How Are YOU handling the Famine in Your Life?
A famine is an extreme shortage of food, but we have many different famines that go on in our lives where God’s Word is withheld or His Spirit is withheld because of: Sin, unbelief, worldliness, false beliefs, self-satisfaction, testing God, God
Consequences? Spiritual weakness, loss of hope and joy
“Relief” is always promised to God’s people, and we see that in Naomi (Please read Ruth 1-4), which will be our focus this week.
There are a lot of lessons to learn from Naomi, but let’s learn a few facts about her:
1. She had a husband, two sons with wives, who were Moabites.
2. She was an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah.
3. Ephrathites did not marry Moabites, this was mixing two races
4. Her husband and sons died, and she was left to lead her two Moabite daughter-in-laws, Ruth and Orpah.
5. Since all was taken from her during a time of famine, she changed her name to Mara, which means “for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.”
“I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.” Ruth 1:1:21
Are you at a point where you are on empty? (Please share)
When you look at how you became empty and realize God is sovereign and in control you ask yourself, “how could this happen… to ME?”
Well, Naomi was at the same place. She didn’t just have anything left, but she had two more mouths to feed and provide for. She asked them to return to their homeland, but Ruth stayed.
Have you been tested where you had to lead? Please share.
What Naomi did not realize was God had a bigger plan, which we will talk about on our next post. Here are a few verses to think on as you read the book of Ruth.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Good News Translation (GNT)
“We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.”
Naomi was not destroyed, even after losing everything.
Naomi did not see the joy, gladness, or praise of Isaiah 61:3 (To give to those who mourn in Zion joy and gladness instead of grief,
A song of praise instead of sorrow.) All she could see right now was something that was too big to handle. When it gets like that don’t fix your eyes on the situation, fix them on Jesus.
“…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1b-2
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