Ruth 1 -- Seeing God Despite Our Circumstances

God pointed me first to Naomi's SITUATION.  Faced with famine, she and her family had left everything they'd known and traveled to a foreign country just to have food.  She's STILL in that foreign land, and though she'd been overjoyed to witness the marriages of her two sons, she's now lost both of them AND her husband to death.

But Naomi hears GOOD news.  "She heard that The Lord had come to help His people and had given them food again."  So she began making plans to return to the land where God was working.  Since her daughters-in-law would be foreigners there, she pleaded with them to remain behind.  "Go back home ... may The Lord be as kind to you as you have been to me and my sons ... May The Lord give you another happy home ..."  Naomi sees the hand of God in her own life through her daughters-in-law, who weren't even Jewish.  She blesses them by ASKING GOD to help THEM as they helped HER.

As she continues to try to talk them out of following her, she THEN says, "MY life is MUCH TOO SAD for you to share, because THE LORD HAS BEEN AGAINST ME!"

Suffering through the loss of a spouse and both children rate as the top most stressful events in life.  It's easy to see why she'd want to BLAME God.  But then why does she want to go where He is WORKING if she feels He's against her?

As she returned to Bethlehem, a host of friends ran up to greet her, calling her by name.  In effect, she said, "My name doesn't fit anymore.  It no longer describes my life."  Then she said, "The Almighty has made my life VERY SAD.... The Lord has brought me home with NOTHING ... The Lord has spoken against me and the Almighty has given me SO MUCH TROUBLE..."

She seems to forget that her family LEFT there with nothing and God provided for them in a foreign land.  What she doesn't yet know is how God is going to bless her as a result of having met Ruth.  From the middle of her circumstances, she's having trouble seeing God.

Father, I've watched, particularly over the last 21 years, as You've gotten my attention, brought me BACK to You, and led me where I never DREAMED I'd go and given me two sons.  Yes, we've faced some less-than-desirable times, but You've taught me to TRUST You.  I need You and Your wisdom, Father.  Open all of our eyes to see You right in the midst of our lives.  Remind us what You have done for us.  Show us that Satan has NEVER done that and never will.  Let us see Your face.

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Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford