February 2 - The Third Seal

February 2 - The Third Seal
Revelation 6:5-6

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"

The Lamb breaks open the third seal, the third living creature calls “Come” and the rider on the black horse is before John carrying a pair of scales.

When a day’s wage will only purchase enough food for one person to eat – he feeds his family by buying a lesser product (barley) so he can get by.

Famine is generally a by-product of war and destruction. The black horse and rider will bring incredible pain to those left after the battles so far. God has been warning us since the beginning about being disobedient.

Leviticus 26:26, “When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be satisfied.”

Ezekiel 4:16, “He said to me, ‘Son of man, I will cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of their sin.’”

All the warnings are coming true with the entrance of the Four Horsemen. There are many explanations for the warning against damaging the oil and wine. The best one seems to be that God is limiting the destruction wreaked by the rider.