I’ve been thinking a lot about how we react and what decisions we make when we are experiencing difficult times? When stress hits because of life changing circumstances, I find it’s easy to react out of panic. I feel I’ve got to be strong and make wise choices but sometimes, however much I pray, God doesn’t seem to be listening. How then do I choose the right way ahead?
Are you in that situation today?
Today I started reading the book of Ruth. I love this story and usually go immediately to the point where Ruth makes her beautiful commitment to stay with Naomi wherever she goes and to adopt her culture and faith as her own. But I found I was gripped by the opening description of what made Elimelech move to Moab.
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. (Ruth 1:1)
Humanly this seemed a very sensible thing, to remove themselves from the centre of the famine to a land where there was maybe more rain and more food. The man, Elimelech, was obviously thinking of his family and trying to make choices that would save all their lives. Yet in choosing to move away, he was in effect moving outside the area the Lord had designated for his chosen people. And he was moving to a land that was inhabited by people that God had expressly forbidden the Israelites to associate with. The Moabites were an evil people who worshipped false gods and had practices that were deeply abhorrent to the Lord.
Yet Elimelech, reacting to the helplessness engendered by the famine, removed himself and his family from God’s special protection, following what seemed to be the best option in a difficult situation. It wouldn’t have made sense humanly to stay where there was no food or water for his family. But God’s wisdom is different to ours, his understanding higher than our thoughts and it is always vital to seek His way above our own ideas.
As we know, Elimelech died quite soon after moving to Moab. What a tragedy. But his sons married Moabite women and life continued. But then, ten years later, Elimelech’s two sons also died leaving Naomi destitute and with no support. What could she do now? And what do we do when life seems to conspire against us?
I feel challenged by this whole course of events as it makes me question what goes into my own decision making during difficult times? Do I trust the Lord to help and provide for me? Or do my thoughts skitter around all the possible ways I may resolve the situation and maybe plump for the first option that makes most sense humanly? I’m afraid I always tend to the latter as I am someone who loves to find solutions and can feel insecure with uncertainty. Yet I know this isn’t necessarily God’s way. He wants us to grow in our trust in His unfailing love and ability to provide and bring amazing things to pass. He is the one who sustains all things and creates incredible connections and whose very name is Jehovah Jireh, The Lord who Provides. So I long to become someone who seeks out God’s wisdom over and above all the ‘common sense’ options. How often do I specifically ask Him for wisdom? As James teaches us: ‘If any of you lacks wisdom you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)
God loves to give wisdom without finding fault. He is merciful and always full of love towards us. He never abandoned Naomi even though she may have felt it after her succession of tragic losses. Instead,He caused her to be in the position of hearing at just the right moment, that the Lord had been protecting and providing for His people during those ten years of famine. 'When she heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of His people by providing food for them,Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home.' (Ruth 1:6)
Naomi couldn’t just switch on the news like we can. I believe the Lord brought about some divine encounters to enable her to hear the ‘right’ things and thus make more godly choices than her husband. As we know, there were many more amazing things that took place to ensure Naomi’s future and peace, but I feel challenged to consider how much I trust the Lord to be central in my decision making? It’s awesome that the Lord never let go of Naomi and brought incredible beauty out of the evil of Moab in the person of her daughter in law Ruth. The fact that Ruth and Boaz established the line to King David and ultimately to Jesus shows how the Lord is constantly at work to turn all things to the good and bring beauty from ashes.
Prayer - May you know the Lord’s wisdom today as you seek Him in any decisions you need to make. May He be your Jehovah Jireh and your Wonderful Counsellor and fill you with the gift of His peace. May He work to turn all things to the good in your life, with even your mistakes becoming like precious new pathways of His love. Amen.
.JPG)
