CNN: Should USA Be Like Joseph and Store Wheat?

Wheat

CNN had an interesting article:

Should the U.S. emulate the Biblical Joseph and store grain?

CNN Senior National Editor – Sept 23, 2011…

Might America wake one day and discover that those “amber waves of grain” and the bounty of its “fruited plain” no longer is enough to feed its citizens?

American farmers were forecast this spring to plant more than 92 million acres of corn, 75 million acres of soybeans and 58 million acres of wheat. Every bushel that survives to be harvested this fall will be coveted.http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/23/should-the-u-s-emulate-the-biblical-joseph-and-store-grain/

The article basically says that the USA controls more of the wheat market than Saudi Arabia does the oil market, that Asians (particularly Korea and China) are buying up a lot of the wheat, and that food supplies are tightening. The article indicates that like Joseph had Pharaoh store wheat, that this is something that the USA should do. I would add that this is something that the USA always should have been doing, but it is getting in so much debt that it will likely have to sell wheat to keep its creditors somewhat satisfied. And if it stops it, it faces consequences (cf. Habakkuk 2:6-7).

Food shortages may begin as early as next month. Some have concerns that matters will worsen in 2012:

Next Drought Victim: 2012 Wheat Crop?

AG Web – Aug 31, 2011

The cynics like to scoff that the Great Plains winter wheat crop dies a thousand deaths before setting new yield records, but the 2012 crop south of I-70 appears to be at risk of never getting started.

With the odds now favoring another La Nina this winter and farmers from Kansas to Texas saying they’ve never seen it drier, it looks like 2012 runs the risk of being another short crop year—further exacerbating USDA’s already gloomy outlook for wheat carryover.

http://www.agweb.com/article/next_drought_victim_2012_wheat_crop/

The Bible is clear that humankind will NOT have a solution as it shows that there will not be lots of wheat at the time of the end, otherwise it would not have the following passage in the Book of Revelation:

5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5-6)

There clearly will not be an over abundance of wheat when the above prophecy is fulfilled. Genetically-modified crops are subject to massive devastation if they are affected by any pest (including microbial ones) or other factor that disrupts their growth. This type of disaster seems much more likely to happen than a wheat overabundance that cannot happen (at least not at the very time that Revelation 6:5-6 is referring to, though one could temporarily happen before) (see also Super Wheat: Solution or Disaster Awaiting? and TW: Food Prices May Cause Riots Within a Year).

Notice something that Ezekiel was inspired to write:

15 ‘So it shall be a reproach, a taunt, a lesson, and an astonishment to the nations that are all around you, when I execute judgments among you in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken. 16 When I send against them the terrible arrows of famine which shall be for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, I will increase the famine upon you and cut off your supply of bread. 17 So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken.'” (Ezekiel 5:15-17)

Notice that this shows famine, then pestilence, and then the sword. The above sequence seems to be slightly different than that Jesus listed as part of the “beginning of sorrows” (Mathew 24:7-8) as the sword comes afterwards. But since the sword should begin the Great Tribulation, the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), this may be part of how the beginning of sorrows ties into the Great Tribulation–this also may suggest hunger and disease problems for the Anglo-nations prior to the start of the Great Tribulation.

We in the Living Church of God teach that the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand are essentially descendants of the biblical tribe of Joseph. And while those nations have connections to him, it does not appear that they want to live like he did, nor is it likely that they will be able to store enough grain before it is too late.

The sons of Joseph were named Ephraim (Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand) and Manasseh (USA). In a recent co-worker letter, Dr. Roderick C. Meredith of the Living Church of God wrote:

So it seems that the “beginning of sorrows” has certainly been escalating in Ephraim and Manasseh! Maybe it will help some few people to actually “wake up”! (Meredith RC. LCG Co-worker letter, August 15, 2011)

The sorrows and troubles are just beginning and will get much worse. Hopefully, people will wake up.

As Jesus said:

37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:36-37)

Tougher times are coming. And for some parts of the world these tougher time may be here now. People who can prepare, should: both spiritually and physically. Westerners need to realize that this will not only affect people in places like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East–the Anglo-descended nations of the West will themselves suffer hunger, civil unrest, famine, and worse. Super wheat will not be the solution–it is much more likely to contribute to a disaster.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2011 or 2012? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What is the “beginning of sorrows”? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord?
Physical Preparation Scriptures for Christians. We all know the Bible prophecies famines. Should we do something?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it. Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near?
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2018 or 2019?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West?
Is Tony Blair Apocalyptic? The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom converted to Catholicism shortly after leaving his office and has been active in European affairs. What role might he play?