(Ruth 1:1) “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 Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.” It NEVER works out for God’s people to leave their place of abiding with fellow-believers and moving into the fellowship of the unsaved – for any reason! The move of this man ended in the death of himself and his sons, leaving his wife and daughter-in-laws stranded. During times of hardship (famine) is the time we should look to our God, not to the world! It did not work out well at all for him. His wife and Ruth his daughter-in-law, DID look to the Lord and found He is “a very present help”. Trust Him!

(Jdg 1:6) “But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. (7) And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.”  Here you have a classic fulfillment of God’s Words to all, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”  Like each of us, this one NEVER thought such a thing could happen to him. Careful. It applies to you also.

(Joshua 1:1) “Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord….”  THE SERVANT OF THE LORD had died. One of the greatest men, the most used of men for the glory of the Lord, is identified as “the servant of the Lord”. The greatest…. held the title of…. a servant! If you want your life to count as something special, be the Lord’s servant! I would rather be the servant of the Lord than a King over people!

 (Deu 1:30) “The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;”  How sad it is when God’s people forget the victories He has wrought for them in the past, in the face of today’s trials! For the Born Again Child of God, the greatest of all victories has already been accomplished, the penalty for our sins paid for and eternal life bestowed. The grave holds no power over us. Yet, we doubt His willingness to fight for us today! How sad. We owe our Lord an apology.

(Num 1:2) “Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; (3)  From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel:…” If you read 1 John, you will find that it is the young men who have fought the battles, overcoming the wicked one. The children do not fight the battles, but are protected by their father, as we are by ours! Yet, after a time of spiritual growth, we too have to fight the wicked one! Protect the babe in Christ, instructing them! Grow them to FIGHT for the sake of Christ!

(Lev 1:1) “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation,”  Later, the Lord will say, (1Ch 17:5) “For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.” The Lord traded that house for a house of flesh, the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, praise God, He has chosen to dwell in the individual Child of God! Do you rejoice that He now lives in YOU?

(Exo 1:8) “Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.”  Joseph was the nearest thing Egypt had to a revelation of God. He was one of God’s people and the Lord certainly had His Hand upon Joseph. That testimony was gone. So often, a family member will shine for God and those succeeding will not. Sad. What is wrong? I believe those following have not embraced the love for the Lord the one walking with God possessed! Seek to express your love and devotion to the Lord to those who will follow you!