"Immigrants in the Bible: For such a time as this!"Naomi's Family as Immigrants:
Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. Ruth 1:1
A recent memo from Ethnic America Network states: “Immigration is neither a recent development nor a phenomenon exclusive to North America. It has been a worldwide experience throughout human history driven by push/pull dynamics. Harsh realities (war, famine, persecution) drive people from their homelands. Opportunities for a better life draw them to new lands for food, freedom, jobs or education.”
In the Biblical narrative, Naomi’s family sought survival in a neighboring country, fleeing famine in their native land. While there, “Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.”
Naomi’s story as an immigrant in the land of Moab is similar to the story of many immigrant families that have left their native country seeking new horizons. It seems that Naomi’s sons were optimistic about making Moab their new home; they both married Moabite women. Sadly, Naomi’s husband and sons all died in a relatively short period of time leaving her so vulnerable that she decided to return to her homeland.
This chapter in the life of Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth was followed by large-scale changes in their life story as God unfolded a hopeful future before them. In my next segment I’ll reflect on the life of Ruth the immigrant in the land of Judah.
Practical lessons on this reflection:
People and families move to new lands seeking safer and better opportunities.
Life is unpredictable and death sometimes comes when least expected.
There is always hope that comes from God in spite of immediate circumstances that may be sad or difficult.
In His Mission,Roberto Hodgson, Multicultural Ministries director
SNAPSHOT
Ethnic Group District Churches 2013 Worship 2013 Membership 2013 New Nazarenes
Filipino Canada West 1 101 182 4
Filipino Chicago Central 1 - 18 -
Filipino Hawaii Pacific 1 123 160 5
Filipino Los Angeles 3 278 340 72
Filipino Metro New York 1 120 146 13
Filipino North Florida 1 45 79 1
Filipino Northern California 1 78 129 4
Filipino Total 9 745 1,054 99
CALL FOR PRAYER
Filipino Facilitator, Rev.Rodrigo Quema
Filipino Pastors & Churches USA/Canada
EVENTS
May 6 - 8 - Multicultural Congregations SRT Meeting - Lenexa, KS
May 8 - Birthday - Rev. Jack Zimmerman, Messianic Jewish Facilitator
Multicultural Ministries vision is to encourage the development of strategy and initiative to reach the USA/Canada mission field through the visionary leadership of the ethnic facilitators, and their strategy committees.
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