When the Rope is at the End...Think Again
I Samuel 22 1David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.
2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
3 Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.
There is a huge significance between Judah and Moab. Ruth 1 In the days when the judges ruled,[a] there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
Moab was a last resort for Elimelek and his family. If you read the book of Ruth, you will discover that Ruth marries one Elimelek's sons, and though the father and sons die, Ruth is brought back to Bethlehem. She marries Boaz, and
Ruth 4:21-22 21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed,22 Obed the father of Jesse,
Romans 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
3 Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 4 So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.
There is a huge significance between Judah and Moab. Ruth 1 In the days when the judges ruled,[a] there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
Moab was a last resort for Elimelek and his family. If you read the book of Ruth, you will discover that Ruth marries one Elimelek's sons, and though the father and sons die, Ruth is brought back to Bethlehem. She marries Boaz, and
Ruth 4:21-22 21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed,22 Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of David.
What an extraordinary geaneology of David to have Ruth as part of his heritage, but even more interesting, David, just like Elimelik, must find refuge in Moab for his family. What if it had not been the case that David was a decendant of Moab? Where would he of kept his mom and dad? There was no place else to resort, except for one last place, and God had already booked the reservation years before David ever existed among earth.
I have to stop and ask the question, have you ever been in a situation where you had no other resort but the last resort, and yet, it seemed liked God had booked it way in advance?
Maybe you needed a job and somehow by God's magnificent grace he had put someone in a department that knew you and they got you into the company?
I am talking about ordained appointments.
This summer I was stuck on an island for two weeks with my three children and no transportation or any money. My spouse and I had made arrangements in advance to take me down to the island and my brother and sister would come down the same day to stay with me for the two weeks. To make a long story short that never really happened. Brian was forced to leave back for Atlanta, and we prayed and asked God to make a way for us. I had enough food, but other than that, we couldn't go anywhere except walking distance. The children and I walked alot but it was very hot and humid and exhausting so we stayed near the condo and the pool.
I was able to witness several blessings because of this inconvenience. God did in fact provide in more ways than I imagined and he sent people my way to encourage me and help me out. I didn't realize it but I really needed that time of companionship with the Lord for whatever reason, and the time alone was really a respite for my spirit. The boys would sleep in and I would get up early and pray and spend time with the Lord. I believe God designed the trip this way for his purpose, so I couldn't get upset with anyone for not following through.
It was the last resort for me to stay alone and stick it out or go back to Atlanta and waste two weeks of a trip, but I stuck it out in faith, because God booked the appointment.
Whatever your plans may be, and when they don't go the way it should or seem, remember that God books things way in advance in our life for his purpose. We can respite in our famines and frustrations, and even our moments of uncertainty, or storms that we face, and moments where it seems like the rope is at the end. God can make a way in any way, and that is what he did for David. He made a way in Moab.
Your idea of Moab may be different than my idea of Moab, or even David's, but it is place of refuge and hope. God works things out on our behalf, just like he did by sending his son Jesus to this earth who would book reservations for us in his eternal glory in heaven.
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Romans 5:5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
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