Will You Move Out into a Place of Faith?

The children of God, through the universe, seem to have let the depression which is surely upon the world at this uncertain hour cast itself over them. We hear one after another lamenting the fact that they have no power and are not only willing to let the enemy of unbelief have the victory in their own lives, but they persistently avow that God is not moving in these days as He once did. Some believe that the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost and that the disciples had power to heal and cast out demons, but that ended it. Others believe that because they have had the “upper room” experience, similar to that of the disciples, they can testify to some past blessing, and God will let them off with their defeated lives, which speaks plainly to those around that they do not have the victory.

Darkness is surely upon the earth, and gross darkness upon the people. There is a famine in the land, not for natural things, but a famine for men and women who will rise in faith to meet the need of the hour.

In Naomi’s day, there was a famine in the land (Ruth 1:1). Instead of trusting her God, Naomi allowed the depression and talk stifle the promises of God and sought refuge in Moab. God did not accompany her on that trip of defeat, for by her act, she not only left Bethlehem, the place of blessing for her, but proved to God she did not care to believe Him or His promises. It was not long before failure came; after failure, sickness; then—death, in this land of Moab or “land of defeat”.

Oh, if God’s people would only stop excusing themselves when in defeat, when sickness and death come, and recognize they are out of God’s will and call out to Him for deliverance, He would tear away the shackles and set them free.

Naomi found bread in Moab, but it proved to be a curse to her. For as she watched her loved ones being taken away from her one by one by the cruel monster death, she began to realize what defeat meant. It meant sorrow, sickness, death and mourning. God tried to talk to her by allowing just her husband to be taken. But she, no doubt, excused herself, as we see many doing today who are suffering—not because God wants to afflict them, but because He cannot speak to them any other way. Naomi was really backslidden, and her heart was very hard. But as her sons were then taken the same as her husband, I believe she tasted defeat to the last dregs and could stand no more. She found defeat bitter, for did she not say “call me no more Naomi, but Mara, for the Lord has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20)?

Then as she began to see her need, God put a longing in her heart to get back into Bethlehem. She began to inquire how the people were faring, and if some were still holding on in faith. Oh, it pays to stay in the center of God’s will and keep the fire burning brightly upon the altar of our hearts so that those who have gone on the rocks may see our lights and again glorify the Lord. Praise His Name!

We can plainly see how God was fanning the embers of Naomi’s heart into a flame. And as she heard He was again visiting His people in giving them bread, she arose in faith—believing once more the promise of God without having yet obtained it. Faith always works that way.

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith reminds us of the roots of a great oak tree—away under the earth reaching out day after day in order to obtain the substance needed to bring forth life. We can plainly see the results of these hidden away roots as we look at the great trunk and branches. So with faith—we can see the results as it starts moving toward the living waters. We see it surging through Naomi’s being as she rises to move toward her God and the center of His will.

Who would go with her? They were surely welcome, but they could not hold her back now. She meant to get back as speedily as possible. It is just the same today—as you arise in the Spirit to claim God’s promises, determine in your heart that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Naomi gave her daughters-in-law every chance to go on or go back—it was entirely up to them. God is giving His people great chances these days, and it is up to us what we will do with them. But, remember, they are true just the same. One girl, Orpah, decided very shortly to stop on the way, but hallelujah, when we once arise and set our faces towards the prize, it takes more than a backslider to hinder us.

Ruth, the other girl, rose to claim her inheritance as she saw the look of faith in Naomi’s eyes, and said, “Entreat me not to leave thee or return from following after thee, for whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge, thy people shall be my people and thy God shall be my God.”

Some people, most assuredly, are not going. But as we determine in our hearts to believe God and get back to the place of blessing, there will be some who will see the result of this invisible faith working in and through us, and they will say “your God shall be my God.” Hallelujah! We are well able to possess the land with such a Captain as ours, bless His Name!

As Naomi got back to the center of the Lord’s will, she refused to take any admiration or glory unto herself for she realized it was only by the grace of God that she got through. That is the only thing we will be able to say after all is said and done. For as we look at the wrecks and deaths of those that were once on this Highway of Holiness, we can easily see that it will only be by His great love and mercy that we can ever attain to the prize.

All who intend, by His grace, to press on will have to take their eyes off of the mistakes and failures of others, and begin to inquire for the place of blessing for their lives. And as they hear God is again moving, rise up in faith—believing God is not asleep, neither has He gone on a journey, and that He is ready to bless you as well as others.

Shake off the dust of unbelief and failure. And as you rise, others will go along with you as they see the faith you have in the Son of the living God. This unbelief in the hearts of the saints of God is a mockery to Him, a brazen insult, contempt. If we would go into the courts of this country and act toward the judge on the bench as we act toward God, we would be cast out for our mockery.

Yet, time after time, God looks in our faces and sees the smile of unbelief. Then looking further, He sees in our hearts the venomous viper of doubt coiled taking the place of the faith that should be there.

Paul was attacked by a viper on the Island of Melita; in the natural, he cast it back into the fire; in the spirit, he cast the viper of doubt back into Hell from whence it came. Many are allowing this enemy room, they fondle him and excuse themselves while he gets a stronger hold each time. Faith and doubt will not work together any more than God and the Devil will ever be reconciled. One is of Heaven, the other is of Hell.

“Arise, thou that sleepest, wake from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephesians 5:14). God is again visiting His people with living manna. Will you move out, out of the land of unbelief and doubt into a place of faith?

Some are moving, hallelujah, but some say as did Orpah, “This place I am in is good enough for me, I have had the blessing for years.”

God asks, “Where are you today?” Are you in the land of Moab in defeat, or have you by His grace heard that He will bless you as you set your face again toward the land of blessing?

How merciful is our God! The heavens cannot contain His love or His mercy. They just seem to pour and pour down upon us. He had, in His wrath, hidden His face from Naomi as unbelief entered her heart. But as she arose to go to the place of blessing, He, with everlasting kindness, had mercy on her. As she began to witness and point out the way of faith to Ruth, not only was the natural seed saved, but hallelujah, the plan God had intended for her life came to pass.