Looking For Greener Pastures

UV 1224/10,000 Looking for Greener Pastures
Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons
Ruth 1 v 1

Our faith is tested by sending a famine on us. Sometimes when we face a time of famine, we are directed to remain. Sometimes we are directed by the spirit of the Lord to go to a different place. In Abraham’s time when he faced a famine, he was directed to go to Gerar a neighbouring kingdom. In Isaac’s time when he faced a famine, he was asked to remain there and wait for the period of famine to end. The word “ famine” is a metaphor for a time of lower influence or prosperity or in other words a more adverse circumstance that one is used to normally.

In the case of Naomi’s family, they looked for greener pasture and they moved to Moab. They belonged to Bethlehem-Judah which literally means “ Praise God for the House of Bread.” The temporary shortage of bread drove them away from blessing to a greener pasture, an accursed land Moab that seemed to abound with bread. It turned out that their move was not directed or blessed or guided by God. Naomi which means “the fruitful one” lost her husband Elimelech soon after, her two sons within the next ten years and she was left forlorn with their two widows, Orpah and Ruth. In hindsight, if they had stayed in Israel these tragedies would not have overtaken them. Better sense prevailed upon the widowed Naomi and she decided to return alone to Bethlehem in Israel. But Ruth herself a Moabite swears loyalty to Naomi and allegiance and devotion to the God of Israel. Her move to stick with Naomi, her husband ‘s mother proved her faithfulness and eventually turns her life from being a tragic curse to being a blessing for many generations and for all eternity. Jesus the Messiah was born in her lineage.

In all our moves, we should seek the will of the Lord. We should discern if the Holy Spirit is nudging us in that direction or not. We should also be sensitive to alarm signs or red flags that should deter us from making the move. It should not be a “ bread decision” or a move for short term gain, however alluring or attractive it might seem. We often think short term while God thinks long term. The Lord chides us that our calculations are often beyond His. We need to trust Him step by step, decision by decision, crisis by crisis. We should not be in a hurry to get ahead of God. We need to sync our thoughts and plans with those of God’s. The Lord is with us over the long haul. He will prove to us that His grace is sufficient to provide for us in times of plenty as well as in times of famine.

Prateep V Philip