Read Time: 4 min 40 sec | Reading Level: 7th Grade

WORLD NEWS

Hunger in Gaza

After 21 months of war, aid groups are sounding every alarm over starvation in Gaza.

Scenes of hunger and desperation have been circling the globe. A group backed by the United Nations (U.N.) that keeps an eye on food shortages warned that “the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out” in Gaza. The U.N. says 14 people died of starvation on Monday. Gaza’s public health organization (run by Hamas) says the number of Gazans who have died since the war started on October 7 is more than 60,000.

Fingers are pointing every which way. Israel accuses Hamas of disrupting food distribution to get sympathy from the world. And Israel blames the U.N. for not giving out the aid that has been provided. The U.N. agrees that gangs and crowds have stolen food and made aid delivery challenging. But it blames Israel for the unsafe conditions.

Israel has paused some fighting to allow aid in. But Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says reports of famine are lies pushed by Hamas. Israel says, “there is no starvation in Gaza.”

President Trump disagrees, saying there’s “real starvation” and promising the U.S. will “set up food centers” in Gaza to help. The U.N. celebrated “progress” but said only “vast amounts” of aid will prevent famine.

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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
The threat of famine in a war zone can leave us feeling heartbroken and helpless. Remember: the God who fed His people manna in the desert still reigns. Pray that God would provide daily bread for Palestinians, and that they would put their hope in Jesus, the Bread of Heaven.

“Your Father knows the things you need before you ask him. Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:8-13 (CSB) (read full passage)

What gospel lesson can be taught through this story?
This story is a reminder to see the needs of those who are unlike us in many ways (different country and culture) and to have compassion.

In John 9, Jesus encounters a man who was born blind. The disciples assumed someone sinned to earn him his poverty, but Jesus rejects that story. He heals the man, and then Jesus finds him again after the religious leaders persecute the man. When others were overlooking or blaming the blind man for his vulnerability, Jesus saw, had compassion, helped, supported, and shared truth.

There are no simple solutions to hunger in a war zone. What we can do is respond like Jesus when we encounter vulnerable people in our corner of the world.

What do I want to make sure my kids practice in light of this story?
Giving thanks.

It is easy to take basic gifts like three meals a day, a safe place to sleep, and running water for granted because they’re always there. But a hunger crisis reminds us that those basics are not a guarantee, and it puts our problems in perspective. Many of the difficulties we dwell on in our daily lives are much smaller than they seem.

Making a habit of giving thanks trains us to see God’s goodness and gifts everywhere. The apostle Paul says gratefulness is a spiritual discipline: “Be filled by the Spirit: speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for everything to God” (Ephesians 5:18-20 CSB).

• Discuss how the Gaza hunger crisis puts a problem in your life in a different perspective. How does that perspective change the way you’ll respond to that problem?

• Memorize The Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:9-13 CSB).

• Pray for Palestinians who are hungry, that they would be filled. Pray for world leaders to have wisdom and compassion. Pray for Christians to reflect Christ well as we discuss this topic. And pray for eyes to see and help the vulnerable among us.

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