World hunger increasing.

According to an Oxfam spokesperson, “All the signs are that the number of people going hungry [worldwide] is going up…  By 2050 demand for food will rise 70 percent yet our capacity to increase food production is declining.”

Factors contributing to the increase in world hunger include, “flat-lining yields, a scramble for fertile land and water and rising food prices.”  Severe weather conditions were not considered by the Oxfam report, but are also likely to impact food costs and availability.  Regrettably, financial speculation—the practice of essentially “gambling” on future food prices—inflates food prices and intensifies world hunger conditions.  In addition, using grains (corn or maize) as bio-fuels reduces the availability of food for human consumption.  The cumulative impact of all these factors points to increasing world hunger in the years ahead (arabnews.com, May 31, 2011; oxfam.org, May 31, 2011).

The Apostle John foresaw rising prices, growing food shortages and hunger when the Four Horsemen ride as the end of the age approaches, “A quart of wheat for a denarius [one day’s wages], and three quarts of barley for a denarius…” (see Revelation 6:6-8).  However, God also prophesied of a future time of abundance after Christ’s return, “Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “When the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine…” (Amos 9:13).

There is good news beyond the bad!