Ruth 1:1-5
In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab… (Ruth 1:1, NLT).

Crisis and challenges happen in life and we have to face them. Sometimes these situations could lead to major disruptions in our lives. At other times, we may cope with them and move on with our  lives.

However, this was not the case with Mr. Elimelech and his family. The famine in Judah in the days of the Judges led to his movement from Bethlehem to the land of Moab. Unknown to him, that  was the last time he would see his fatherland. For reasons unknown to us, the decision to relocate did not work well for him. Things did not turn out as expected. He lost his life and afterwards his sons died too.

What can we learn from the story so far?

1. Life is real and we will sometimes face difficult situations. We may lose a loved one, our jobs or our health. Yet, God remains the same.
2. When we are faced with situations we cannot understand like the one described in the passage we read; we need to pause and pray. We were not told if Mr. Elimelech soughtthe face of God before his departure from Bethlehem and we are not in position to judge him.
3. We need to understand that life is full of surprises. Many times bad things happen to good people. But God is always there to see us through and work things out for our good (See Romans 8:28). Shalom.

Your Turn

• Think about your life and your current challenges? Are you overwhelmed in anyway? When last did you talk to God about the challenge(s)?
• Pray and ask the Lord for the help you need.

Song: All hail King Jesus. All hail, Immanuel.

Reading through the New Testament: Acts 16