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A new United Nations study reports that “821 million people globally were undernourished in 2017—about one person in every nine. And nearly 151 million under-fives—22% of the global total—have their growth stunted by poor nutrition” (BBC, September 11, 2018). Experts say increasing weather extremes, increasing global conflicts and increasing violence are all to blame for the growing hunger situation. This is now the third consecutive year of rising global hunger.

In the mid-1800s, the expansion of the British Empire spread the knowledge of many Bible-based laws to peoples in British colonies around the globe. One such law made homosexual relations illegal, labeling them as “unnatural acts.” The former British colony of India recently overturned this law that had been in place for nearly 200 years.

The shofar trumpet mentioned in the Bible was made from a ram’s horn. It was blown by the priests of God for various purposes. Like today’s siren, which makes a loud, attention-getting sound, the blast of the shofar also demanded people’s attention. Those who heeded could say, (pardon the pun), “shofar, so good!” and be saved from serious injury or death. However, if people heard the warning but failed to take heed, they would suffer the consequences.

Of all the values society holds dear today, freedom must top the list. As we look around our nations and communities, what freedoms do we value? We value freedom of speech, freedom of travel, and freedom to act as individuals. We cherish freedom of choice—in marriage, family, religion, and myriad other aspects of our lives. Many even seem to value freedom from marriage, freedom from children, or freedom from religion, and the list of other “obstacles” to freedom goes on seemingly endlessly.