Biblical examples of fasting that brought peace and conversion

There are several biblical examples of fasting, such as in the Book of Jonah, when an entire group of people fasted, leading to conversion.

Lent reminds us of the necessity of fasting, not only for our own conversion, but also the conversion of the world. Papal preacher Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa listed several biblical examples of fasting in a homily from 2003.

He explained how, “We find two kinds of fasting in the Bible: the ascetic fast and the prophetic fast, fasting as a rite and fasting as an event.“

It is this second type of fasting that is related to a more communal act of fasting.

However, the prophetic fast or fast as an event has greater prominence in the Bible. Moses fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before receiving the tables of the law (Ex 34:28), Elijah fasted before meeting God on Mount Horeb (1 Kgs 19:8), and Jesus, before beginning his ministry. The King of Nineveh orders such a fast in response to Jonah’s preaching (Jon 3:7ff). … This type of fast is intended as a community expression of the desire for conversion … As in the times of Joel and Jonah, the call today is for repentance, for the admission of being in the wrong, for a collective “return” to God.

A biblical example from the Book of Jonah highlights the power fasting can have when observed by an entire city.

When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.
Jonah 3:10

The prophet Ezra also proclaimed a fast, to be observed by the entire people, for peace and protection from violence.

Then I proclaimed a fast, there by the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions.For I was ashamed to ask the king for troops and horsemen to protect us against enemies along the way, since we had said to the king, “The favoring hand of our God is over all who seek him, but his fierce anger is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted, seeking this from our God, and it was granted.
Ezra 8:21-23

Fasting remains a powerful weapon against war, an action that calls upon God’s intervention and protection.

If we ever need reassurance that fasting has a purpose, open the Bible and read the biblical examples of fasting to see God’s response to contrite and humble hearts.