“Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man…went to sojourn…” Ruth 1:1
Our story of life is written daily. In the midst of our story God knows where we are. He knows the hard days, as well as the good days. He knows when famine comes and where we go to get relief.
Our journey is not happening without God knowing and seeing our struggle. Our journey is of great import to God. Our personal God knows our “certain” name, our struggles and our triumphs.
Journey of life
Elimilech and Naomi had chosen to journey to Moab to wait out the famine. They lived their story for ten years in the heathen city of Moab. In those ten years, Elimilech and Naomi felt both joy and happiness, as well as grief and sadness. Their boys grew and married. Joy filled their home, then overwhelming sadness, as death took its toll on this small Israelite family.
Have you been there? When decisions are made, that at the time seemed the right thing, then the situation unravels leaving us full of heartache and questions. We wander why God has left us and why everything is falling apart? Or maybe the doubts come and surround us with the thought that once again we didn’t get it right.
Journey of Faith
Naomi’s life, though marked with the bitterness of grief had made an impression on Ruth. Though empty emotionally with no feeling of God near, Naomi chose to take steps toward a God who had seemingly taken all from her. She chose to follow God with all her heart through life’s ups and downs.
I believe that the Lord God of Israel had went with Naomi to Moab. She had a real relationship with God. A relationship that she valued even when life brought her heartache and questions. That vital relationship is what Ruth saw. It wasn’t just the depth of bitter days that Ruth saw Naomi facing. Ruth saw a trust in God that was not discarded nor shaken despite the death of Naomi’s husband and sons.
Now Naomi, grieving, yet still turning to God amidst her questions and emptiness of life, chose to return to Bethlehem. Yes, there was grief and questions. So many so, that she said to call her Mara, which means bitter. Yet, there was something in Naomi’s life that showed Ruth a God that could be trusted. A God that would shelter you under His wings in the midst of a journey turned bitter. “…the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” (2:12)
Naomi had rooted herself in God Almighty. Even when the bitterness of life overwhelmed, she was able to point Ruth to her God with the life she lived in spite of her questions and heartache.
Are we still hanging on to God’s hand when we cannot see Him for the grief and questions filling our vision. Do we continue taking steps toward a God we know is there even when we can’t feel Him near? God knows where we are at in the story of our life.
Journey of Redemption
It had been ten years, that Naomi had been away from Bethlehem. Sadness cloaked her journey. Nevertheless, Naomi traveled the road back. She knew, as we need to learn, that there is never too much time passed where God cannot intervene and redeem a situation. It is only through Him that our situations can be redeemed and made beautiful. Let’s journey with God and let Him work to make all things beautiful in our lives.
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