​As we prepare for the Shavuot celebration, I am studying the Book of Ruth. So, in this post, I would like to continue with my previous post discussion, Blaming GOD, that I posted on May 3. I want to bring out a few points surrounding heartbreak and GOD’s sustaining mercy that is mentioned in the Book of Ruth. I don’t know how far I will go into the latter – GOD’s sustaining mercy. But there are a lot of gems we can gain from Naomi’s and Ruth’s stories. 
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Before proceeding. Let’s get some background information.

The Book of Ruth starts by introducing us to Naomi. Naomi and her family, husband Elimelech, and two sons – Mahloh and Chilion, encounter a famine. The famine stemmed from (a natural by-product) of the people’s sin – their disobedience toward GOD’s laws and HIS ways. (See Deuteronomy 28:15-16; Hosea 4:1-3). As a result, Elimelech must decide how he will provide for his family during this tumultuous time.

So, without consulting GOD, Elimelech decides to move his family to Moab – a land outside of the divine protective canopy and provisions of GOD. This decision would lead to some disastrous and irreversible consequences for Elimelech’s family.
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We see in chapter 1, in verse 3, Naomi’s husband Elimelech dies. And then later, after her sons took on two Moabite wives, they too dies (Ruth 1:5). Shortly afterward, Naomi is devastated. Naomi is so heartbroken by her loss that she begins to exhibit behaviors many do when they experience such a tragedy – blaming GOD. She said to her two daughters-in-law.
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​​Naomi felt her situation was hopeless. She continues.
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Naomi’s situation was so bleak to her that she described it as ‘bitter’ – a distasteful or distressing to the mind. She felt a level of resentment, anger, and pain. She was struggling to accept or even bear the plight of her husband’s and two sons’ death had emotionally done to her life. From her perspective, it was GOD who had come and stolen, killed, and destroyed her life as well as her livelihood. She was blaming GOD for her tragedies.

​But when we go back to the accounts in the prior Bible books, we see and understand that Naomi’s circumstances were not due to the hands of GOD, but men. The will of man to be exact. 
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In this situation, when the famine hit Judah and the surrounding cities. Elimelech did the same thing as Peter. He took his eyes, his focus from Jesus, and proceeded to make the problems around him his focus. Resulting in him not waiting on the LORD to give him direction.
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Like Peter, Elimelech family's plight, their destruction was due to his own hands. The by product of Elimelech’s failure to look to GOD, to lean upon his own understanding, and the fruitage of giving place to his own will and plans. 
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So now, Naomi find herselves with no male leading her household, while having to learn to fend for herself in a foreign land. So, after being in this foreign land for about 10 years, she decides to get up from her place of misery and return home (Ruth 1:6-7).
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Upon reaching her homeland in Bethlem, all in the city were excited to see her. But Naomi lamented by saying, “Do not call me Naomi…, which meant pleasant, delight, lovely. She said to them, “Call me Mara" – meaning ‘bitter,’ "for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me" (Ruth 1:20). 
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Like me, Naomi had become bitter due to her past experiences – the losses she encountered in Moab. Naomi said to the town’s people. “I went out full, and the LORD had brought me home again empty” (Ruth 1:21). She even took it a step further by saying, it was the LORD that afflicted her.

This is so far from the truth. The LORD Almighty was not the cause of her afflictions. But it was her countrymen, their sin and disobedience that lead to the famine that led to her husband’s decision to move his family to Moab.
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But it was GOD’s mercy that sustained her and her daughters-in-law through it all. It was HIS sustaining mercy that got her through the famine, her husband, and her sons’ death. It was GOD who gave her the strength she needed to keep going afterward. (Compare to 2 Corinthians 12:10). It was GOD who made available whatever provisions they had in the land of Moab during the 10 years after her husband and sons’ death. It was GOD who provided her guidance and a safe journey home for her and her daughter-in-law Ruth, upon Naomi’s return to her homeland. 

​Over the years, it has been a growing trend for the masses to blame GOD for their misfortunes. Blaming GOD for the untimely deaths of loved ones, addictions certain family members have become addicted to (i.e., drugs, sex, etc.), abuses we experienced that are caused by others, financial problems, the lack of healthy relationships and love in our lives, abandonment or neglect we experienced at the hands of our parents, etc. We often blame GOD for issues and causes that man has created and done. Why? Simply because we know GOD can intervene, prevent it from even happening if HE wants to. But can HE really? Can HE intervene in every affair of man whenever HE chooses? If so, and HE does not, why doesn’t HE? Let's dig a little deeper into this topic. 
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Before we can answer the question of why it appears that GOD does not intervene or prevent certain tragic circumstances in our lives, we need to discuss the facts that have gotten humanity into the predicament they are in – all the problems we see and encounter firsthand in our world today.
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Our society as a whole is piercing into the eye of a tornado of an epidemic - the loss of our faith; and many of us are blaming GOD for this problem as well as for our miseries we are experiencing in this world. Over the years, it has been reported that people are abandoning their faith and GOD at a dismal rate. The Cultural Research Center hosted a survey and uncovered the following facts.

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• Only 6 percent of American adults have a biblical worldview
• More people hold a syncretism belief system. (Syncretism is a fusion of different systems of belief.
• Many people have adopted the view that GOD is aloof (distant, unfriendly, unapproachable). Therefore, people have turned to an alternative method of worship where they focus on a universal approach to life of being happy inwardly, being and creating and reflecting positive energy, and feeling good about oneself as man’s solution to all problems.
• Millennials are most likely to reject biblical principles in favor of a worldly spiritual perspective and practice.
• Over 40 million people have walked away from the faith in the United States alone.

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[​​These statistics have been taken from Barna Research, visit America’s Loss of Faith article by clicking here. Washington Watch the YouTube discussion by clicking here.]

​Now, we can get easily bogged down with facts and statistics. But that is not the purpose of this blog. So, let’s address some of the questions we asked earlier. (1) Why do we blame GOD for man-made problems? (2) Can HE prevent certain tragedies from occurring or even intervene in the affairs of man? (3) If so, why doesn’t HE? Let’s take these one at a time.
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​Let’s just cut to the chase and simply answer this question without a lot of discussion. The answer to this question is YES. Jesus said at Revelation 22:13.
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​Jesus Himself said that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). So, Jesus is well equipped, empowered, and able to start or stop anything. He is omnipotent. Engulfed with unlimited power, authority, force, and all-powerful. Nothing on earth or in heaven (or the spirit realm) can match or be equal to Him. For GOD HIMSELF has given that level of power and authority to Christ. So, preventing any tragedy is too easy to do for God. Let’s answer our next question. 
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Well, to be honest, I don’t think you are asking the right question here. But let’s address it anyways. There are a lot of variables and factors that should be considered when addressing such a question. But we will think in terms of a hypothetical situation to make things simple. So, instead of focusing on one particular person’s situation. Let’s look at our society as a whole. Because it is our entire nation, the entire world that is drowning in such issues as unpredictable and uncontrollable climate problems, food shortages, a lack of affordable homes, crime, financial crises, relationship problems, sickness, diseases, and even death.
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One Scripture can answer this question whether people receive it or not. And that answer can be found in the book of Hosea at chapter 4. So, let’s read it. Now, keep in mind, Jehovah GOD is speaking directly to HIS chosen people – Israel. As we read it, we need to keep in mind that our nation, our world has positioned ourselves in the same deployable state as GOD’s people during that time. And the Scriptures were written to and for us today, as a warning (1 Corinthians 10:11). A book of instructions on what can happen when a nation of people either chooses to engage in a mixture of relationships with other gods. Or they all together abandon the ways of GOD and their relationship with HIM. Hosea chapter 4, starting with verse 1, reads.
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Look. We first must understand that the problem ridden world we find ourselves in today is not at the fault of GOD. But man. Man and his ways have done this to us. Our decisions, our desire to try to live our lives in such a way that excludes and not includes the ways of GOD has brought us here. As a result, we get what we got as they say on the streets.
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We as a society as a whole have been 

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1. Unfaithful in every which way possible. With our families, our marriages, our children, with friends, with one another, and especially toward GOD.
2. Therefore, there is no kindness towards your neighbor. We talk and gossip about one another – it doesn’t matter if it’s the truth or not. We are willing to be partakers one way or another or unjustifiably wreck people’s lives for political or relationship gains or simply to fit in.
3. And most of us are ignorant of the standards and ways of GOD. We lack fear and knowledge of how to serve and worship a holy, righteous, and pure GOD.
4. We make promises to people, promises to our employers, and promises to GOD. And as soon as we feel slightly uncomfortable or inconvenienced by the commitment we made, we break them.
5. We kill the soul as well as the spirit of people by our words, acts, and deeds.
6. We commit acts of thievery because we simply want something that belongs to someone else. This can be a person’s job, assignment, calling, possessions, material goods, identity, money, etc.
7. We commit adultery. Forsaking our marriage vows we have made to our spouse. Because it is easier to move on than working through challenges in our relationships.
8. We have even murdered. Murder our children and our unborn. Murder family members, friends, and complete strangers in our attempts to get ahead, or to hide or gain something. Many of us have other peoples’ blood on our hands. 

As a result of these acts BY MAN. Our land is crying out. GOD can no longer bless a land that is full of violence. Recall the words that GOD spoke at Deuteronomy chapter 28. We primarily focus on the first 14 verses because it speaks of the blessings that GOD will pour out on all of mankind – the entire universe. But before we look at the verses I want to consider, we need to go back to verse 1 of that chapter. Oftentimes, GOD inserts these clause statements into HIS promises. And if the clause is not met, then you cannot benefit from blessings that are associated with the clause.
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So, we see in verses 2 through 14, a person, or a nation can live a completely blessed and fulfilling lifestyle that can be poured into every area of their life. They can have good health, plenty of food, property, assets, and wealth. A beautiful and thriving family life and an abundant happy marriage if an individual or nation fulfills the clause that is stated in verses 1 and 2. So, let’s read that clause statement. 
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IF simply means, on the condition that. Let’s make sure this crystal clear. The starting point for obtaining any of GOD’s blessings, HIS promises, whether that be in HIS Word or something HE has promised directly to you, STARTS WITH YOU. 
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So, our choices are clear. Obey GOD or not obey GOD. If we choose to obey HIM, our entire livelihood will be full of blessings. But if we choose to go our own way – to disobey the ways of GOD, then our own lives will be damned – filled with curses. So much so that it will overwhelm us. We will encounter one problem after another.

So, to answer the question - why does GOD not intervene in the affairs of man? It is because we have chosen as individuals and as a nation the latter position of the clause stated at Deuteronomy chapter 28, verse 15. We refuse to obey and listen to GOD and rejected HIS counsel.

We all have learned while we were in school the concept of cause and effect. This is when at least one action or event leads to the direct result of others. For example, if you stay up all night reading a book, watching television, or playing games. The very next day you will wake up cranky and tired. The cause of you being cranky and tired was directly caused by the fact you stayed up all night. So, when we look at our world as a whole. Our world and its environments can be full of peace, love, happiness, joy, and everything we need. Or, it can be filled will violence and destruction everywhere. What will result in these types of world? The people that live in them. People’s behavior or the lack thereof will create one type of world or another.

So, in Deuteronomy chapter 28, GOD provides us with a clear list of outcomes that will occur in our world based on which causes we decided to live up to. (See Deteruonomy 28:1-14 and compare to verses 15-68). And what has become our results or effect? Hosea chapter 4 explained it so clearly. We have chosen as a society at large the curses, which are stated at Deuteronomy 28:15-68. These curses played out in the lives of the Israelites at that time and we are recycling the same patterns as the Israelites in our lives today.

I’m going to quote something I use to hear my mom say a lot when I was growing up. “Life is nothing but a vicious cycle.” And it is. Mankind, our family, and our government continue to repeat cycles. The same addictive, bad behaviors that have ruined the lives of many people and families and destroyed societies at large. We have not learned from our past.

So, GOD is not intervening in a lot of cases because we refuse and have failed to keep our vows to HIM. We have broken every one of the 10 commandments. We have put and serve other gods before HIM. We are constantly making images and idols about people, material possessions, carving things to look like things in the heaven or on the earth, and worshipping them. We have desecrated HIS name. Forsaken the Sabbath. Dishonor our parents. Murdered, committed adultery, stole, bore false witnesses against our neighbors, and covet their homes, wife, etc.  We are the problem NOT GOD.

We have forced GOD’s hand and placed HIM in a position to the point where HE cannot intervene in most cases. Even if HE wanted to. Let’s look at an example from the book of Genesis at chapters 18 and 19. Here the patriot Abraham had an encounter with the angels of the LORD. Shortly afterward, Abraham ended up in a high place looking down toward Sodom.

Now, most of us are very familiar with the outcome – the effect that took place with Sodom and Gomorrah. We know based on secular and Bible history that these two cities were destroyed. But let’s get at the cause. The root reason as to why they were destroyed.

We read at verse 17 that GOD asked this question within HIMSELF. “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” GOD knew what HE was about to do to these to populations. But just making that statement alone, we can tell that GOD wanted to intervene. If there was a way to impede this judgment on these people, HE would like to do that. Hence, one of the reasons why HE was contemplating telling Abraham what HE was about to do.

So, HE said to Abraham. “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know” (Genesis 18:20). So, the horrors that these people were committing had reached the ears of GOD. The things they were doing were so bad that GOD had to act in one way or another. Either extend mercy to them or pour out HIS judgment upon them for their sins.

So, Abraham proposed this question to GOD. “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:23-25)
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It is clear that GOD wanted to intervene in the affairs of man in this case based on what HE said to Abraham in verse 26. He said
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Again, GOD inserted that conditional statement IF in there. At least, fifty people in the city must have proven themselves to be righteous in GOD’s eyes. Now, we can assume, thousands of people were living in those cities at the time. Let’s just randomly pick a number to make it easy. So, let’s say 2 million people were living in these cities. All GOD was requiring is fifty of those people in those cities to be righteous and upstanding men and women who have kept all of GOD’s ways and commandments. Just fifty.

But Abraham really wanted to stretch GOD and try to save the people there. After all, his nephew Lot and his family lived in the city. So, Abraham asked GOD. Okay, what if there are only forty righteous people, twenty, or only ten? Will you still destroy the city? And GOD answered by saying if HE found thirty, twenty, or even 10 good people, He would not destroy the cities (Genesis 18:27-33).

Well, GOD proceeded with HIS investigations concerning Sodom and Gomorrah to determine whether HE can honor Abraham’s request to intervene in the depending judgment and destruction that was coming to these people. Or must HE act? GOD sent two angels to investigate on HIS behalf and their findings were horrifying. So, the two angels instructed LOT, Abraham’s nephew to go. Gathers his sons-in-law, sons, daughters, and anyone that belongs to him and gets out of the city because they were going to destroy this place (Genesis 19:13-13). But as we know only three righteous people made it out of the city alive – Lot and his two daughters (Genesis 19:14-17, 23-26).

GOD did intervene and spared 3 souls’ lives based on Abraham’s request. But thousands of people’s lives were not spared because everything was spoken about in Hosea chapter 4 and Deuteronomy chapter 28, verses 15-68. They had done. They did not keep all of GOD’s commandments.

So, there you have it. GOD does intervene in the lives of some – those who choose to follow HIS ways and this includes nations of people. For instance, we are familiar with the account in the book of Jonah. Where the Prophet Jonah is instructed by GOD to go and tell the people of Nineveh to repent from all their evil doings. Jonah declared the warning of GOD to the entire nation (Jonah 3). When the king of Nineveh heard the warning of Jonah, it said he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in the dust. Then the king and his nobles sent out a decree to all people instructing everyone to do the same. For everyone to call urgently on the LORD. Give up their evil ways and their violence and repent to a gracious and merciful GOD (Jonah 3:6-9).

Now, mind you, in the case of Nineveh, they were going to be destroyed just like Sodom and Gomorrah for their evil doings. They found themselves too in the same predicament as what is said at Hosea chapter 4 verses 1-4. How did GOD respond to the king and his people’s actions? The entire nation repented, unlike Sodom and Gomorrah. So, it said that GOD relent and with compassion turned from HIS fierce anger so that HE did not destroy the nation. The entire nation was spared because the entire nation repented as a whole.

Do you see the difference? In the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, GOD could only intervene in the lives of 3 souls. In Noah’s day, GOD could only intervene in the lives of 8 souls. But during Nineveh’s existence, GOD was able to intervene in the lives of entire nation.
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So, GOD does intervene in our lives today but there must be a justifiable cause for HIM to do so. But let’s explore one more area on this topic. 
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​Psalm 115:16 says this.
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This statement goes back as far as the account that took place in the Garden of Eden. GOD first said to HIS heavenly beings. “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (Genesis 1:26).

Then HE follows up that statement after HE created Adam and Eve and said to them. “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground (Genesis 1:28).

GOD had given mankind complete control over the earth. HE relished HIS power and authority over what HE had created –the earth and everything living in it. And handed it over to man and told them not only to populate the earth with other creatures like themselves. But to take care of all the animals, the waters, the land, the plants, and every ecosystem that was present on the earth. The earth and all its affairs became the responsibility of not GOD but man. But there was only one simple rule. Keep all of GOD’s commandments. Do what you want with this earth? Be as creative as you desire. But keep all of GOD’s commandments and then everything you do will prosper.
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As the people at large, have we done that? As individuals, have we done that? As a family, have we done that? As corporations, have we done that? As a nation, have we done? The answer is obvious because we have gotten what we got.