Isaiah 40: 28-31 – NKJV – Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

We all face situations in life where we ask ourselves “Why?” Why does God allow the drought in our lives, which represents hardship and trial? Why do we experience seasons of lack, loss, pain and uncertainty? What could be God’s mind in taking us through tough times where we feel that our lives could be at stake? The answer to this question could fill innumerable books. Nevertheless, this question deserves a particular attention and we will try to elucidate it in the frame of this study about the story of Ruth.

Elimelech and his family were going through a season of lack that clouded their hopes for the future. They decided to move to a foreign land of idol worshipers to “save” their lives. In the course of events, Elimelech and his two sons died and Naomi was left with her two daughters in law. All three had become widows following the decision that was taken in the first place without seeking for God’s direction. Through this story, we understand that a time of lack is the opportunity that we have to seek God’s face like never before and have a one to one encounter with our creator for leading, guidance and trust. It does not matter what God allows in our lives, the purpose is never to destroy us but to draw us closer to Him, so that we will become more like Him. Since the creation of the world, God’s desire and longing has always been to have an intimate relationship with mankind. But there are so many distractions in this life that God sometimes has to allow a challenging situation to turn our attention back to Him. It is in our times of droughts that we can experience God’s power, care, provision and eternal love.

When the tempter came to challenge Jesus by addressing what He should have needed most after spending fourty days in the desert without eating, Jesus answered and said: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” (Matthew 4:4). So many times, we worry about what tomorrow will bring and we take decisions based on the pressure of the moment without seeking for God’s counsel. But Jesus promised to care for us if we trust and rely completely on Him. It is not the will of God for us to be anxious about anything. That is the reason why Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-34:

„Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So, why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.“

Even in the time of famine and lack, God is still mighty enough to provide because He is Lord over the rain, Lord over the desert, Lord over the seas, Lord over the valleys, Lord over the mountains and Lord of everything! Heaven and earth belong to Him and He created them by the power of His Word. Nothing is too hard for Him. He can turn stones into bread if He likes and He causes rivers of living water to flow from the dry brook. So, we should trust Him and not worry or murmur against Him, nor long for the pots of meat, the garlic and onions of Egypt as the children of Israel did in the desert when they were hungry and thirsty.

Our level of faith and trust in the Lord will always be put to the test as long as we live. But if we seek to please Him in every situation, if what we desire the most is to do His perfect will in every circumstance, then we will be unshaken when trials arise. Jesus once told His disciples that His food is to do the will of His Father and make sure that He finishes His work (Matthew 4:4). It means that He was consumed by and focused on the desire to remain in God’s will regardless of the trials He could face. Why? Because He knew that these trials were just temporary. But if He had failed to do the will of the One who had sent Him, this would have had eternal and sinister consequences for mankind. This determination to be focused on the will, plans, thoughts and purpose of God should also be our attitude when temptation comes our way.

It is better to remain in God’s presence even in the drought than to dwell in the land of abundance where God is not present. Elimelech and His family lived in Bethlehem, which means ‘the House of Bread”. Even if the bread of their sustenance had been missing, this was just going to last for a while. It was just a matter of waiting patiently until rain would fall down again and the barns would be filled with grain again. God loves us too much that He should not care for us. And with Him, we are safer in the land of famine where the Lord dwells than in a place of plenty where He is absent. Going through the dry season of famine is our opportunity to train our spiritual muscles. Trials come to make us strong but the flesh does not like challenges. That is the reason why the carnal mind is enmity with God.

God is not a man that He should lie. His Word is true and He promised to never leave us and to never forsake us even in the hardest times of our lives. If we confess that we have a God to whom all things belong and whose hand is not too short to save, then we must not look for help in Egypt, which represents carnality, failure, idolatry and the absence of God. Decision making based on fear, stress or pressure of any kind will cause us to make some mistakes that might be irreparable and affect our future. It does not matter the kind of challenge that we face, it is better for us to remain in God’s presence. The drought will not last always. Hold on, for it will surely pass away. God is faithful and He will not allow us to face a challenge that is greater than we can bear. The storm will not rage always. Stay focused, watch and pray. Trust and believe. Stand still and you will see the mighty deliverance of the Lord in that situation that seems hopeless because Jesus Christ is Lord of all. (To be continued) mt