多年來，非洲之角一直遭受嚴重的乾旱，以致農作物歉收，牲畜難以存活，危及數百萬人的生命。其中有些群體的情況最為嚴峻，比如住在肯亞卡庫馬難民營的人，他們為躲避戰爭和壓迫而逃離家園。最近的一份報告描述一位年輕的母親帶著襁褓中的嬰兒，向營地官員求助的情況。這名嬰兒嚴重營養不良，以致她的頭髮稀少，皮膚乾裂。她不會笑，也不能吃東西，幼小的身體正逐漸衰竭。於是，有好幾位專科醫生立即為她進行治療。儘管醫療需求仍然很大，但慶幸當地已建立基礎設施，能隨時提供搶救生命的必需品。

上帝正呼召祂的子民，在這些令人絕望的地方散發祂的光和愛（以賽亞書58章8節）。當人們挨餓、生病或受到威脅時，上帝呼召祂的子民率先以耶穌的名，為人們提供食物、藥品和安全的住所。先知以賽亞責備古以色列人，因他們熱衷於禁食和禱告，卻忽視以實際的關懷行動去幫助遇有急難的人。以賽亞呼籲百姓把「食物分給饑餓的人，接待無家可歸的窮人，送衣服給赤身露體的人」（7節，當代譯本修訂版）。

無論是身體或靈性飢餓的人，上帝都希望他們得到飽足。祂會在我們心裡動工，藉著你我去服事有需要的人。

For years, the Horn of Africa has suffered from a brutal drought that has devastated crops, killed livestock, and imperiled millions. Among the most vulnerable—like the people at Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp who’ve fled from wars and oppression—it’s even more dire. A recent report described a young mother bringing her baby to camp officials. The infant suffered from severe malnutrition, leaving “her hair and skin . . . dry and brittle.” She wouldn’t smile and wouldn’t eat. Her tiny body was shutting down. Specialists immediately intervened. Thankfully, even though the needs are still great, an infrastructure has been built to provide immediate, life-or-death necessities.

These desperate places are exactly where God’s people are called to shine His light and love (Isaiah 58:8). When people are starving, sick, or threatened, God summons His people to be the first to provide food, medicine, and safety—all in Jesus’ name. Isaiah rebuked ancient Israel for thinking they were being faithful with their fasting and prayers while ignoring the actual compassionate work the crisis required: sharing “food with the hungry,” providing “the poor wanderer with shelter,” and clothing “the naked” (v. 7).

God desires for the hungry to be fed—both physically and spiritually. And He works in and through us as He meets the need.