Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. (Ruth 1:1-2)
Naomi moved from Bethlehem, the “house of bread,” because her husband Ebimilech thought there would be more opportunities there. I’m sure it was not easy to pack up and leave everyone. They probably thought this move would just be until the famine passed. Instead, Moab turned out to be more of a barren house than the “house of bread” they had left.
Naomi ended up sowing over ten years of her life in Moab, a place that left her lacking. The increase they expected certainly was not there. Instead she decreased until she had nothing. Why was everything dying around her? She had nothing left to give to anyone. She was exhausted and depleted from all that this life-changing move had stolen from her. Now, she just wanted to go back home and get away from this place that had robbed her of her life!
What do you do when all your resources dry up, and the dreamer leaves you stranded and is gone? What is your next move when the dream of another you chose to follow has left you depleted and bitter? Follow your own dreams! God says He knows the plans for your life. He is the only dreamer you should be following! He guarantees you a good life!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
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