“‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east. They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it.’” (Amos 8:11–12, NKJV)

The people of Israel had received the Law through Moses but had not obeyed it. They had heard the words of the prophets but refused to take them to heart. After hundreds of years of warning, God would finally give them over to their own ways. He would stop speaking to them. He would shut up His words like He shuts up the heavens during a drought, and this would have the same devastating effect. They say that you don’t appreciate something until you lose it, and this is what would happen to Israel. They would wander throughout the land seeking the word of the LORD but would not find it.

Warren Wiersbe commented on these verses:

“That means no light in the darkness, no nourishment for the soul, no direction for making decisions, no protection from the lies of the enemy.”

We have been given many more words of the LORD than Israel had. We have both Old and New Testaments—the complete revelation of God for mankind from eternity past to eternity future. But how much do we appreciate it?

Jesus told His disciples:

“Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.” (Luke 8:18, NKJV)

Are we taking to heart God’s words? Or are we hearers of the word, but not doers, deceiving ourselves? When we consider that the words of God are light in the darkness, nourishment for the soul, direction in our decision-making, and protection from Satan’s lies, we dare not live without them. These are words of eternal life, and we should crave them more than our daily bread.

As we come to the start of a new year, let us resolve to appreciate the word of God even more. It is not how many words we read, but how much we practice them that adds life to our years.