21/04/2011 - Unexplained occurrences

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“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)
In biblical times judges were raised with God’s permission in order for them to rule their people and so that peace and righteousness could reign in their land. But even so, because there was famine in Bethlehem, many had to go to Moab in search for a better life. However, the Moabite fields were treacherous.
The Lord didn’t want the Israelites to have kings but in times of crisis, whenever the children of Israel cried out to the Most High, the Lord raised judges to judge them. Their deliverer assumed that position once the people were set free, then he made sure there was peace in Israel until his death. The land was prosperous and quiet during the time a judge was ruling the entire nation. But when the ruler died the people resumed doing what was evil in the eyes of the Lord and, consequently, they were taken by oppression until the nation turned back to the Most High again and begged for deliverance. So, God would listen to their cry and raise someone to free and judge them.
Those servants of God played an extremely important role for the Israelites; there was peace and righteousness on Earth while they were working on their mission. In fact, in those days, the fear of the Lord depended on judges leading people with an iron hand. It still may happen nowadays but it’s not the ideal scenario. When, for instance, the head of a family commands his household with severity and demands that every member of the family seek the Father, the moment he dies or some of them move to another place distant from their patriarch, it’s very likely that such member will drift away from God. On the other hand, if we get people to know the Gospel, we won’t have this kind of problem.
Even when the judges were pleasing the Father, there were times when famine and other misfortunes came over His people. Today, even being under the authority of a great man of God, if we don’t watch out we may be afflicted by all kinds of woes.
Due to famine, Elimeleche’s family left Bethlehem (which means “the house of bread”). So, they set off to the land of the Moabites in search of a better life. These people only came to existence because of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his two daughters who got him drunk and then lured him into lying in bed with each one of them – they aimed at preserving their father’s lineage (Genesis 19:30–38).
Well, nothing good can be found in the sinners’ field but suffering, because it’s a place where the enemy acts freely. My brethren, we can – and we must – go to that field and take the Food to those who are hungry but never with the intention of finding something good. Naomi, Elimelech’s wife, saw her husband and her two children dying in that place. That demonstrates that we must never seek assistance where the Name of the Lord isn’t glorified because the price can be high!
In Christ, with love,
R. R. Soares