God reframed the disciples’ expectations as Jesus answered their questions before His ascension. Acts 1:6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they …
God is still working when life feels empty and even when we are unaware that He is with us. Naomi returned to Bethlehem, overwhelmed by the loss of her husband and sons. She openly admitted her bitterness. Her name, Naomi, means “pleasant” in Hebrew. She knew her life was no longer pleasant because of her …
Choosing faith when the future is unclear is about trusting Him above what we can see with our human eyes. It requires God working in our hearts. This act of faith played a role in Ruth’s life, as she traveled from Moab to Israel with her mother-in-law, Naomi. Years earlier, Elimelech, his wife, and his …
Faith is tested by the choices we make, as seen in Naomi’s daughters-in-law. After the deaths of her husband and sons, Naomi decided to head back home to Bethlehem. The three women readied themselves for the trip and started down the road. Ruth 1:8 But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back …
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 …
Putting faith into action is a significant step for believers because it demonstrates our faith is genuine. After Moses’ death, the Lord told Joshua, Moses’ assistant, that Moses was dead and it was time for him to lead the Israelites across the Jordan into the land He would give them. During this crucial moment, Joshua …
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 kept standing firm in the face of fear. The appearance of Pharaoh’s army panicked the people, and in their fear, they complained. But Moses doesn’t appear to flinch at their criticism. Exodus 14: 13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you …
Transition exposes our hearts and strip away our filters, as we see in the story of the Israelites approaching the Red Sea. The Egyptians pursued the Israelites with all of Pharaoh’s army—horses, chariots, charioteers, and troops—and caught up with them camped near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon. Exodus 14:10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked …
Obeying God’s guidance in transition means moving forward in faith even when we don’t understand God’s plan. 2 Corinthians 5:7For we live by believing and not by seeing.[1] As we journey through life and follow God’s guidance, we discover over time that He is always faithful and trustworthy. As God delivers the Israelites from Egypt, …