God has ordained fasting as an essential element of the Day of Atonement because it induces a physical weakness that we can feel, not just intellectually acknowledge. Fasting is a self-imposed trial that helps us recognize our true nature compared to God, reminding us of our dependence on the things He freely and generously supplies. While it is a good exercise in discipline, its purpose is not to impress God but to highlight our need for His sustenance. When we deny the body the food it needs, our weaknesses and mortality become apparent, mirroring the spiritual weakness that comes from rejecting God's Word, which is spirit and life. Fasting intensifies feelings of self-concern, humbling us and teaching that humility is a choice. It brings us face to face with our mortal state, emphasizing our need for all the help we can get from God. Through fasting, we demonstrate our dependence on Him, aiding our growth into His image as we prepare for a future of unity with Him.

In our Western world, we do not truly know hunger, despite fasting at least once a year. The pangs of abstaining from food for 24 hours can be uncomfortable, causing weakness, nausea, and headaches for some. For those with chronic illnesses or metabolic conditions, fasting can be particularly challenging, even after missing just one meal. The necessity of taking medications with food adds further difficulty, making the Day of Atonement a stressful and potentially life-threatening time for certain individuals. While we are familiar with fasting, as God commands it, we remain largely unaware of real starvation or famine, surrounded by an abundance of food that many of us have never missed except during these designated times. Fasting, as a voluntary act, contrasts sharply with the involuntary nature of famine. It is a means to humility and godly living, unlike famine which leads to deterioration, disease, and death. God uses fasting to help perfect His saints, encouraging self-inflicted denial to foster spiritual growth. On the Day of Atonement, God emphasizes the importance of afflicting our souls, repeating this command three times in Leviticus 23 to underscore its significance. This affliction, often translated as humbling or denying ourselves, involves harsh treatment through fasting, meant to evoke a deep sense of submission and suffering to prompt change. The biblical narrative reveals fasting as a demonstration of obedience to God and an exercise in self-control. From the earliest command in Genesis to abstain from the fruit of a specific tree, fasting is shown as a test of adherence to God's will and mastery over fleshly desires. Breaking this fast led to disobedience, highlighting that a true spiritual fast aligns us with godly character by controlling urges that pull us away from His path. Moses' experience of fasting for extended periods while in God's presence illustrates how fasting draws us closer to Him. During these times, God sustained Moses miraculously, showing that fasting enhances communication with Him and provides spiritual nourishment far beyond physical food. Contrary to expectations of weakness, fasting, when done sincerely, strengthens our relationship with God, proving more vital than any material sustenance. Fasting also serves as a visible act of contrition, expressing grief and mourning for sins against God. As seen in Samuel's time, it reflects a humbled state, showing deep anguish for disobedience and readiness for genuine repentance. David's fasting over his sin with Bathsheba further exemplifies this, revealing a repentant heart and a plea for mercy, even though God's final decree remained unchanged. Isaiah 58 warns against hypocritical fasting, where outward acts lack inward change. God desires a fast that transforms character, fostering righteousness and compassion toward others. A godly fast softens our hearts toward our brethren, encouraging sacrifice to meet their needs and repair broken relationships. It is not merely about abstaining from food but about humbling ourselves sincerely before God, repenting of sins, and aligning with His service to reap the benefits of a closer bond with Him and each other. Thus, we are urged to afflict our souls not just on the Day of Atonement but continually, to shape our carnal nature and submit to His way, ensuring we choose fasting over the consequences of famine.

Fasting, as it relates to the Day of Atonement, carries a significant implication in the observance of this solemn day. Although fasting is not directly commanded for the Day of Atonement, it is arrived at by implication through the scriptural guidance that builds a picture gradually. In Leviticus 23, God commands us three times to afflict our souls, emphasizing the seriousness of this responsibility with the warning that failure to do so results in being cut off from among our people, even facing destruction by God Himself. The focus is on the spirit in which the day is to be observed, rather than the mere act of fasting. The word "fast" derives from a term meaning to cover the mouth, distinct from "afflict," which comes from the Hebrew "anah," indicating a state of being forced into submission, humbled, or pained. God's use of "afflict" highlights the attitude and spirit of the day over the physical act of fasting, as it is possible to fast without being spiritually afflicted. Fasting, as a self-imposed discipline, brings a measure of discomfort and serves as an external means to assist in deflating pride, aligning with the purpose of the Day of Atonement to promote humility. This one-day fast also reveals God's mercy, as He could have imposed a far more difficult and painful requirement, yet chose a discipline that reminds us of our dependence on His generous provision of food and water. Without these, we would not survive long, just as spiritually, without what He graciously supplies, we would not endure. Fasting on this day is thus a vivid exercise in self-affliction, designed to humble us and pave the way for at-one-ment with God, addressing the pride that causes separation and fostering the humility needed for reconciliation.