2014 Congressional Elections The Biblical Basis for Advocacy to End Hunger

3 4 God has a special concern for poor and vulnerable people. Throughout the Old Testament, God sees, hears, and responds to the cries of poor and vulnerable people (Exodus 2:23-25; Leviticus 25; Deuteronomy 24:19-22; Isaiah 3:13-15). The Scriptures portray the Lord as upholding the cause of those who are oppressed and providing for hungry and poor people (Psalm 146:5-9; Psalm 72; Proverbs 22). Jesus came into the world in humble circumstances (Luke 2:7). Fulfilling the prophesies of Isaiah, he preached good news to poor people—proclaiming freedom for prisoners, sight for the blind, and the release of the oppressed (Isaiah 61:1-2; Matthew 11:2-6; Luke 4:18-21). iStock Photo God provides out of God’s abundance. From God’s divine abundance all people have been blessed. Scripture highlights that our world and even our breath are gifts from God (Genesis 1-2). In the Old Testament, God provided by raining manna from heaven onto the Israelites (Exodus 16). In the Gospels, Jesus fed 5,000 people (Matthew 14:1321; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14), turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11), and filled the disciples’ nets with a miraculous ca tch of fish (John 21:1-13). Jesus announced that he came to give life abundantly (John 10:10). We can place our trust in God’s promise of provision, as Paul told the Philippians: “God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to God’s riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

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