RPG Adults
PROVIDENCE, DECISIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES (6)
TUESDAY, JULY 9
Ruth 1:19-22
Lamentations 3:19-32
“But though he cause grief,
yet will he have compassion…”
PROVIDENCE, DECISIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES (6)
“The Lord’s chastising rod is a ‘sugarcane.’” Providence covers not only events, actions, and circumstances, but also their timings. The LORD chastises to restore and to revive, not to destroy or to cast off. Therefore, from whence the pain is drawn, thence also the joy arises.
“…they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest” (Ruth 1:22). The narrative and events of Ruth chapter 1 conclude by a reference to time. The twists and turns in life all happen within the constraints of time and the God who orders them ordains their timings too. Things may happen to us unplanned and unprepared for, and sometimes, they may happen in spite of our efforts and planning, but all things work for good and at the appropriate time. Whatever steps and decisions were taken by Naomi and Ruth, it cannot be claimed that they had purposed to reach Bethlehem “in the beginning of barley harvest.” Yet the appropriateness of the time of their arrival is evidenced by how the rest of the account of the book unfolds. From a human perspective, it would be hard to imagine the story unfolding the same way it did had they arrived at a different time.
Providence describes God in action, His continuing activity as He governs His world. This continuing activity is carried out sovereignly, yet it does not undermine, distort, or destroy human responsibility. Rather than weaken human responsibility, it gives human responsibility impetus. This impetus is drawn from understanding that God cares about all of life and all things in life. God uses everything in life, even what seems insignificant to us, and as God works, He invites us to trust Him and work with Him in obedience to fulfil our human responsibility. The beginning of the barley harvest offered to Ruth and Naomi the perfect opportunity to experience God and see His plan unfold in the daily issues of life. They came having nothing, but were sustained by the laws of God that governed the life of Israel (Lev 19:9-10) and the providence of God that governed their steps and choices.
THOUGHT: (Read Matthew 10:29-31.)
PRAYER: (Use the lyrics of the hymn “All the Way My Saviour Leads Me.”)