Good morning,
What do we do in the face of a crisis? We should pray and seek God.
Scripture reveals that God provides people to comfort those in crisis.
This week we will look at some of them.
Naomi and Ruth
CRISIS: Naomi has lost her husband and her two sons and is living in a foreign land.
“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 sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.” (Ruth 1:1-5)
Naomi determines to go back to Bethlehem Judah. She wants her daughters in law to go back to their families. Orpah does but Ruth will not.
COMFORTER: Ruth stays with Naomi. She comforts and encourages her. She commits her life to Naomi.
“And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.18 When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.” (Ruth 1:15-18)
This is the highest form of comfort a person can give. Ruth gave up all to comfort Naomi.
So how can we be a Ruth to someone going through a crisis?
First, we must have a desire to be a comforter.
Second, we must remember that we belong to God. He is control of our lives. He will direct us.
Third, we must yield our lives to God. Allow God to use us in any way He sees fit.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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