| News and Views | August 1943 |
How Will the World Be Fed?
“We have set out to make a world in which, for the first time in history, every man, everywhere, will know certainly that he can get enough to eat,” declared Marvin Jones, chairman of the United Nations Food Conference, the first session of which was held in Hot Springs, Va. A few days after the close of the conference, the delegates showed up in Washington, where the President, who had called the conference, expressed his thanks to all who participated in it, saying in part,
“You have demonstrated beyond question that the United Nations really are united. … No nation has ever had enough food to feed all of its people as we now know that human beings should be fed. But neither have nations representing over 80 per cent of the world’s 2,000,000,000 inhabitants ever before joined together to achieve that aim.”
These are ambitious words on the part of Mr. Jones as well as the President. Should the commendable efforts of the Hot Springs Food Conference be successful, it would mean the setting aside in large measure of that part of the curse pertaining to food which came upon humanity six thousand years ago, when God said to Adam, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; … thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee. … In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”—Genesis 3:17-19
The efforts of this initial food conference of United Nations representatives were largely exploratory. The food requirements of all nations were explained, but no definite proposals as to how these requirements might be met were adopted. Nor were the delegates participating in the conference blind to the herculean task involved in the attaining of freedom from want.
On this point a press dispatch said, “The conference declared freedom from want can be reached. It did not, however, seek to conceal the fact that it will be first necessary to win freedom from hunger.”
Regardless of how successful the plans of the United Nations to provide adequate food supplies for the whole world may be, it is refreshing to realize that united efforts are being made for the good of humanity even though at present they are employed in the destruction of human life. Some of the delegates at the conference expressed the view that the providing of food for all the nations was the only genuine method of maintaining lasting peace.
The law of self-preservation is indeed a potent factor in the lives both of individuals and nations. This rule of selfishness is at the bottom of most of the world’s troubles, and we doubt if the satisfying of human wants today will continue to safeguard the peace of the world in view of what is sure to be the enlarged wants of tomorrow. The lesson of human history proves that those who stop fighting because they receive one quart of milk a day will sooner or later take up the battle-axe in an effort to secure from their neighbors by aggression a coveted two quarts a day.
We should appreciate the noble sentiments back of all efforts to snake the world a better place in which to live. But, as Christian believers in the prophecies and promises of the Bible, we recognize that the only true solution for the food problem is the substitution of love in the place of selfishness as a motive power back of all human endeavor.
When there is an open water faucet overflowing the kitchen sink and flooding the floor, the best solution to the problem is to close the faucet, rather than to keep mopping up the floor. Supplying the growing and oft-times unreasonable demands of human selfishness in order to keep peace is like mopping up the floor—there is no end to the demands. However, only the administrative and educational program of Christ’s Kingdom, backed up by miracle-working power, will be able to close the faucet of human selfishness, and create a new motive power in the hearts and lives of human-kind. That’s why we should all continue to pray, “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”—Matthew 6:10
The Nations Uniting
The manner in which the nations of the earth today are united and continuing to unite, is a remarkable fulfillment of prophecies pertaining to the closing days of this present evil world. The Scriptural explanation of why the nations have heretofore been scattered, and why they are now uniting, is most faith-strengthening and revealing.
It was the hand of God in human affairs that has kept the nations separated, and now again it is by divine intervention that they are being brought together. By one master stroke of divine strategy the peoples of earth were driven asunder, and have been kept apart for four thousand years. It occurred shortly after the flood of Noah’s day. Sacred history records the incident as follows:
“And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. … And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth.”—Genesis 11:1,4-8
From this it is evident that the idea of world unity is not a new one. It is equally plain, however, why a united world has not heretofore been possible. The diversity of languages has been an effectual barrier to prevent mankind from combining for the accomplishment of their own purposes, whether noble or selfish. Now the language barriers are breaking down, and the old urge of humanity to unite is reasserting itself.
The overcoming of language barriers in these last days is one of the direct results of the prophetic increase of knowledge. (Dan. 12:4) The far-reaching results of education are symbolically described by God’s prophet, as the flashing of Jehovah’s lightnings. (Psa. 97:4) The prophet explains that these lightnings of Jehovah enlighten the world. Many of our great statesmen now recognize the relationship between education and present world chaos. They see that knowledge has started the common people on the march for freedom, and to obtain their share of the earth’s blessings.
Psalm 97:4 explains that one of the results of Jehovah’s lightnings is that the earth trembles. The thought is that by the great increase of knowledge symbolized by lightning, the whole social structure of mankind is made to tremble. It is in order to prevent the total collapse of the human social structure under the impact of these lightning flashes from the throne of God, that the nations unite for mutual protection.
The foretold increase of knowledge, as represented in printing, has also enabled each nation to become acquainted with the languages and customs of others. This, in turn, tends to promote mutual understandings where there is a desire for such, but, alas, also an increasing animosity when the power of knowledge is misused to spread the propaganda of hate. Hence, for these reasons, we can see why the nations now feel it necessary to unite, and the manner in which the increase of knowledge is snaking it possible for them to do so.
Voices As Well As Lightnings
The prophetic lightning symbolic of the modern increase of knowledge is mentioned four times in the Book of Revelation. In chapter 4:5, the lightning is said to come forth from the throne of God. In both chapters 4:5 and 8:5 “voices” are associated with the symbolisms of thunder and lightning. That is also true of chapter 11:19. In chapters 8:5, 11:19, and 16:18, the term “earthquake” is added. An earthquake, in Bible symbology, denotes a social revolution.
These symbolic voices carry the same significance as we attach to the word today, that is, of a message, as for example, the “voice of Washington” would mean a message representative of official opinions in Washington. While the symbolic earth is reeling and trembling to its fall, we hear of many “voices” setting forth plans whereby it can be saved.
From other sources, where it is more clearly recognized that the old order cannot be saved, come “voices” outlining various plans for a new world. Many of these plans are good, but none of them takes into consideration the element of human selfishness. While selfishness rules, the increasing enlightenment of the masses means that the problem of satisfying their demands becomes more and more complex and acute.
Our noble-minded rulers and lawmakers doubtless wish the best for humanity. But God wants all nations to learn that they cannot establish lasting peace and happiness apart from Him and the plan He has made for their eternal blessing. For this reason the present gathering of the nations will not accomplish what is hoped for, being prophetically foredoomed to failure. Note the following prophecies:
“Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand.”—Isaiah 8:9,10
“Therefore wait ye upon Me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all My fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.”—Zeph. 3:8
Isaiah 8:12 indicates that the desire of the people to unite is based upon fear. “Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid,” is the prophet’s message to believers in God’s plan. Jesus said of this time that men’s hearts would be failing them for fear as they look forward to the things coming upon the earth. (Luke 21:26) In Psalm 46:1,2, the Lord’s people, who are assured of divine overruling in their lives, are represented as saying they do not fear “though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.”
The “earth” here referred to is symbolic of the present social structure, and. is represented as being carried into the sea of human passion and anarchy. (Isa. 17:12,13) While all Christians should appreciate the good efforts now being made by man to establish a better order of things, yet we realize that the “desire of all nations shall come” only after they have first been terribly “shaken” and that the Lord alone is able to bring a genuine and lasting new order out of the chaos wrought by enlightened human selfishness.—Haggai 2:7
Thus, while the general tendency to unite, as manifested nationally, politically, and ecclesiastically, is clearly in fulfillment of prophecy, yet, the purposes of human betterment which is prompting the unions will be realized only as a result of the establishment of Christ’s Kingdom. Zephaniah 3:8 shows clearly the gathering, but that the human bonds of selfishness will not hold, and that the humanly conceived social “earth” will be consumed by the “fire of God’s jealousy.”
But we will not fear, for just beyond will come a further manifestation of divine power in the affairs of men. Verse 9 of Zephaniah 3 declares that then God will turn to the people a “pure language.” The Hebrew word here translated language is saphah, and is the same word used in the account quoted foregoing concerning the confusion of tongues by the Lord when the people attempted to build the Tower of Babel.
The basic meaning of the word is band or boundary, and when used in connection with the Tower of Babel incident, denotes the limitations that were then placed upon the people by the confusing of their tongues. When the Kingdom of Christ is established, all nations will again be circumscribed by God, not by the confusing of their own language, but by having turned to them a pure saphah, or language.
Words, or language, are used in the Scriptures to symbolize the conveying of information or a message. Thus the Word of God, or the language of God, signifies the imparted knowledge of His plans for the children of men. Doubtless, as the educational program of the Kingdom progresses, all nations will learn to speak one language; but more important than this is the fact that the symbolic language that will be turned to them by God will not only acquaint the people with His glory, but also set the bounds of their worship, limiting all to the worship of the one true God, calling upon Him from every land—“with one consent.”
Then the food problem will be solved, as well as all the other problems created by man’s fall into sin and selfishness. No longer will it be necessary for anyone to eat bread by the sweat of his face until he returns to the dust. Indeed, no longer will it be necessary for anyone to return to the dust, for not only will the curse upon the earth, symbolized by thorns and thistles, be removed, but the penalty of death itself will be set aside as a result of the redemptive work of Christ Jesus and the establishment of His Kingdom. One of the functions of Christ’s Kingdom will be to operate as a worldwide food administration, the glorious and lasting results of which are prophetically described as follows:
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him.”—Revelation 22:1-3
What a glorious promise! Those who have faith in the Bible know that when the Kingdom of Christ is established, and the promised “river of life” is flowing for the blessing of all mankind, no more food shortages will prevail. One of the Kingdom promises reads: “Then shall the earth yield her increase, and God, even our God, shall bless us, God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.”—Psalm 67:6
Another promise reads: “Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.”—Psalm 145:13-16
To satisfy the desire of all mankind along the lines of food, is a big order, yet this is what the Creator of the Universe has promised to do. But it shouldn’t be difficult for Him, because He is the Creator of the food in the first place, and His wisdom and lower can certainly cause the earth to produce plenty for all, and properly distribute it as well. In this should be our confidence.