By Brian
Mitchell
We need to develop a deeper appreciation
for the faithfulness of the God we serve. The Bible declares that God is
characterized by faithfulness. In Exodus 34:6, God says of himself, “The Lord,
the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love
and faithfulness.” Scripture also reveals the fact that God is faithful to his
promises. Joshua told the people of Israel, “You know with all your heart and
soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has
failed. Every promise has been fulfilled...” (Josh. 23:14).
God’s faithfulness can be clearly seen in the
book of Ruth. The story of Ruth is told in a small, four chapter book,
sandwiched between Judges and 1 Samuel in the OT. I want to begin by drawing
our attention to a striking phrase in our Scripture reading from the book of
Ruth - "The Lord came to the aid of his people" (1:6). The King James
Version puts it: "The Lord has visited his people."
I think that it is fair to say that all of
us have known the problems of life - and they come at all stages in life’s
journey. During those times, have you ever been tempted to ask, "Where is
God?" When faced daily by more deadly news from the Ukraine or the death
toll and destruction from the coronavirus or monkey pox, we sometimes wonder –
Where is God? The matter becomes even more pressing when we are faced with our own
suffering and losses in life?
There’s nothing like a story to bring to
life the issues of this tension between God’s way and the way of the world, of
searching for the pathway of faith in times when evil seems rampant and life
seems unmanageable. A practical example of God in action can be of enormous
benefit in sustaining the believer and enabling him or her to cope with the
uncertainties and apparent meaninglessness of much of what we experience. I
trust that each of us will be able to identify with the Bible story of Naomi
and Ruth in some personal and practical way.
Whatever our circumstances, I believe that
all of us can benefit from our own experience with a faithful God. The book of
Ruth has been called "the most beautiful short story in the world."
In many respects, it deals with ordinary people and unimportant matters. Yet it
deals with them in such a way as to show that God is active in the affairs of
human beings. God works his purposes out and blesses those that put their trust
in him.
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