RPG Adults
PROVIDENCE, DECISIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES (3)
SATURDAY, JULY 6
Ruth 1:11-18
Job 5:8-18
“…he maketh sore, and
bindeth up: he woundeth,
and his hands make whole.”
PROVIDENCE, DECISIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES (3)
Life in general is filled with uncertainties, and most of life’s decisions come with some level of unpredictability. Naomi had made her decision, though she did not know the details of what awaited her in Bethlehem. She would not commit her daughters-in-law to the uncertainties of her life, so she turned to them to review their decision to accompany her.
“…why will ye go with me?…” (Ruth1:11). Decisions in life require reason. Naomi had found her reasons in her faith, as she had heard that God had visited His people in giving them bread. What about her two daughters-in- law? Where were they drawing their reasons from? There had to be motives other than just duty. What did they hope to gain? She had absolved them of guilt as they had dealt well with her and with the dead. She made it clear that she had nothing to offer them (Ruth 1:11-13). They would have no temporal gain (Ruth 1:11) in accompanying her, and they would temporally “lose their lives” (Ruth 1:13) by accompanying her.
“…return thou after thy sister in law” (Ruth 1:15). Orpah departed as Naomi presented no opportunity for a fresh start and no opportunity for a life in her own “husband’s” home. Ruth clave to Naomi still. Naomi required of Ruth a reason. Why would she remain? Ruth in her response showed that she found and drew her reason from faith. Ruth’s decision was governed by faith and not based solely on temporal reason. She did not accompany Naomi for convenience or for what she would gain, and so she was not deterred by what she might lose. Ruth looked beyond the uncertainties of life. She looked beyond the temporal, she looked up, she looked to the eternal. She clave to Naomi, and to Naomi’s God. Though the outward workings of providence (“the hand of the LORD,” Ruth 1:13) seemed to work against Naomi, Ruth still chose to cleave to both Naomi and her God. Her answer showed both devotion and determination to leave her people and her gods, and to embrace Naomi’s people and God.
THOUGHT: (Read Deuteronomy 32:39.)
PRAYER: Grant, O Father, that through the trials and changes in my life, I may trust in Thy will for my life, and walk more by faith and less by sight.