Faith For Famine

And it happened in the days when ⌊the judges ruled⌋, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem of Judah went ⌊to reside⌋ in the countryside of Moab—he and his wife and his two sons. (Ruth 1:1)

These days we have lots of food. Even in times of massive calamity such as Ondoy, we can always manage to look for food. Back in the ancient times, when a massive calamity struck such as drought or a siege (a neigbouring hostile tribe invades yours), there will be a famine. Famines of old are always caused by something. In the Bible, famines do not happen randomly to the people of Israel. Why? Because famines have a purpose.

In the Old Testament, "God is sometimes depicted as using famine as a means of punishment (Lev 26:18–20; Deut 28:23–24; Isa 3:1)" (from Faithlife Study Bible). Yet the Bible also shows that famine is not an end in and of itself. It usually is a great leveler, but it is also a great propeller -- propelling the story to purposeful directions. This famine in the book of Ruth is one of those purposeful famines. The unfolding story would lead up to show a very important part in the history of Israel:

This book shows God’s providence in the life of one family in David’s line. The genealogy at the end of the account connects David with God’s promises given centuries earlier to Judah, and points the way to the establishment of a legitimate monarchy under David. (FSB)

And it all began with a famine. Think about that for a moment. A great story that started with a famine. Much like the stories of "bad luck" such as the story of Joseph being sold by his brothers to slavery. Or like the story of Israel being slaves in Egypt and consequently driven out to be pursued up until the Red Sea. Or the story of Saul, blind in Strait Street.

Or the story of Jesus, dead on the cross -- bloody and bowed down. (Invictus didn't come in handy.)

Yet in these stories one finds an unraveling of purpose as explained earlier as "God's providence."
The key purpose of the famine in the story of Ruth is to introduce a series of events that would end in the fulfillment of God's chosen king. In the book of Ruth itself we find a beautiful story of redemption and favor.

Much like the message we find in the story of Jesus. It is a story of redemption and favor. Jesus lived a righteous life, died righteous -- to redeem His people from the bondage of sin. Your sin. That death introduced us to a Jesus who resurrected after three days a new man to show that the sacrifice of His death was approved of the Father so that anyone who believes this Gospel will also be approved by God.

Like the story of the famine in Ruth, Jesus' death has a purpose. The famines in your life do too. May God always find you in faith as you travail of these "famines" for the God of Purposes never slumbers nor sleeps. Do not accompany this famine with anger, bitterness and hopelessness. May this famine be for you a time of faith.



John Pesebre
with End-Stage Renal Disease Famine