Reversing Famines

“It came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.”—Ruth 1:1 NASB

A famine was decimating Israel. Conditions were so bad that one Israelite, Elimelech, felt compelled to uproot his family and move to the land of Moab. He was leaving behind everything familiar, including their friends and family. They moved to Moab where the people historically had been hostile toward the Israelites.

At first, the change might have seemed successful as Elimelech’s two sons married women from Moab and the family found the food they needed. But then Elimelech and both sons died. His wife, Naomi, and her two daughters-in-law were left in desperate conditions.

Yet, as the Bible tells the whole story, we see how God used these circumstances to accomplish great things. After Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth returned to Israel, the Bible describes how Ruth married Boaz and started a family that one day would include King David, Israel’s greatest leader and the writer of many of the psalms. And it all started with a famine.

The Bible teaches that God can use challenging situations to accomplish His purposes. You may face situations that seem dark and hopeless. But God can use them to teach you greater things, refine you, and prepare you for greater blessings.

No matter what you face, do not give in to despair or fear. Regardless of how things seem, God can turn even the darkest situation into something great. Stay faithful, trusting Him.

Reflection Question: Reflect on a time that God shed unexpected light into a dark situation.