In this week’s story, we see Naomi repeatedly responding to unwanted transitions. First, because of a drought, the family had moved from Bethlehem to Moab. Then an unwanted death intruded. Ruth 1: 3 Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons.[1] Naomi was now a widow. In that culture, a woman needed a …
Living between loss and direction can be difficult because you are in a place of uncertainty. As people, we don’t like experiencing loss and are often impatient while we wait for direction, yet this type of transition is not unusual. In the book of Ruth, Naomi experienced this challenging transition. In the days when the …
God knew that transition requires courage and instructed Joshua accordingly. Repetition in a Biblical passage emphasizes the importance of the repeated word. The words strong and courageous are essentially synonyms in Hebrew.[1] God doubles the same instruction and then repeats it three times in four verses. Joshua 1: 6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are …
Moses seemed to be needing a sign from God. He had told God he wasn’t worthy to lead Israel. Then God promised to be with him and went on to offer a sign to help Moses understand. Exodus 3: 12And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you …
Trusting God during transition is a challenge everyone faces because life is full of transitions, some more difficult than others. At eighty years old, the Lord called Moses to transition from being a shepherd of sheep to leading the Israelites enslaved in Egypt. Forty years earlier, Moses believed he knew his identity; he was a …
God reveals His heart in transition by showing His love for us. God especially cares for those who are hurting. As Moses shepherded a flock in the wilderness of Sinai, God appeared to him in a burning bush. Moses, who was royalty in Egypt, had left there 40 years earlier after he killed an Egyptian …
God reminds us of His faithfulness. He does this especially in times of transition when we are unsure of our future, as seen in the life of Moses. Exodus 3:5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the …
Reverence reorients us in transition. The awe of God can wake us up to His reality, holiness, and authority. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the things of this world and forget God has more for us. Moses was shepherding sheep for his father-in-law, as he had for forty years. He had led the sheep …
When God gets our attention, it can be a defining moment in our lives and often takes place during a time of transition. Perhaps there was a time in your life when the Lord got your attention and set you on a different path. When Moses encountered the Lord while he was a shepherd, it …
God can use past failures, as we see in the story of Moses and the burning bush. Moses was born to a Hebrew family at a time when Pharaoh had ordered all the Hebrew baby boys to be killed. Through divine providence, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses and raised him as an Egyptian in the palace. …