Severe Providence and Sovereign Grace

And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 

Luke 15:13–14

Here is something I don't remember noticing before in the parable of the prodigal son: the severe famine. In the context of the story, a severe famine comes upon the land, in part, to bring this son to an end of himself. How happy this son would be, on account of this famine! Let us be patient under severe providence; it may be an engine that is driven by sovereign grace.