarcity in the Bible serves as a multifaceted tool for teaching about reliance on God, the consequences of sin, and the hope of restoration through repentance and faith.1. (superl.) Not plentiful or abundant; in small quantity in proportion to the demand; not easily to be procured; rare; uncommon.

2. (superl.) Scantily supplied (with); deficient (in); -- with of.

3. (superl.) Sparing; frugal; parsimonious; stingy.

4. (adv.) Alt. of Scarcely

3433. molis -- with difficulty
... with difficulty. Probably by variation for mogis; with difficulty -- hardly,
scarce(-ly), + with much work. see GREEK mogis. (molis) -- 6 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3433.htm - 7k2637. chaser -- to lack, need, be lacking, decrease
... 1), decreased (2), depriving (1), empty (1), have...lack (1), lack (2), lacked
(2), lacking (4), lacks (2), made him a lower (1), need (1), scarce (1), want (3 ...
/hebrew/2637.htm - 6k

3318. yatsa -- to go or come out
... forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead
out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X scarce, send with ...
/hebrew/3318.htm - 8k

And what did it Profit Me, that Scarce Twenty Years Old...
... Book IV Chapter XVI And what did it profit me, that scarce twenty years
old? And what did it profit me, that scarce twenty years ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter xvi and what did.htm

Loyal to the Core
... years ago, and none of them have ever come back." I scarcely credit that, but I
am afraid that friends quite so faithful as Ittai are as scarce as two moons in ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/loyal to the core.htm

The Means of Obtaining Peace Internal, is not the Delight of Sense ...
... Thou wilt scarce begin to relish the sweetness of Divine Love in Prayer, but the
Enemy with his deceitful Craftiness will be kindling in thy Heart desires of ...
/.../the spiritual guide which disentangles the soul/chap iii the means of.htm

And what Rule do You Think I Walked By? Truly a Strange One
... For nothing is more natural to infinite goodness, than to make the best
things most frequent; and only things worthless scarce. ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/53 and what rule do.htm

The Great Privilege of those that are Born of God
... Of consequence, it has scarce any intercourse with this visible world; nor any
knowledge, conception, or idea, of the things that occur therein. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 19 the great privilege.htm

The Power and Wisdom of God in the Creation.
... There is scarce a single humour in the body of a man, or of any other animal, in
which our glasses do not discover myriads of living creatures. ...
/.../sect ii the power and.htm

Feasting on the Sacrifice
... And how are we to do that if, day in and day out, and week in and week out, and
year in and year out, with some of us, there be scarce a thought turned to Him ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/feasting on the sacrifice.htm

The Preface
... For though some lineaments of it may be met with in books, yet there is scarce any
footsteps of it in practice, where alone it can be significant. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/allestree/the government of the tongue/the preface.htm

The Best Friend
... 10. True friends are very scarce. ... associations. The friend in need is the
friend indeed, and such friends I say again, are scarce. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the best friend.htm

Pilgrim Song
... Where He has marked the pathway. All hail the briar and thorn! Scarce seen, scarce
heard, unreckoned,. Despised, defamed, unknown,. Or heard but by our singing, ...
/.../bevan/hymns of ter steegen suso and others/pilgrim song.htm

Scarce (6 Occurrences)
...Scarce (6 Occurrences). Acts 14:18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they
the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. (KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV). ...
/s/scarce.htm - 8k

Scar (3 Occurrences)

/s/scar.htm - 8k

Scarcely (14 Occurrences)

/s/scarcely.htm - 10k

Version
... because it was written over the writings of Ephraem, a Syrian theological author,
a practice very common in the days when writing materials were scarce and dear ...
/v/version.htm - 37k

Gate (248 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 4:12, 15 will be understood when it is known that the dung of animals is
a common fuel throughout Palestine and Syria, where other fuel is scarce. ...
/g/gate.htm - 63k

Restrain (31 Occurrences)
... Restrain (31 Occurrences). Acts 14:18 And with these sayings scarce restrained
they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. ...
/r/restrain.htm - 15k

Restrained (51 Occurrences)
... Restrained (51 Occurrences). Acts 14:18 And with these sayings scarce restrained
they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. ...
/r/restrained.htm - 22k

Reaping (10 Occurrences)
... In Palestine and Syria both pulling and cutting are still practiced, the
former when the ground is stony and the spears scarce. ...
/r/reaping.htm - 13k

Dung (27 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 4:12, 15 will be understood when it is known that the dung of animals is
a common fuel throughout Palestine and Syria, where other fuel is scarce. ...
/d/dung.htm - 20k

Drawer (1 Occurrence)
... Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon, the springs of water are scarce and the inhabitants
of these less favored places have always depended upon wells and cisterns for ...
/d/drawer.htm - 11k

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