The Bible is a Gift

The Bible is a gift. It is personal. When we engage with it, it teaches us who God is. It tells us how to live our lives. For those of us who approach the Bible in faith, believing God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him, He gives tremendous blessing. He gives us principles that help us navigate through a world that is at times chaotic, confusing and dark.

One of the threads that runs through the whole Bible is the promise that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. The story of Ruth beautifully illustrates this truth. The story tells of a family–Elimelech, his wife, Naomi, and their two son. There was a famine in Israel. Times were hard. Elimelech moved his family to Moab in search of food. They settled in Moab, but then Elimelech died. Naomi’s was left with her two sons. Her sons married Moabite wives, but after about 10 years the sons died as well. Naomi was alone. She lost everything.

When Naomi heard the famine in Israel ended, she made plans to return. She and her daughters-in-law started out for Israel, but then Naomi told them to go home to their own mothers. She didn’t want either of them to be burdened with her.

One of them did return home. The other one, Ruth, stayed with Naomi. She told Naomi she wanted to be identified with Naomi’s God and with His people.

When Naomi’s neighbors welcomed her back to Israel, she no longer wanted to be known as Naomi–which means “pleasant” but instead wanted people to call her Mara–which means “bitter.” She said she had gone away full, but the Lord had brought her back empty. She understood God’s sovereign control. She just didn’t see His goodness in what she experienced.

Ruth stayed with Naomi. In the custom of the day, God provided for the poor by commanding farmers to leave something in the fields during harvest for poor people to glean. As Ruth gathered grain for herself and Naomi she caught the attention of Boaz, a wealthy farmer, and relative of Elimelech. Boaz was aware of, and impressed with, the kindness Ruth had shown to Naomi.

In a richer story than I can convey here, Boaz redeemed Naomi’s land, married Ruth, and Naomi became grandmother to their son, who became the grandfather of King David. Naomi lost her bitterness and praised God. He brought a good outcome out of all that she had suffered.

Though things may appear bleak in the moment, God is faithful. We can trust Him to accomplish His good purposes, even in what seems to be the worst of circumstances. Like Naomi, we may sometimes lose sight of His goodness. But remembering all His attributes revealed in the Bible helps us hold onto hope. He has given us the Bible so we can know Him. What a gift. He gives peace and strength as He leads us through the hard times.

The ultimate good the Bible presents is Jesus. He suffered a horribly cruel death, in our place, for our sin. He did it for our eternal good, so we could be restored to relationship with God, the Father. Eternal life is knowing Him (John 17:3) and it begins now, when we turn to Him in faith.

Unbelievers have nothing to grasp when life loses its stability, but God’s people have hope. When we seek Him, everything else falls into place. The stories of the Bible affirm the truth of God’s character and teach us how to live. The Bible is a gift. We can only begin to calculate its value.

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. Psalm 16:11 NLT

Blessings,
Phyllis

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