Beweeg vorentoe of beweeg terug

2024-05-01
Rut 1:16 NLV

Die boek Rut illustreer die verskil tussen diegene wat in geloof uittree en risiko’s neem en diegene wat vrees, in veiligheid bly en God se beste vir hulle misloop. Die boek begin met hierdie woorde: ‘…’n man [het] uit Betlehem in Juda uit die land weggetrek omdat daar ‘n swaar hongersnood was. Hy en sy vrou en twee seuns het gaan woon in die land Moab’ (vers 1 NLV).

Dinge het goed gegaan vir ‘n ruk, tot die tragedie hulle getref het. Eers is Naomi se man, Elimelek, oorlede en sy het met haar twee seuns agtergebly. Hulle het met twee plaaslike meisies, genaamd Orpa en Rut getrou. Toe is altwee seuns egter oorlede. Oorweldig deur smart, het Naomi besluit om na haar huis in Betlehem terug te keer en haar twee skoondogters aangeraai om in Moab te bly.

Dis waar die verskil in die twee meisies te voorskyn gekom het. Orpa het besluit om in Moab te bly, selfs al was dit ‘n plek van hartseer en moeilike tye. Hoekom? Omdat sy dit geken het. Dit was haar gemaksone. Sy het nie die geloof gehad om vorentoe te beweeg nie. Rut was anders. Sy het vir Naomi gesê: ‘…Waar Ma ook al gaan, sal ek gaan, en waar Ma ook al woon, sal ek woon. Ma se mense sal my mense wees en Ma se God sal my God wees’ (vers 16 NLV).

In Betlehem het Rut vir Boas ontmoet. Nie net was hy ryk nie, maar hy het goed vir haar gesorg en saam het hulle ‘n seun gehad van wie beide koning Dawid en ons heilige Here Jesus afgestam het. God beloon geloof, nie vrees nie. Die woord vir jou vandag is dus – dis tyd om met die verlede te breek en vorentoe te beweeg.

Sielskos: Hand 27-28; Mark 5:31-43; Ps 94:12-23; Spr 11:16-18

Going forward or going back


Ruth 1:16 NKJV

The book of Ruth illustrates the difference between those who step out in faith and take risks, and those who give in to fear, play it safe, and miss God’s best for them. The book begins with these words: “There was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife [Naomi], and his two sons” (v. 1 NKJV).

Things went well for a while, then tragedy struck. First Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, and she was left with her two sons. They married local girls named Orpah and Ruth and then the sons died. Overwhelmed with grief, Naomi decides to return home to Bethlehem and advises her two daughters-in-law to stay in Moab and hopefully find husbands and raise families.

This is where the difference shows up in the two girls. Orpah decided to stay in Moab, even though it was a place of heartache and hard times. Why? Because it’s the place she knew. It was her comfort zone. She didn’t have the faith to go forward. Ruth was different. She said to Naomi: “Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (v. 16 NKJV). Orpah went back, Ruth went forward. And it paid off.

Back in Bethlehem, she met Boaz, her new husband. Not only was he wealthy, but he took good care of her, and they had a son from whom descended both King David and our blessed Lord Jesus. God rewards faith, not fear. So the word for you today is – it’s time to break with the past and move forward.

Soul food: Acts 27-28; Mark 5:31-43; Ps 94:12-23; Prov 11:16-18