When There Is Famine

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday January 12, 2017         

Topic: When There Is Famine

Text: Ruth 1:1

The story of Ruth takes place sometime during the period of the rule of the judges. These were dark days for Israel, when the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes (Judg. 17:6; 21:25). Such period is usually challenging to the faith of those who believe in God. It takes grit and determination to persist in the faith is such period.

Ruth, who is the main person spoken of in this book was subject to many afflictions and yet eventually, God gave her good and joyful offspring, teaching us to abide with patience till God delivers us out of troubles. Are you undergoing an affliction that has shaken your faith to its foundation? Have people concluded that your case is over and there is no more hope for you? Let this story of Ruth be a great source of encouragement for you.

We depend on God for the comforts of this life, as well as the life to come; and without His blessing, notwithstanding all human efforts, the earth would never yield a harvest. This was the case of Israel in the time of Elimelech and Naomi. This resulted to famine in the land and Elimelech took his family to Moab. Abraham did it by going to Egypt and Isaac wanted to do it too but God stopped him.

Most times, when there is famine in the land, it is usually the consequences of our sin. Running away from the land will not be the best. The first step is to seek the face of God in repentance. The famine some of us are facing now maybe sickness, no job, unfavourable business, failure in exams, problems in your marriage, delayed conception, etc. Running away as Elimelech did is not always the solution.

Some people ran away from their land because of famine, but not all have succeeded. There were people who stayed back and God remembered them. We should always seek the face of God when we are confronted with problems or else we will take decisions that might affect us adversely.

Food for Thought: Psalm 37:19

Memory verse: Ruth 1 verse 1 - In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

Prayer: Read Psalm 33:18 – 22 and use it to pray.