Confession: one of my favorite pass times is checking what’s trending on Wikipedia. Last night I found a captivating article about hunger stones. These are large rocks set into river banks during times of extreme drought. Meant to serve as cautionary signs for those in the future, when such markers become visible it means hard times have returned.
The hunger stone pictured above sits on a bank of the Elbe river in the Czech Republic. There are low-water dates chiseled into the rock, the oldest readable one being from 1616! Long ago, someone also carved a message into this particular stone: “Wenn du mich Siehst, dann weine.” (lit. “If you see me, weep.”)
When I read the translation, my first thought was, “How sad it would be to read this and decide the situation was hopeless.” Just because some folks back in the 17th century had a hard time, is it guaranteed to happen again?
Confession #2: as a person of faith, I find it unproductive to be negative about the future. As long as God is in charge, there will be a lot more that’s right with the world than wrong. But don’t just take my word for it. Here’s the prophet Joel:
To you, O Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the open pastures and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the open pastures.
Joel 1:19-20 (NIV)
Ok, that’s a bit of a downer. But hone in on the first six words, “To you, O Lord, I call…”
Kind reader, the hope of heaven will be readily available–no matter how low the river goes. The prophet Joel believed it, and so should we.
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.
Joel 2:13 (NIV)
Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️ prayers and love.
Photo by Dr. Bernd Gross, Wikipedia
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
35 responses to “Hunger Stone”
May God help us 🙏
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And He is ready and waiting for the call. Thank you, Brother Chris. God Bless.
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Thank you, Peggy. I’d never heard of hunger stones either. The biblical applications are clear. Many commenters thought of additional analogies that are better than mine. Thank you for reading and commenting. God Bless!
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An enlightening post. Thanks, not only for the education on hunger stones (I have never heard of them) but also for the application to our present life in Christ. Love it!
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Calling on the Lord makes all the difference when things get bad. Thanks for sharing.
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Blessings to you too!
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😎” We don’t want to get arrested for indecent exposure.” I love it! Rending our hearts, rather than our garments, is the best way to stay close to the Lord—especially in tough times. Thank you for dropping by my little blog today. God Bless!
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We have to remain positive, because there is enough negative around us, and we must be the shining light of Jesus to bring hope to those around us. And it is best to rend our hearts and not our garments, because you don’t want to get arrested for indecent exposure.
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It was such a good quote right there 😊
Andy B
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You’re welcome, Betty. Yes, hope is preferable, and hope in the Lord is best. Thank you for reading and commenting. God’s best to you and Dan.
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Thank you, David. These days, we need all the hope we can muster. We just have to remember to hope in the Lord.
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Yet another great scripture to go with this subject. Thanks, brother. There are several analogies, concerning these stones, that commenters have thought of. I appreciate your thoughts! God Bless.
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These stones are new to me, very interesting indeed David. It reminded me of what I read earlier:
I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your doings;
I muse on the work of Your hands.
I stretch out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You, as a parched land. Selah.
— Psalm 143:5-6
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Hello, Andy B. Thank you for stopping by today. I didn’t realize I encapsulated the gospel message here, but it works! God Bless!
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The gospel in the nutshell perfectly condensed : “Kind reader, the hope of heaven will be readily available–no matter how low the river goes.”
Thanks for this post David.
Andy B
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You are spot on, as always, Matt. This world is passing away, but the Word of God will remain forever. Thanks for sharing yet another angle to this story. God Bless!
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Everything in this life is temporary so best not to look in this world for hope. Look to Jesus
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Thank you, Barb. There are plenty of applications from the story, as the comments show. I chose to focus on the fact that God’s favor can find us —wherever we are. Thank you for sharing. Blessings!
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Thank you for your insight, Manette Kay. I thought of the application you mentioned but couldn’t articulate it as well as you have. I am grateful for your contribution. May Jehovah guide and provide. Blessings!
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LOVE THIS…the hope of heaven will be readily available–no matter how low the river goes.”
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An interesting subject I knew nothing about. It occurred to me, David, that a “hunger stones” appearance could serve as a warning to prepare for lean times ahead. Like Joseph’s warning to Pharaoh of the upcoming famine in Egypt. God spared a nation through the wisdom given to Joseph. Rather than bemoaning the sight of the hunger stone––prepare, listen for God’s wisdom, and act accordingly so that many may be saved.
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That’s a good question! I don’t know ….
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I am grateful for your input, Beth. Yes, all types of media tend to focus on our fears. I suppose uncertainty sells. Thank you for stopping by. Hugs to my favorite Labradors. 🐾Adi 🐾Summer.
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Hunger stones- fascinating David! Thank you for passing on some new found knowledge. I feel like the media specializes in pointing out all sorts of economic and climate “hunger stones” driving that cultural sense of hopelessness and fear. You left us with some excellent grounding scriptures to focus on instead.
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It’s important to be realistic. I get it. But I don’t want to go into a negative “tail spin.” So, like you, I look for the good. All things considered, the sky is probably not falling. Thank you for sharing, Simply B! God Bless.
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Another great and encouraging post! God IS in charge and always will be. We need to search for and find the good. Because the good is there to find. As I type those words, I’m convicted of my own tendency to do just the opposite. But God’s goodness is easily found. You’re right…. There is a lot more that’s right with the world than wrong.
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Thank you for sharing the passage from Habakkuk! I wonder if he lived at the same time as the prophet Joel?
I appreciate your input! God Bless.
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“As long as God is in charge, there will be a lot more that’s right with the world than wrong.” This is an important truth to hold on to.
It also reminds me of Habakkuk 3:17-19:
“Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.”
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Amen, brother. One of my favorite song lyrics says, 🎶There’s a little bit of morning outside.🎶
Thank you for stopping by today. God Bless!
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A great reminder David. The darker things get, the brighter our light (even dim ones) will seem when we call on the Lord.
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I had never heard of them either, Bridget. I found the article one evening, and the next morning the Our Daily Bread devotional featured the scripture I shared from Joel. I was like, “I’m supposed to write about this.”😊 Thank you for stopping by.
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How intriguing. I never heard of hunger stones before. I appreciate the lesson – May we put all our hope in the Lord!
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Amen. Thank you 🙏
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Frankly, I struggle with staying positive in this fallen world, too, brother. It’s good that we have spiritual markers to look back on—different “stones of remembrance.” Thank you for reading and commenting. God’s best to you!
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This is an interesting read, David. I love the line “…as a person of faith, I find it unproductive to be negative about the future.” That’s so true, but admittedly an idea I struggle with—-not because of God, but because of what I see happening all around us. I am hopeful, however. Thanks for this delightful read, brother.
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