Bible Talk | Tri Harmadji, Ph.D.
In recent years, Indonesians have again been faced with various economic concerns. The continued strengthening of the US dollar, the energy crisis, dependence on imported goods, and global economic uncertainty have brought real anxiety into the lives of many people. Various economic indicators are enough to cause concern about the future. However, when viewed from a biblical perspective, this kind of situation is nothing new. Economic crises, famines, wars, and social instability have been part of the human experience since ancient times.
The Old Testament in particular presents various stories of societies that had to face food scarcity, climate change, war, and economic collapse. In each of these events, the same question arises: how should humanity respond to crisis? Interestingly, the Bible not only records the existence of crises, but also shows the various forms of human response. From the story of the patriarchs of Israel to the experience of the Egyptians at the time of Joseph, there are important lessons that remain relevant for modern society. Amidst the threat of economic uncertainty today, the wisdom of the Bible teaches that the main issue is not whether a crisis will come, but how people prepare for and respond to it.
Crisis as a Recurring Reality in Salvation History
One of the impressions that arises when reading the Old Testament is that the lives of God's people were never entirely crisis-free. Various forms of economic and social hardship arose repeatedly over a long span of history.
In the days of Abraham and Isaac, for example, famine forced them to seek other, more fertile regions in order to survive (Genesis 12:10; 26:1). Famine was also the backdrop for the migration of Jacob's family to Egypt at the time of Joseph. In the book of Ruth, Elimelech and Naomi's decision to leave Bethlehem and settle in Moab was also fuelled by the food crisis that hit Judah (Ruth 1:1-2).
Another event occurred during the time of the prophet Elijah when the land of Israel experienced a prolonged drought as part of God's judgement on King Ahab and the Israelites (1 Kings 17). The crisis was so severe that a widow in Zarephath had only a handful of flour and a little oil left for herself and her child.
These stories show that crises are not an aberration of human history, but rather part of the recurring reality of life. They range from climate change, to drought, to crop failure, to war. What is happening in the modern world actually has the same pattern. If today geopolitical conflicts can lead to rising oil prices and global inflation, then in biblical times war was also often the main trigger for economic collapse and food scarcity.
Therefore, the Bible does not teach God's people to be surprised when faced with crises. Instead, crises are seen as a part of life that must be dealt with wisely.
When Donkey Heads Became a Luxury Item: The Extreme Crisis in Samaria
One of the most chilling images of economic crisis in the Old Testament is found in the story of the siege of Samaria by Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, as recorded in 2 Kings 6:24-25.
The text describes an extraordinarily extreme situation. Because the city of Samaria was under siege for a long time, the food supply was completely cut off. The result was unreasonable inflation. A donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, while a quarter of a kab of pigeon droppings was valued at five shekels of silver.
Interestingly, both commodities under normal conditions have almost no economic value. Donkeys were unclean animals according to Torah law, so they were not commonly consumed by the Israelites. In fact, it was not even the meat that was sold, but only the head. Similarly, the "pigeon droppings" were probably very low quality foodstuffs, or even really bird droppings that were consumed because there was no alternative.
This narrative shows how a crisis can drastically change economic value. Goods that are normally worthless can become very expensive when scarcity strikes. The price is no longer determined by the quality of the item, but rather by the level of need and availability.
More tragically, the story develops into a tale of cannibalism. In the verses that follow, two women agree to eat their own children because they no longer have food. These images show a level of social devastation that goes beyond mere economic hardship. An unaddressed crisis can destroy morality, human relations, and human dignity itself.
When compared to the various crises that Indonesia has experienced, including the 1998 economic crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic, Samaria's conditions at that time were at a much more extreme level.
Three Human Responses to Crisis in the Old Testament
From the various stories of crisis in the Old Testament, at least three patterns of human response can be identified.
- Practical Response: Survival in a Realistic Way.
The first response is practical and realistic action to survive. In this situation man uses the available abilities to find a way out of the crisis. The patriarchs of Israel provide a clear example. When there was a famine, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob made the decision to relocate in order to obtain better food sources. Similarly, Naomi left Bethlehem for Moab when famine struck Judah.
These responses were not spectacular. But that is precisely why they are close to everyday human experience. In a modern context, a similar response is seen when someone who has lost their job seeks a new job, starts a small business, or moves to another area that offers better economic opportunities.
The Bible does not condemn this kind of response. On the contrary, such actions demonstrate the human ability to use reason and available resources to sustain life. - Miracle Response: Relying on God's Intervention.
The second response is to rely on God's direct intervention through miracles. The most famous example is the story of the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. In the midst of a severe famine, God preserved the widow's life through the miracle of flour and oil that never ran out until the end of the drought.
Another example is found in the story of the siege of Samaria. After the situation reached its worst point, God acted miraculously by making the Syrian army hear the sound of a large army so that they panicked and fled. They left behind all their provisions and food supplies. In a short time, the situation changed completely. Food prices that had previously soared became normalised due to the sudden abundance available.
For many Christians, this response is often considered the most spiritual form of faith. Miracles are indeed part of God's work in the Bible. But it is interesting that the Bible does not make miracles the only pattern of crisis resolution. - Wisdom and Management Response: Preparing Before the Crisis Comes.
In contrast to the previous two responses that came when the crisis had already occurred, this response was made long before the crisis came. Through Pharaoh's dream, God revealed that Egypt would experience seven years of abundance followed by seven years of devastating famine. Joseph not only interpreted the dream, but also offered concrete strategies to deal with it.
During the period of abundance, Egypt was to collect one-fifth of the harvest and store it as a food reserve. Thus, when the time of famine came, the land had enough supplies to survive. Interestingly, the character who often gets the least attention in this story is actually Pharaoh. Joseph did provide wisdom, but the decision to implement the strategy was in Pharaoh's hands. Egypt's success in dealing with the crisis was not only due to divine revelation, but also to leadership that was willing to act in a disciplined and anticipatory manner.
If all three responses are equally present in the Bible, which one is most relevant to modern society?
In today's context, Joseph's pattern seems most appropriate. The reason is simple: we live in a situation more similar to Pharaoh's time than to that of the widow in Zarephath or the people of Samaria. Pharaoh was given advance notice of the impending crisis. The same is true of modern society. We do not receive dreams like the Pharaohs, but we have science, economic data, historical studies, and past experiences that show a pattern that crises will recur.
There is a school of thought that says that a person living about seventy years is likely to experience six to ten economic recessions, three to five major financial crises, and at least one generational crisis that permanently alters the social fabric. Indonesia itself has experienced many such events, from the 1998 economic crisis to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore, to ignore the possibility of crisis is to ignore the lessons of history and the wisdom that is already available.
Wisdom as a Form of Maturing Faith
It is often thought that financial preparation and economic planning are unspiritual because they rely too much on human ability. But the story of Joseph shows that this view is not entirely true.
In the Genesis narrative, both the notice of the crisis and the strategy to deal with it come from God. As such, anticipatory action is not the opposite of faith, but rather part of obedience to God's wisdom.
The book of Proverbs repeatedly emphasises the importance of wisdom, discipline and prudent planning. God is not only a God of love, but also a God of wisdom. Therefore, the use of reason and careful planning are part of a healthy spirituality.
Miracles are still possible. However, the Bible also shows that humans are responsible to use the wisdom that God has given before expecting extraordinary interventions.
Being Joseph to Yourself
The practical lesson to be learnt from the story of Joseph is the importance of preparing oneself in times of abundance to face times of adversity. In the Genesis narrative, the contrast between Pharaoh and the Egyptian people is striking. Pharaoh knew that a crisis was coming so he stockpiled grain during a time of abundance. In contrast, the people did not make the same preparations. When the famine came, they had to sell their land, livestock and even assets to get food. As a result, the Pharaoh became richer while the people became poorer.
The same principle is often seen in modern life. Crises tend to widen the gap between those who are prepared and those who are not. People who have savings, emergency funds, additional skills, and good financial management are usually better able to survive. In contrast, those who live unprepared are often hit much harder. Therefore, one form of applying biblical wisdom today is to improve financial literacy. Saving, controlling consumption, building an emergency fund, understanding investments, and managing finances in a disciplined manner are not just economic skills, but also forms of responsibility that are aligned with the principles of biblical wisdom.
Concluding
The Old Testament shows that crisis is an integral part of the human journey. From the famine of the patriarchs, the suffering of Naomi, the experience of the widow of Zarephath, to the tragedy of the siege of Samaria, the Bible illustrates that a world fallen into sin is always vulnerable to various forms of instability. Yet the main focus of the Bible is not on the crisis itself, but on the human response to it. Some respond with practical action, some experience providence through miracles, and some prepare through wisdom and prudent management.
In today's context of uncertainty, the example of Joseph and Pharaoh offers a very relevant lesson. When the signs of crisis begin to appear, the wisest response is neither panic nor passivity that simply waits for a miracle. The most biblical response is to use God-given wisdom to prepare with discipline and responsibility.
In other words, in the midst of a world that could one day make "wheat" expensive, God's people are called to live as Josephs to themselves: reading the signs of the times, managing blessings wisely, and preparing for the future with faith manifested through wisdom.
