Famine simply means hunger, and by extension, shortages.

In the Old Testament, there are many examples of famine. Perhaps the most familiar is in Exodus, where Pharoah, the king of Egypt, dreams of seven abundant years, followed by seven years of famine. Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel all predict famine as one of three judgments (The Sword, Famine, and Pestilence) that are sent to Israel when they stubbornly, as a nation, refuse to repent from their rebellion against God.

In the New Testament Jesus clearly tells us of famines as one of the signs that the end is drawing near:
"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places." (Matthew 24:7)

Finally, Famine is one of the judgments of the well-known "Four Horses of the Apocalypse":
"When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, 'Come!' I looked, and behold, an ashen (gray) horse; and the one who sat on it had the name Death, and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, and famine, and plague, and by the wild animals of the earth." (Revelation 4:7-8, NASB)

Notice again the repeated Old Testament pattern of judgment: "sword, and famine, and plague", this time followed by the wild animals of the earth."

Traditionally famines are thought of as being caused by DROUGHT. 2021 has seen more than its fair share of droughts in America. Throughout 2021, the entire western half of the continental lower 48 states have been in not only a drought, but what climate researchers referred to as a "mega-drought", not seen since the dust bowl of the 1930's.

But droughts are occurring not only in North America, but worldwide simultaneously in:
∘ Europe: Ukraine, Moldova
∘ Asia: Bangladesh, India, China
∘ Nearly the entire southern half of Africa
∘ South America: Primarily Brazil, but also nearly entire continent

But Famine traditionally has referred to FOOD SHORTAGE. That would be the obvious meaning when we think of ancient Israel, Egypt or Babylon. But prophetically it would be also used to refer to a shortage of ANYTHING. What has COVID-19 taught us about empty spermarket shelves, or gasoline prices? What about the now familiar "supply chain"? What about the shortage of computer chips that prevent the manufacture of cars, refrigerators, and cellphones? These, too, are part of the modern version of "famines" that are also the shortages predicted as God's painful judgment to nations in rebellion against His laws.

It is the country, indeed all nations, that face the judgment and wrath of God. Yet individually, each person on earth may, should, indeed must seek the free gift of being set free from sin that God's Son Jesus offers to every person who seeks Him. If you choose to receive Christ as your personal Savior, He will forgive your sins and set you free for all eternity.