Session 2: From Relief to Development

Biblical Reflection

Read Isaiah 58

Isaiah 58 is generally viewed as a passage stating God’s preference for acts of service over displays of piety and for fasting that empowers others rather than just denying oneself. That is certainly a theme of this chapter, but there are deeper lessons to be learned from Isaiah’s words.

Earlier in the book, Isaiah warns of God’s judgment against neighboring nations. In chapter 58, however, the focus is on Judah and what her people must do to be restored. In verse 7, we see a foreshadowing of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 about how the nations will be judged: have they shared their bread with the hungry, sheltered the homeless, and clothed the naked?  But before this, in verse 6, deeper and more structural changes are demanded: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (NRSV). God is calling the nation not just to respond to immediate needs, like hunger and homelessness, but also to undo the injustice and oppression that created those needs. In doing so, the people will truly start the process of restoring and rebuilding.

Reflection Questions

1. What might it look like in our present context to be “Repairers of Broken Walls” or “Restorers of Streets with Dwellings”?

2. What injustices might God be calling us “to loose”?

3. Although God is clearly disappointed with the people’s practices, the prophet declares great hope and promise for them. How might we view this promise of restoration and purpose with regard to nations? To our own nation?

Hunger Report Theme Summary

The causes of hunger are not always readily apparent. We can see how wars or natural disasters like floods and earthquakes cause great suffering. It is harder to recognize a problem like an underperforming agriculture sector, which in the long run may cause greater suffering because it is constant, year in and year out. An important theme in this year’s Hunger Report is the need for long-term development strategies, such as investments to boost agricultural productivity among small-scale farmers or improvements in maternal and child nutrition. Feed the Future is one of the initiatives that will invest in agricultural production and food security.

Discussion Question

Why is it easier to build enthusiasm and support for immediate responses to emergencies than for long-term development?

Activities

1. Read the section entitled “Be a Reliable Partner” on pages 91-93. What light does this article shed on the difficulty of building support for long-term foreign assistance commitments? What attitudes might need to be changed?

2. Read the section on Haiti entitled “Relief to Development” on pages 52-54, and examine Figure 1.9.

   Make a chart with three columns.

   • Column 1 list challenges facing Haiti.
   • Column 2 list possible short-term (relief) responses.
   • Column 3 list possible long-term (development) responses.

   After you have completed your chart, review Figure 1.7 on page 47. Look for policies in the figure that were included in your chart. Note which policies you categorized “short-term” and which “long-term.” Discuss why this makes a difference.

3. As you conclude, pray for efforts to support sustainable development and consider if there is something God might be calling you to do as a result of this conversation.