God’s Intent for Our Provision
From the start, God created a world full of provision:
“And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.’” (Genesis 1:29, ESV)
Food was never meant to be abused or wasted. It was meant to sustain life, to fuel the body, and to be received with thanksgiving. Humanity was called to eat what was needed, not indulge in reckless excess.
Eating Only What We Need
For most of history, people harvested or hunted only what was necessary. Killing an animal was an act of respect: nothing was wasted, and survival was tied to wise stewardship.
Contrast that with today:
- Nearly 20% of global food is wasted, over 1 billion meals discarded daily.
- 79 kg of food per person is wasted annually worldwide.
- Meanwhile, hundreds of millions go hungry.
Wasting food is more than poor resource management; it is sin against God’s provision. Jesus modeled simplicity, teaching His disciples to pray:
“Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11)
Not abundance for tomorrow. Not excess to throw away. Just what is needed.
The Days of Noah and Unsustainable Consumption
Genesis 6 shows us what happens when human appetite overwhelms creation:
“The Nephilim were on the earth in those days… The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become… So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created… for I regret that I have made them.’” (Genesis 6:4–7, NIV)
Ancient tradition teaches that the giants consumed the earth’s resources without restraint. Creation could no longer sustain them. Judgment followed.
Today, with over 8 billion people on the planet, we face a similar strain. But instead of giants, our problem is wastefulness and demand for immediate abundance.
Genetically Modified Foods: A Necessary Evil?
To keep up with population demand, humanity now relies on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). These crops are engineered to grow faster, resist pests, and yield more food on less land. On the surface, this seems like provision, but at what cost?
Health Concerns Linked to GMOs:
- Some studies suggest links between GMO-heavy diets and digestive issues, allergies, and inflammation.
- Heavy pesticide use (like glyphosate in GMO crops) has been tied to hormonal disruption and cancer risks.
- Nutrient density may be lower in GMO produce compared to naturally grown crops.
Scripture warns us not to twist what God made good:
“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” (1 Timothy 4:4–5)
When food is altered beyond recognition, we risk rejecting God’s natural design. What began as a necessity to “feed the world” may be slowly harming the very people it was meant to sustain.
Returning to Stewardship
We are living in days that Jesus compared to Noah’s:
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37)
Just as the antediluvian world consumed without restraint, so do we, whether through waste or artificial abundance. The call to Christians is clear:
- Eat only what you need. Practice restraint and gratitude.
- Avoid waste. Share surplus with others, support local food ministries.
- Seek natural over artificial. Where possible, choose food closer to God’s design.
- Honor your body. Scripture calls it the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). What we consume matters.
Conclusion: Our Modern Test
We live in a world of abundance, but also a world of distortion. We waste food while others starve, and we rely on genetically modified systems to keep up with appetites God never intended.
The lesson of Noah’s day still speaks: when man consumes beyond what creation can sustain, judgment follows.
The good news? God has already provided enough. If we eat wisely, live thankfully, and return to true stewardship, there will not only be enough for us, but enough to bless others as well.
Troy P Zehnder 