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A Famine Disrupts Normal Life.

Weather conditions can change rapidly. Sometimes, we have awareness of impending storms before they develop and at other times, we are surprised. Regardless of our awareness of a storm’s development, once it is present, what matters is our preparedness for it.

Preparedness isn’t glamorous. During calm conditions of blue skies and gentle breezes, it’s challenging to spend money and time on preparing for something unseen. Can I get an amen, Noah?

If you think the Noah example is too extreme, I offer a different example. What would you think of a homeowner living in a flood zone with an expensive home and no flood insurance?

Storms reveal foundations. Consider Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders. The foundation of the wise builder’s house was rock, whereas the foundation of the foolish builder’s house was sand. The same storm conditions beat against both houses, yet the storm impacts were strikingly different. The house built on rock didn’t fall, yet the house built on sand “fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7: 27, NIV).

The foundation, not the storm, is the heart of the matter.

We know life is storm prone, yet are we vigilant in storm preparation?

Consider a family of four, living in Bethlehem more than 3,000 years ago. Life was good until a famine came. The father chose to move his family to Moab in response to the famine. The family consisted of the father (Elimelech, which means “My God is King”), the mother (Naomi, which means “Pleasant”), older son (Mahlon, which means “Sickly”), and younger son (Chilion, which means “Pining” or “Wasting Away”).

I don’t know all the facts Elimelech considered in his decision-making, but a few details about his life in Bethlehem included:

1. Elimelech was a wealthy landowner from the tribe of Judah.

2. A meaning of Bethlehem is “House of Bread”.

3. Moab was a neighboring land whose people didn’t serve God.

Why would Elimelech leave his home, the House of Bread, to live in a land hostile to God, his King? Was Elimelech’s response wise or foolish?

Reflections:

Storms come. How have I developed my faith in God to anchor me in difficult times? Do I run from God in difficult times?

What God says about His presence in difficult times:

Isaiah 41:10, NLT: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 43:2, NLT: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”