Fall 1996
The Hunger in the Heart of God
Marvin Isum
Bible Teacher at Pinecrest

We usually come to the Lord seeking to satisfy the hungers and needs which are within us. This results in a one sided relationship with Him.

Let us consider that there is, within the heart of God, a hunger which only we may satisfy. The Lord, through Jeremiah, tells us that our glory is that we KNOW and UNDERSTAND Him. When we know Him as He desires to be known, we will also understand His desires and hungers.

This deeper knowing is not merely our having adequate information about God, but it includes our sharing an intimacy with Him. The Lord actively seeks this, and tells us,

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any
man hear My voice, and open the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with Me" Rev 3:20.

There is a line in a chorus we sing, "let us forget about ourselves and concentrate on Him." That is, let us turn from having our hungers satisfied, and begin to satisfy the hunger that is within the heart of God.

Genesis chapter 18 records the incident of the LORD coming to Abraham. The general viewpoint is that He came to confirm the birth of Isaac, which indeed He did. The Lord also shared with Abraham the fact that He was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

Yet Abraham saw a greater reason for the LORD's coming. As the LORD approached, Abraham graciously invited Him to rest in the shade while he obtained water to wash His feet, and then prepared a meal for Him.

Abraham understood that God came to sup with him, and to be refreshed.

"For therefore are Ye come to Your servant" Gen 18:5b.

Abraham's relationship with the LORD was so intimate that he realized the hunger within Him, and sought to satisfy it by providing refreshment, rest, and a meal for Him. Let us follow our father Abraham and give the LORD our best, as well as ourselves.

When Jesus came to partake of food in the Pharisee's house, as recorded in Luke 7:36-46, His hungers were satisfied by a street woman, rather than by the Pharisee who had made the invitation. To Simon, Jesus said, "you gave me no water, no oil, and no kiss. The Greek word used for kiss, proskuneo, means to fall prostrate before another. Hence, the Scripture enjoins us to "kiss the Son!"

Satisfying the hunger that is within God goes beyond our times of prayer, praise, Bible reading, etc. These things are good and should not be neglected, but the Lord is yet hungering for an intimacy with us.

Mark 11:12-20 tells of Jesus going through an entire day in hunger. In the morning, having left Bethany, Jesus and the disciples came to a fig tree. He sought to satisfy His hunger, but found nothing but leaves. This speaks of a form of religion without spiritual intimacy.

This hunger had yet to be satisfied when He came to the end of the day and returned to Bethany, the house of dates. There, we read in John 12, "they made Him a dinner." At long last, Jesus' hunger is satisfied. Here was an open door which Jesus entered, and they supped together.

As we come into an intimate relationship with the living LORD, we will begin to personally know and understand Him. We will recognize that there is within the heart of our God a desire for intimacy that can only be satisfied by us.

We speak evangelistically about there being in each of us a God-shaped blank that can only be filled by God. We have experienced trying to fill this void with many things, none of which satisfy. Only God can fill this blank that is within each one of us.

In the same way, within God is a void; in my personal relationship with Him, a "Marvin-shaped blank" that only I can fill. So also, there is a void that only you may fill. Nothing, or no one else, can satisfy the hunger within our God, which is for you to satisfy.

This day, give yourself to the LORD, and press on to know Him, that you may see the delight upon His face, as you satisfy the hunger within Him.

Let us, like the Shulemite, declare "Let my Beloved come into His garden and eat His pleasant fruits." Song of Songs 4:16.