So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. Ruth 1:22
Going through difficult times can often make a person feel as though God is against him and has forgotten him. Some people have gone through one trouble after another for years and wonder why God is against them.
As people go through difficult times, some will give up and try to do something different to make a change in the circumstances. They will change jobs, move, seek help, and make many other attempts, all while crying out to God for help.
Naomi had been going through some difficult times. Her husband had died, leaving her with her two sons and their wives. Later, her sons died, leaving her with just her daughters-in-law. On top of the troubles of being a widow with two daughters, there was a famine in the land. Food was scarce, and she could not work.
Feeling as though God cursed her, she changes her name to Mara, meaning bitter, and then chooses to move back to Bethlehem. Her daughter-in-law Ruth chooses to continue to go with her to a foreign country and people.
As they arrived in Bethlehem, it was the beginning of the time for harvesting the barley. This is a sign of things about to change. Although it didn’t look like much, God was providing food, despite the famine.
From this point forward,d the lives of Ruth and Naomi changed drastically.
It is little signs like this that can show a believer that God is still there and with him. It shows that God will provide in the time of need, at the right time and place.
Although today, most people are not in farming communities, God still does provide in new ways. Sometimes these ways are simple and small, but it is still provision, a sudden small lump of cash, a new open door, an extra gift of food, or more.
You may be going through a tough time and feel as though God has left you. You want to change your name to bitter or broken. Keep moving forward, trusting God. Look for that sign that God is still there with you, no matter how little or big that sign may be.
The barley was not much, but it was provision and a sign that God had not left them.
God has not left you either and will provide for your needs.
I pray today that you will know God’s presence in your life; that you will see God’s hand at work in your life; that you will see God’s provision in your life; and that you will know God is not against you.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
