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January 10 Daily Devotional

Dark Times and God’s plan

Peter G. Feenstra

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 Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. (Ruth 1:1)

Bible Reading

Judges 21:25; Ruth 1:1–5

Devotional

There are times in history that everything seems to be running off the rails. The people of God are not following God’s direction. This is what is happening during the time of the judges. Everyone does as they see fit. Israel is moving further away from God’s service and closer to divine judgment.

The days in which the judges ruled are dark times of individualism, formalism, moral decay and apostasy. We read in Judges 21:25, “in those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Obedience to the Lord and a love for His service is sorely lacking. This is why the Lord sends armies, famine and destruction to punish them. He warns His people very directly and pointedly that famine and hardship will come upon His people if they stray from His ways.

In the days of the judges a famine hits the city of Bethlehem, which ironically means “House of Bread”. The Lord strikes the people with a curse for their disobedience and apostasy (Deut 28:15-19). This famine affects the family of Elimelech and Naomi, too. While the people of God are doing as they see fit, God is working behind the scenes to provide a king and a true deliverer. Dark times in the church will not overturn God’s plan. The Lord chooses to use a Moabite woman, Ruth, to further His kingdom in the coming of the Messiah.

The opening verses of Ruth do not paint a pretty picture. God is punishing Israel because of sin, so a man from Bethlehem packs up his bags and leaves. Rather than humble himself in repentance, Elimelech leaves the land of promise and finds bread for his family in a heathen country. He and his family will go to a pagan place where life will become extremely bitter for them. Yet the Lord will turn this into good. He will not forsake His plan of redemption in Jesus Christ. He never will! Our times are similar to the period of the judges. People come and go as they please, without any (or little) regard for His Word. Nevertheless, God will continue His work with the best interests of His people in mind. God’s plan will be accomplished, even in the dark.

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