GOD IS BUSY
GOD IS BUSY
Too often in our conversations the devil is giving priority in the affairs of this life. You have heard it said that the devil is busy. I agree. But the devil isn’t running anything! He never has! He isn’t now! He is indeed wielding his influence in so far as God allows him. This is why we read in 2 Corinthians 4: 4, “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” Here we see the issue. Our gospel is hid to the lost. The devil is the culprit in that by his influence he has blinded minds. But watch this: The perishing ones whose minds are blinded are those who do not believe! The devil cannot force his will on anyone! It is their unbelief! The devil is very skillful. He uses his trappings of this world to draw people to himself. And it is a very effective methodology. It worked in the beginning of time and is still as effective today.
So, when we use the phraseology that the devil is busy, we need to properly understand in what sense he is. It bothers me no little when I hear Christians give more concentration and credence in what the devil is doing than what God is doing! I readily admit that his influence is being wielded powerfully in the world. But that is not the case when it comes to the people of God! Oh yes, he will try us and tempt us too; no doubt about it. But to those in the know, he has no power over us at all! Let me explain the explanation.
How often have we quoted 1 Peter 5: 8? Read that to familiarize yourself with the passage again. But the context doesn’t stop there. Sometimes we read it with emphasis on what the devil is doing and leave it there. However, Peter in the beginning tell us to be sober and vigilant. But let’s look at the rest of the story in verse 9-11. “Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered for a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
When was the last time you read the totality of these verses in context? Peter says resist the devil. Be steadfast in the faith. He talks about the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus. He says after we have suffered for a while, this God of all grace, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. And then give us a great doxology by informing us of His glory and His dominion—not the devil’s—forever and ever amen! Now I ask you who is busy? I’ll answer with you: God Is Busy!
Let me invite you to just one story in the Bible where we see God is busy. He has been busy all along—and still is! Space forbids us to talk about it all. This is just one example of how God is and has always been running things! Take this story and apply it to your life in principle as well.
During the time of the judges, a beautiful story unfolds which was a contrast to the decadent character of those days. From a heathen nation came a woman named Ruth who put her faith in God and because she did finds herself in the lineage of Jesus Christ our Savior.
In these four short chapters, I want to do the reverse with this story which will give more of an emphasis on the busyness of God. Go with me to chapters four through one.
In chapter four, we see the Redemption. This is the wonderful conclusion of Boaz marrying Ruth. How we rejoice to see the end of the story and a happily everlasting ending. One of the sticking points was Boaz being in wait mode concerning the nearest kinsman redeemer. After hearing his responsibilities, he refused which opened the door wide open for Boaz! God is amazing! Before the Redemption there was the Romance. How did we get there? God is busy!
In chapter three, we are involved in the Romance. God so arranged circumstances that now Ruth is in a position for marriage! Naomi knew that Boaz was unmarried and could perform the duty of the kinsmen redeemer for Ruth and counselled her how to request Boaz to marry her. The custom is somewhat strange to us, but it was status quo in those days. Boaz agreed to the proposal provided another kinsman refused to be the kinsman redeemer. Before the Romance there was the Reaping. But how did we get to this point in chapter three? God is busy!
In chapter two we are involved in the Reaping. Ruth is in Bethlehem and work needed to be done. Because Ruth was industrious, blessing would come her way! She did not depend solely on God minus her part. She was doing all she could do where she was currently situated in life. So, she volunteered to glean the fields. But the field she would glean would be the field that belonged to Boaz, kin of Naomi! Boaz ordered his men to protect Ruth in the fields and Ruth brought home an abundant amount of grain for food for her and Naomi. Before the Reaping there was the Resolve. So how did Ruth get to the point where she was now gleaning in the field of her future husband? God is busy!
In chapter one we see the Resolve. Here we have the sad stories of famine and death. It was a famine that sent a Jewish family to Moab. Two sons married two Moabite girls, but the death of the sons’ father and of the two sons made three women widows. Naomi decides to return to Judah and told Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab. Orpah kisses her mother-in-law but Ruth clings to her. Ruth at this point makes a break with her past and makes Naomi’s God her God. This took them to Bethlehem in the time of barley harvest. Ruth’s decision for the God of the Jews (the true God) was the springboard to all her success. Is God your God? If He is, then Ruth’s story is your story.
Now I wanted us to see this story in reverse for a very, very important reason. Often times we look at our present situation and define it as our concluding situation. What begin as a sad story for Ruth and Naomi, ended in the blessings of God! Why? Because God is the great architect and orchestrator of the universe! My times are in His hands! Do not look at your present and draw unwarranted conclusions about your future! What may presently be a Moab experience, can lead to a Bethlehem destination! Stay faithful to God in whatever your situation may be. God knows how to work everything out! He does so because: GOD IS BUSY!
~Stacey Mobley