God Nods
Journey to Christmas With the Midwives of the Messiah
by Sharon W. Betters
TODAY’S TREASURE
Ravi Zacharias shared this story on his blog on June 20, 2011:
“Some years ago, I was visiting a place known for making the best wedding saris in the world. They were the producers of saris rich in gold and silver threads, resplendent with an array of colors. With such intricacy of product, I expected to see some elaborate system of machines that would boggle the mind in production. But this image could not have been farther from the real scene.
Each sari was made individually by a father and son team. The father sat above the son on a platform, surrounded by several spools of thread that he would gather into his fingers. The son had only one task. At a nod from his father, he would move the shuttle from one side to the other and back again. This would then be repeated for hundreds of hours, until a magnificent pattern began to emerge.
The son certainly had the easier task. He was only to move at the father’s nod. But making use of these efforts, the father was working to an intricate end. All along, he had the design in his mind and was bringing the right threads together.
The more I reflect on my own life and study the lives of others, I am fascinated to see the design God has for each one of us individually, if we would only respond. All through our days, little reminders show the threads that God has woven into our lives.” Posted by Ravi Zacharias, on July 20, 2011, https://rzim.org/a-slice-of-infinity/from-disparate-threads/
I am especially moved by Ravi’s observation that: “The son certainly had the easier task. He was only to move at the father’s nod. But making use of these efforts, the father was working to an intricate end. All along, he had the design in his mind and was bringing the right threads together.”
Throughout Ruth’s story, we see what seem like wrong choices on the part of Elimelech and his family. Instead of trusting God to feed his family in the famine, he moved them to Moab, a godless place. His sons married Moabite women, unions clearly forbidden by God. The unthinkable happens. Elimelech and his two sons die, leaving Naomi, Ruth and Orpah to fend for themselves.
We watch as God nods to Ruth, moving her to accompany her mother-in-law back to Bethlehem. Then we see God nod to Naomi who instructs her daughter-in-law to go into the fields to gather food. Suddenly, we begin to understand that God is up to something supernatural in Ruth’s story. These are just the beginnings of God-sightings.
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
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Read the book of Ruth and watch for “coincidences” or God-sightings that culminate with Ruth in the genealogy of Jesus. Look for those kinds of God-sightings today and record them in your journal. Coincidences? No, you are watching God work out His purposes through sometimes mundane circumstances, circumstances transformed from mundane into majestic when we see His ultimate purpose.
Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.
Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.