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PROVIDENCE, DECISIONS AND DAILY EFFORT
WEDNESDAY, JULY 10
Ruth 2:1-4

Deuteronomy 15:1-11

 

“For the poor shall never cease

out of the land…”

 

PROVIDENCE, DECISIONS AND DAILY EFFORT
 
Ruth chapter 2 depicts the daily life of those whom we would consider as the “less fortunate” in Israel during the Old Testament times. Life was hard, even though they were in the Land of Promise. Though all tribes received an inheritance and all families had a portion, circumstances of life seemed to “knock down” some people and rendered them “poor” in life. The Bible talks about poverty and distinguishes the kind of poverty that a man brings upon himself by his lifestyle and conduct (Prov 13:18; 20:13; 23:21; 28:19, 22), from the kind of poverty that providence and circumstances beyond a man’s control and despite a man’s effort land him in. From Ruth chapter 1, we saw that Elimelech did all he humanly could to secure his family, but by the end of the chapter, Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem alone and poor. Life does not consist of a man’s possessions and goods, and thus Jesus warns us to beware of covetousness (Luke 12:15). From the instructions given concerning the poor of the land, it is also evident that life is not governed and controlled by man’s effort alone.
 
The Law of God laid down clear guidelines that would provide sustenance for the poor in the land, and providence would work for them to supply the needs. These instructions governed the dealings of God’s people with respect to (i) debt and lending to the poor (Exod 22:25-27; Lev 25:25; Deut 24:12), (ii) justice (Exod 23:3-7; Lev 19:15), (iii) harvest and livelihood (Exod 23:11; Lev 19:10; 23:22), (iv) giving and sacrifice (Exod 30:15; Lev 14:21; 27:8), and (v) labour and servitude (Lev 25:39, 47; Deut 24:15). Thus when Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem with nothing, they had God’s provision available to them, providentially through the provisions of the law of God that was also the law of the land. Thus, Ruth chapter 2 presents to us human choice and responsibility within the bounds of providence despite life’s circumstances, and the lesson that providence, decisions and daily effort presents is “Self-Help with God’s Help is the Best Help.”
 
THOUGHT: “In faith, there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.” (Blaise Pascal)

PRAYER: Father, “I believe, help Thou my unbelief ” (Mark 9:24).

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