On Thursday, June 29, 2023, together with my brothers at Christ We Preach, we concluded a 4-part study on the Book of Ruth under the theme "GOD'S REDEMPTION PLAN". During the series, we explored the themes of God's providence, forgiveness, and love. We looked at how God worked his purpose through the natural events of famine, death, shameful return, poverty, harvest, rejection, kinsman redemption, and marriage.
Less than 24 hours after impressing this truth upon my heart, something happens, and here I am questioning why God allows certain things to happen to His children. Sometimes, there's the temptation to believe that God could do better.
With the benefit of hindsight, it is easy to read the Book of Ruth and appreciate these themes, but how was Naomi supposed to know that behind the famine and the death of her husband and two sons was the hand of a loving and mighty Father, who like the Grand Weaver was weaving the genealogy of the Christ.
Perhaps the story was neither about Naomi nor Ruth but about God. One day, if not now, on the other side of eternity, He may grant us understanding concerning our very lives. Until then, we continue to rest in the assurance that He is a good and wise God, gracious and merciful in all that He does. He will not intentionally afflict His own if there is no purpose in the end. And his end is always glorious. Behold the prophetic word: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you (Isaiah 43:2), ESV
.”