``There by the AHAVA CANAL, I gave orders for us all to FAST, and humble ourselves before our Lord, and to ask HIM to lead us on our journey. So we fasted and prayed for God to protect us and God answered our prayer.''

      On the twenty-fourth day of the same month the Israelites assembled to FAST to show sorrow for their sins.   NEHEMIAH 9: 1-2

      `` But even now'', says the Lord, ``Repent sincerely and return to ME with FASTING and weeping and mournings.''   JOEL 2: 12

      The people ask: ``Why should we FAST, if the Lord does not take notice? Why should we go without food if God pays no attention to it?'' In answer to this God says: ``As a matter of fact, when you are FASTING, you pursue your own interest, and you still oppress your workers. The kind of FASTING I want is to remove the chain of oppression, and yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. Share your food with the hungry, and open your house to the homeless poor.''

ISAIH 58: 3-10

      And when you fast do not put on a sad face that everyone may know you are FASTING. When you FAST wash your faces and comb your hairs so that others cannot know your FASTING.''

MATTHEW 6: 16

      ``Barnabas and Sual preached the GOSPEL and in each church they appointed elders and with prayer and FASITING they commanded them to the Lord in whom they had put their trusts.

ACTS 14: 23

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE)