“How the animals groan! The herds of livestock are perplexed, because they have no pasture. Yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.”

The attention now turns to the animals who are affected by the famine. The misdeeds of the people have had an effect on everything. The animals also have nothing to eat or drink and are made desolate by the effects of the famine. The consequences of our sin run deep, not just for ourselves but for others as well. The things we do and say affect those around us and can cause a spiritual famine in our families, communities and countries. We are experiencing this in the West today, as so many have turned from following the Lord and are following false teachers and fables. 

The sheep of the pasture of the Lord are made desolate by the falsehoods and many are suffering great loss in the inner life of their soul. The people of God are not being fed good nourishing spiritual food and are therefore dying in the pews. The Lord must come down and save us, for we perish… we dig for food, but it is hard to find. 

The people of God are waiting for the return of their Saviour and cry out to Him for deliverance. The whole creation is groaning and suffering waiting for the deliverance of the children of God and the new creation wherein dwells righteousness. 

“For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.”

Romans 8:19-22

One day soon the groaning will cease and all shall be peace in the kingdom of God. All evil will be gone. All want and needs will be met and joy and peace will reign. This is the glorious hope of the people of God and a motivation to turn for all sin and be ready when the Lord returns for us. We do not need to be desolate, for we have this glorious hope which is true and certain.