Pagan Land or Not?

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:8 NIV

Ever felt like you had experienced banishment to a pagan land? I did when we moved to South Texas. Even though our daughter, son-in-law, and grandson lived in Houston, I did not relish moving there. My husband’s new job required the move so I did not really have a choice.

It did not take long to see God’s hand in our relocation -- how He truly used it to work in my life, draw me closer to him, and heal some hurts from my past. My pagan land became more of a promised land when I trusted in him.

In the book of Ruth, we notice Elimelek. Because of a famine in Judah, he decided to make a move to Moab, described as a pagan land because of its origins. His wife, Naomi, and their two sons accompanied him. We can only guess what conditions met them, but it seems they stayed true to their faith. I imagine Elimelek and Naomi lived out their belief in the One True God to their sons and their community.

Seemingly, their belief and testimony attracted others. Their sons found wives of good character. Their wives demonstrated their love and kindness to Naomi even after her husband and eventually two sons died. When Naomi got the opportunity to go back to Judah, Ruth refused to leave her side citing Naomi’s people as her people and Naomi’s God as her God. Ruth truly had seen God in the lives of her in-laws. Because of her faith and obedience, she became part of the human lineage of Jesus -- God’s plan all along.

What land do you live in right now? Does it feel like a pagan land or a promised land? Can you see his hand in leading you there?

May God lead us all to the land where we can experience him and He can “instruct and counsel us with his loving eye.”

Susan Partida