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Have you ever wondered what it might be like to walk with God on a lovely summer afternoon, as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden?

Imagine taking a walk with God, perhaps along a beautiful country path, through a forest, or wherever you like to walk in your part of the world, and talking with Him. God invites us to converse with Him. We can ask Him questions, listen to Him, and invite Him into the situations we encounter in our lives.

An Invitation to Ask Questions

We see something of this relationship in John 14. Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure when He told them that He was going to His Father’s house to prepare a place for them. (John 14:1-4 NIV).

His words prompted questions. Thomas asked: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus responded with those well-known words:

“I am the way and the truth and the life.”(1 John 14:6 NIV)

Then Philip had a question of his own: “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:8 NIV).

What strikes me about this passage is the dialogue. Jesus speaks, His disciples ask questions, and Jesus responds. Through their questions, He reveals more to them. Jesus offers them just enough information to provoke more questions.

Here lies an invitation.

Sometimes God may allow us to encounter something we don’t understand. It may be a situation, a question, or even a mystery. Instead of working everything out ourselves, we can ask Him: Lord, what are You showing me? What are You saying? What do You want me to understand?

God designed us for fellowship, walking, talking , and listening to Him.

Sometimes the situation itself presents the questions. You find out you’re pregnant, triggering a realisation that a baby is on the way. That realisation can bring so many questions:

• What will this child be like?
• What name should I give my baby?
• What role do You envision for this child?
• How can I nurture this child towards the destiny You have for them?

These are questions we can bring to God, inviting Him into the journey and beginning a conversation with Him about the child He has entrusted to us.

When God speaks through a mystery

One example of this kind of invitation is Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3.

Moses was going about his ordinary life, tending his father-in-law’s flock, when something unusual caught his attention. A bush appeared to be engulfed in flames, yet it remained intact. Moses could have carried on walking, but his curiosity prompted him to move closer to find out what was happening.

And when Moses moved closer, God spoke.

What began as a mystery became an encounter with God and ultimately, God’s calling for Moses to return to Egypt and lead His people out of slavery. (Exodus 3:1-10 NIV).

Sometimes God can use something unusual to make us stop and ask questions. For Moses, the answer emerged. For us, understanding may unfold as we keep asking, listening, and taking steps forward.

Sometimes the mystery itself is the invitation.

God Speaks Through an Angel

Another fascinating example is the announcement of Samson’s birth in Judges 13.

Samson’s mother could not have children when an angel of the Lord appeared to her and announced that she would conceive and give birth to a son. She received specific instructions about her pregnancy and the child.

God also revealed something of the child’s future purpose:

“He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
(Judges 13:5 NIV).

A barren woman learned she would conceive a child, destined for a specific purpose.

If you are an expectant mother, then this story may raise an interesting question you may want to ask God about your child: What might God want to tell you about the child you are carrying?

The Still Small Voice

Elijah’s encounter with God in 1 Kings 19 is very different.

Elijah had experienced an extraordinary victory on Mount Carmel. He had confronted 450 prophets of Baal and challenged Israel to decide whom they would serve. The prophets of Baal called upon their god from morning until evening without an answer. Elijah prayed, and the God of Israel answered by fire. (1 Kings 18:20-40 NIV).

Yet something remarkable happened after Queen Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab of Israel, sent Elijah a message threatening his life, and Elijah fled.

What happened to Elijah?

How does the prophet who had just confronted hundreds of prophets of Baal become so overwhelmed by the threat of one woman that he flees, becomes despondent and asks God to take his life?

But Jezebel was not just an angry queen. I believe her threat carried spiritual weight for Elijah. It projected the oppressive influence of her witchcraft. (2 Kings 9:22 NIV)

Something had happened to Elijah. His perspective had altered. The prophet, having seen God’s fiery response, ran with all his might to escape Jezebel. He became so despondent that he asked God to take his life.

He had lost his bearings, but God did not abandon him.

God cared for Elijah. He allowed him to sleep and provided him with food and water. The Lord’s angel approached him again, provided sustenance, and conveyed that his subsequent journey would be long. Strengthened by that food, Elijah travelled for forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. (1 Kings 19:5-8 NIV).

Scripture does not record God telling Elijah to travel to Horeb. What it does show is God’s supernatural provision for the journey and, when Elijah arrived, God met him there.

Why Horeb Matters?

The place God brought Elijah to is significant.

Scholars interpret Horeb as an alternative name for Mount Sinai, and this mountain already possessed significant historical value for Israel. Moses met God in the burning bush at Horeb. God summoned him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery. (Exodus 3:1-10 NIV). Horeb was also associated with God’s covenant with Israel and the giving of the Ten Commandments. (Deuteronomy 5:1-22 NIV).

So God wasn’t bringing Elijah to an isolated mountain. He was bringing him back to a place of divine encounter, revelation, covenant, and calling.

This is significant because Elijah appears to have lost his bearings. After Jezebel’s threat, the fearless prophet who had just stood on Mount Carmel had fled, become despondent, and believed that he was the only prophet left.

And where does God meet him? At Horeb.

The same mountain where God had revealed Himself to Moses and called him into his mission now becomes the place where God meets another prophet who needs his perspective restored.

For Moses, Horeb became a place of calling. For Elijah, it became a place of reorientation. A place where God would cut through the fear and confusion, speak to him again, correct what he believed, and give him fresh direction.

The Still Small Voice and a new mission

At Horeb, God instructed Elijah to stand upon the mountaintop, anticipating a divine passage.

A great and powerful wind tore through the mountain and shattered the rocks, but the Lord was not in the wind. Then came an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

And then came “a gentle whisper.” (1 Kings 19:11-12 NIV).

What Elijah did next is significant: “When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.” (1 Kings 19:13 NIV)

The wind hadn’t brought Elijah out of the cave. Neither the earthquake nor the fire. Elijah’s recognition of God’s presence occurred when he perceived the soft, small voice. He covered his face, came out of the cave and stood before Him.

Then God asked Elijah an interesting question:

“What are you doing here, Elijah?”
(1 Kings 19:13 NIV).

God knew why Elijah was there. He knew Jezebel had threatened Elijah and the impact that threat had on him. So why ask the question?

Where Are You?

It reminds me of another question God asked right at the beginning of the Bible.

After Adam and Eve had listened to the serpent and eaten the fruit God had told them not to eat, they hid themselves among the trees of the garden.

Then God called to Adam:

“Where are you?”
(Genesis 3:9 NIV).

Again, God knew where Adam was. He wasn’t looking for him because He couldn’t find him. Adam’s question invited him to realise his current spiritual location and reply to God.

Although the Hebrew wording of the two questions is different, Jewish commentators have also noticed a connection between them. The medieval Jewish commentator Radak includes God’s “Where are you?” to Adam when explaining why God asks Elijah, “What are you doing here?” God already knows the answer, but the question opens the conversation and gives the person an opportunity to respond.

An interesting parallel also emerges. Adam and Eve had listened to another voice; the voice of the serpent and afterwards Adam was afraid and was hiding from God. Elijah had also listened to another voice, the threatening words of Jezebel and this fearless prophet of God was running away, overwhelmed and wanting to die.

But notice what happens when each man hears God.

Adam hears God’s voice in the garden and hides. Elijah hears God’s still small voice and comes out.

What a contrast.

One man hears God and retreats further into hiding; the other hears God and emerges from the place where he has been hiding. And in both cases, God asks a question.

To Adam: “Where are you?”

To Elijah: “What are you doing here?”

God asks neither question because He lacks information. He knows where Adam is, and He knows why Elijah is at Horeb. The questions invite them into a dialogue.

It is almost as though God is calling Elijah back to himself: Elijah, how did you get here? What has happened to you?

And Elijah answered Him.

Back Into Clarity

This is where I believe God broke the oppressive effect of Jezebel’s words over Elijah and brought him back into dialogue with Himself.

Elijah told God what he believed was happening. He said that Israel had rejected God’s covenant, torn down His altars and put His prophets to death, adding, “I am the only one left.” (1 Kings 19:10 NIV).

Elijah believed he was the only faithful prophet left, but his understanding of the situation was incomplete.

God told Elijah that He had reserved seven thousand people in Israel whose knees had not bowed to Baal. The text does not describe the seven thousand as prophets. (1 Kings 19:18 NIV).

Though Elijah could not perceive them, God possessed knowledge of their location.

God then gave Elijah explicit instructions about what he was to do next. (1 Kings 19:15-18 NIV).

God’s gentle voice guided Elijah from fear and confusion toward clarity, truth, and purpose.

Sometimes God asks us a question not because He needs information from us, but because we need the question.

Where are you? What are you doing here? How did you get to this place?

We may have been listening to the wrong voice. Fear may have distorted the way we see our circumstances, or we may have become so confused or overwhelmed that we don’t recognise how far our thinking has moved from the truth.

There can be many reasons someone experiences fear, depression, confusion, or feels that they have somehow lost themselves. Not all experiences of depression have a spiritual cause attached to them. However, some individuals have encountered influences leading them toward spiritual darkness, whether aware or unaware.

For someone who feels trapped in that kind of darkness or confusion, I find Elijah’s experience encouraging.

God knew where Elijah was. He understood his predicament and devised a method for his recovery. God cared for him, brought him to a place of encounter, spoke to him in the still small voice, invited him into dialogue, corrected his perspective, and gave him direction again.

Elijah had lost his bearings, but God had not lost Elijah.

God’s question can be an invitation back into conversation with Him. And once again, we are back in the garden with God calling to someone He loves and inviting them out of hiding and back into dialogue with Him.

God Speaks Through Dreams

God also speaks through dreams.

After the Magi visited Jesus, Joseph received an urgent warning from an angel of the Lord in a dream to take Jesus and Mary and escape to Egypt because Herod intended to kill the child. Caring for and protecting the young Jesus was an enormous responsibility that God entrusted Joseph with. God gave him the information he needed, and Joseph responded. Matthew (2:13-15 NIV).

Of course, none of us is going to give birth to the Saviour of the world, as we already have one! However, parents still receive responsibility for the lives of the child or children in their care. What purpose does God have for your child? How can you nurture them? Is there something God wants you to know as you care for them?

Another fascinating example occurs while Jesus stood before Pilate. Pilate’s wife sent her husband a message warning him not to have anything to do with “that innocent man” because she had suffered much in a dream concerning Him. (Matthew 27:19 NIV).

Although people did not know her as a follower of Jesus, she received a remarkable dream about Him and warned her husband based on it. Dreams are another way through which God can warn, direct, or draw our attention to something He knows we need to know.

God Speaks Through Visions

Acts 10 gives us a remarkable example of God communicating with two people to bring them together.

Cornelius was a Roman centurion who feared God, prayed regularly, and gave alms to those in need. In a vision, an angel told him that his prayers and gifts to the poor had come before God a memorial, and instructed him to send for Peter. (Acts 10:1-8 NIV).

Meanwhile, God was preparing Peter. While praying, Peter fell into a trance and saw a vision that challenged his understanding of what was clean and unclean. As Peter was still thinking about its meaning, the men sent by Cornelius arrived, and the Holy Spirit told Peter to go with them. (Acts 10:9-23 NIV).

God was working at both ends. He prepared Cornelius to send for Peter and prepared Peter to receive him. Through what followed, Peter came to understand that God does not show favouritism and that the good news of Jesus Christ was also for the Gentiles.

God used a vision, a trance, and the voice of the Holy Spirit to bring His purposes together.

I have also experienced a vision of Jesus myself. That experience eventually inspired my poem He Wore My Thorns. If you’re interested, you can read about the experience in my earlier blog, Why I Wrote “He Wore My Thorns.”

The heavens declare His glory

These examples are not exhaustive. God can speak to us in various ways, and sometimes creation itself causes us to stop and wonder.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
(Psalm 19:1 NIV).

Nature’s embrace can reveal a grandeur beyond our individual selves. Whether we are walking in the mountains or through a forest, standing before Victoria Falls, looking across the Alps or staring into the vastness of the night sky, creation declares the glory of its Creator.

Even people who do not yet know God can experience that sense of wonder and peace in creation. Creation itself can be an invitation to look closer, just as Moses did.

Walking With God

And that brings us back to where we started: a garden, a walk, and a conversation with God.

The point isn’t to make a list of all the different ways God can speak to us. The point is that God wants a relationship with us.

In the Garden of Eden, God asked Adam, “Where are you?” At Horeb, He asked Elijah, “What are you doing here?”And in John 14, Jesus spoke with His disciples in a way that invited their questions.

God asks us questions, and He invites our questions.

Sometimes the circumstances of our lives present those questions: Lord, why is this happening? What are You showing me? What should I do? Which way should I go? What do You want me to understand?

Sometimes we simply need to become quiet enough to listen. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit:

“He will guide you into all the truth.”
(John 16:13 NIV).

Listening also requires discernment. We must exercise discernment, as not every thought, feeling, or dream comes from God. Therefore, we should weigh what we believe we have heard against Scripture and what we know to be true about God’s ways, while continuing to ask God for clarity.

Perhaps we can cultivate something of that Garden of Eden experience in our own lives by making room in our day to walk with God, talk with Him, ask Him questions, and listen.

The Almighty, everlasting Creator of heaven and earth and of the whole universe wants to speak with us. What an extraordinary invitation.

So the next time you take a walk, encounter a mystery, face a difficult situation, or have a question you cannot answer, ask not only yourself what it means.

Ask Him — and make room to listen.

Joanne Sojinu, author A Mother’s Prayers, Week By Week Devotional For Your Unborn Child

The nativity story fascinates me so much and I’ve been reading and meditating on it for a few weeks.

What is it about Mary, a young teenager engaged to be married but was to incubate the Saviour and see Him safely delivered into the world He would deliver? What a mind-blowing mystery that the mortal and immortal would converge in humble circumstances to create a new destiny for mankind!

Background of ancient Israel in Mary’s time

Israel was under Roman occupation at the time of Mary and the birth of Jesus. The Romans governed them, although they kept autonomy over their faith under Jewish law and religious practice without interference.

Social status

Within their own communities, a hierarchical structure governed the Jews, and a man’s status depended on his economic condition, occupation, and religious affiliation.

Society eventually pushed shepherds, once held in high regard, to the margins, viewing them as lowly. Agriculture supported most people and was once elevated, had since been relegated to a lower class. carpentry, despite its superiority to shepherding, was also considered by the elite to be a lower-class occupation, thought it required more skill and was higher paid.

The wealthy class were lands owners, priests and tax collectors. The priests were unpopular, seen as corrupt, and frequently formed alliances with the Romans. People despised tax collectors because they overcharged.

Society marginalised the poor and treated them unfairly.

So, who was Mary?

The Bible does not give us an indication of her age. But from the social norms of that time, young women tended to marry between the ages of 14 and late teens.

Mary was still engaged to Joseph and she would have been a teenager on the verge of starting her life and nuclear family with her husband.

But that dream was about to be shaken and replaced with a dream a lot bigger than she had previously imagined!

Divine visitation

While Mary was minding her own business and going about her day, a divine being visited her.

 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,  to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. 

The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1:26-33, (NIV)

It wasn’t common in that period of Israel’s history for people to be visited by an angel, as it sometimes happened in the old Testament. In the time of Mary’s visitation, the Romans occupied Israel, and though they were in their own territory, they were far away from God in their hearts and not at all prepared for this visitation. Luke 19:41-44 (NLT)

Mary’s selfless Yes to God

Most young girls during courtship would have been excited about getting married to their betrothed.

Though perhaps in those days, families forged alliances with those of the same clan through arranged marriages to strengthen their dynasty.

This will mean that teenage girls married to fulfil a duty to their families and communities at large rather than their own personal desires.

Which ever way the pendulum swings, a teenage girl in a betrothal period, which usually lasted a year, would be eager to preserve her virginity for her wedding night in honour to her husband and her family name.

Two destines

Here was Mary, standing on the brink of two destinies and had to make a choice on the spot whether she would seek her own personal desire to prove her virtual worth to her husband or say yes to God’s divine plan to conceive and give birth to His Son and risk the end of her marriage before it had begun. That was a tall order for Mary.

An unshakable conviction

It would have taken a strong conviction that came out of experiencing a divine encounter with an angelic being who stands in the presence of the Almighty God, and being filled with the aroma of God, to not walk away from this mystery.

This can be a very transformative experience for anyone.

For Mary, it was a conviction that was unshakable and solid enough to make her stand strong in her decision to say yes to God at the risk of being rejected by her husband, which might negatively impact her ability to marry again.

Why did Mary have a strong conviction?

Mary was a woman that was deeply devoted to God. Although the Bible doesn’t explicitly state this, we can create a profile of her based on her words in the Bible. Let’s look at some qualities of her character.

Humility

When the angel told her she will conceive and give birth to a son, whom she should call Jesus, the questioned she asked was

“But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

Luke 1:34, (NLT).

Had she focused on herself, she would have asked, “But what about my fiancé?” What do I tell him and his family?

To the angel’s response, she replied, “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”

Luke 1:38. (NIV)

Wise steward

Mary carefully guarded the word given to her. Some people might have bragged to relatives and friends about the visitation from this angel who stands before God, and their high favour in God’s eyes. Instead, Mary visited Elizabeth, her relative, to confirm that part of the prophecy.

Co-laboured with God

Her maternal instinct was to co-labour with God to see this word fulfilled. She did this by avoiding environments where raised eyebrows and gossip from people who might not understand what was going on could negatively impact her and her child’s wellbeing.

She understood that the first three months of pregnancy are crucial to the development of her child and so she went on a retreat to Elizabeth, her relative’s house.

Mental resilience

Mary’s stay with Elizabeth during the first three months was essential for her to process the mystery revealed to both of them.

They both had visitations from the same angel. It was their first pregnancies and their sons had parallel purposes. They needed each other for strength and encouragement.

The weight of glory Mary was carrying was far too much for her, as a teenager, to process alone.

Mary’s Song of praise

This is the song Mary sang after she had visited Elizabeth and Elizabeth’s baby had leaped in her womb at Mary’s arrival. Mary’s song known as the magnificat reveals that this young teenager was eagerly awaiting the fulfilment of the promise of God for the salvation of Israel, promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The song starts with Mary magnifying God that He by passed the King’s palace and sought a person despised by the affluent because of their economic status.

She counted it a tremendous privilege to be chosen by God for this mission, which she knew would be bitter sweet.

Knowledge of God’s word

She knew God regards the humble and views the proud from afar.

Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.

Psalm 138:6, (NKJV), so she would not feel inadequate for the task.

She knows God as God who provides for His people who continue in covenant relationship with Him, keeping the promise He made to their forefathers.

Therefore, know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Deuteronomy 7:9, (NKJV).

Faith in Jesus before He manifested His glory

During the Wedding at Cana, they had run out of wine. Mary believed Jesus was the answer to the dilemma. She simply said to the servant,

“Whatever He says to you, do it.”

John 2:5, (NKJV)

Jesus hadn’t yet performed a single miracle, as it wasn’t yet His time for ministry, but he honoured His mother.

Mary had other children and was still noted around Jesus during His childhood, ministry, and during his suffering and death on the cross. Mary witnessed it all.

So, what can we learn about Mary?

We can learn about the faith of a young teenager just starting out her life, who found out under mysterious circumstances that she had a destiny much greater than what she could ever have dreamed or imagined!

She was to be the channel by which God incarnate would enter the world to redeem mankind.

She found herself in a pivotal moment in history that needed the cooperation of a human being. Mary assessed the situation and went with what the angel said without hesitation.

Sometimes, destiny can come knocking at your door at a time that may seem both inconvenient and intrusive.

But it may be inviting you to take part in a period in history that brings transformation to multitudes in a way that transcends your goals and dreams, and you get to play a part in it!

Joanne Sojinu, author, A Mother’s Prayers, Week By Week Devotional For Your Unborn Child

Today, on May 12th, we celebrate Mother’s Day in the United States, extending warm wishes to all mothers and mothers-to-be for a joyous Mother’s Day 2024!

Motherhood is a lifelong commitment, marked by self-sacrifice and unwavering dedication to the well-being of one’s children. It’s essential to recognise and honour all mothers for their resilience in navigating life’s challenges and embracing its highs and lows.

For those experiencing the complexities of pregnancy, I urge you to prioritise self-care under the guidance of your healthcare provider.

On a spiritual level, consider these steps to shift your focus from adversity to gratitude:

1. Cultivate gratitude

Pregnancy and motherhood are divine blessings and deserving of heartfelt gratitude. Begin each day by thanking the Creator for the precious life within you. Envision a bright future for your child and bless it, drawing strength from the knowledge that you are part of a miraculous journey.

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”

Psalm 127:3 (NIV)

2. Trust in divine guidance

Follow the example of Mary, the mother of Jesus, who embraced God’s plan with unwavering faith. Trust in the promises of God, finding solace in His Word amidst uncertainty. Commit your child’s life to His care through prayer, knowing that His divine intervention transcends human understanding.

Luke 1:38 (AMP)

Following a visit to Elizabeth, to confirm what the angel told her, Mary wrote the Magnificat, a song of exhortation to God during her pregnancy.

We might not have a divine visitation like Mary, but we have the promises in God’s word to draw strength, faith and hope from.

3. Pray

Entrust the life of your little one to the Lord in prayers. Stay encouraged even when it feels like God is quiet or you don’t see instant outcomes. Be persistent, as your prayers are powerful and will shift things in the heavenliness to establish God’s kingdom in the life of your child on earth as it is in heaven.

Also, remember to take everything to God in prayers, including all the burdens that may weigh you down. 

Trust the life of your unborn child and his/her safe delivery into the hands of the Almighty. Lean into Him and do not be anxious. (Phil 4:6-7), but let God’s peace flood your internal world.

4. Seek community support

You need not walk this journey alone. Connect with fellow mothers in your community or church who share your values. Seek guidance and encouragement from those who have walked a similar path, knowing that collective wisdom fosters strength and resilience.

Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated,
But with many counsellors, they are established and succeed.

Proverbs 15:22 (AMP)

5. Embrace self-care and rest

Listen to your body’s cues and priorities rest. Seek support from your partner when needed. Find solace in God’s presence, allowing His peace to permeate your soul. Remember His promise of rest for the weary and find refuge in His loving embrace.

Write scriptures that speak to you on an index card and speak them out aloud so you hear the words with your spirit.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

You will find peace and shelter under the shadow of His wings. Make it your hiding place.

6. Embrace Motherhood as a calling

Recognise the sacred privilege of nurturing a precious life entrusted to you by God. Your role as a mother is pivotal, shaping the course of your child’s future. Celebrate this calling and embrace the responsibility with reverence and love.

Proverbs 31:26-28

7. Celebrate God’s faithfulness

Reflect on how far God has brought you through in your journey of pregnancy and thank him for the milestones reached and celebrate them. Think of the prayers that God has answered and celebrate them as well.

You can use your communities as a place to share testimonies of God’s provision, faithfulness, and providence through your journey.

8. Trust in God’s Plan

Despite uncertainties, trust in God’s redemptive plan for your child’s future. Pray fervently for their well-being, knowing that God’s plans are for their prosperity and hope. Surrender to His providence, believing that He works all things for good.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

8. Honour mothers and motherhood

Let Mother’s Day serve as a reminder to honour the mothers in your life, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to nurturing and growth. Express gratitude not only on this day but throughout the year, recognising the profound impact of maternal love and guidance.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, let us cherish the blessings of motherhood and extend appreciation to all who embody its essence.

May the spirit of love and gratitude continue to illuminate our paths, guiding us in honouring and uplifting mothers everywhere. And when Father’s Day rolls around, let’s do the same for dads!

Joanne Sojinu, Author of A Mother’s Prayers, Week by Week Devotional for Your Unborn Child

A Widow’s story of honour and love: A Journey in the Book of Ruth. Delve into the inspiration found within this enchanting tale, where grief transforms into a powerful narrative of love, surpassing all expectations and shaping a lineage with enduring influence.

A grieving wife and mother

Naomi had gone to live in Moab with her husband, Elimelek and sons Mahlon and Kilion. This was during the times of the Judges in ancient Israel, as there was a famine in Israel. Elimelek died after a while.

Naomi’s sons later married Moabite wives, Orpah and Ruth.

Ten years later, Naomi faced another heart-wrenching blow as her sons passed away, leaving her with only her two daughters-in-law. This loss undoubtedly plunged Naomi into profound sorrow and uncertainty, affecting her emotional well-being and financial stability.

In ancient Israel, a widow without children faced heightened vulnerability, many challenges and hardships. Here are some of the ways it manifests:

• Loss of Labour Contribution: In an agricultural society where manual labour was crucial for sustenance, losing a husband meant the loss of a significant contributor to the household’s labour force. Without a husband to help with agricultural tasks, keep livestock, or engage in trade, the widow might struggle to manage the workload alone.
• Inheritance and Property Rights: Inheritance laws often favoured male heirs in ancient Israelite society. If a widow had no sons or other male relatives to inherit her late husband’s property, she might face difficulties in retaining ownership of land or other assets. This could lead to a decline in economic status and stability for the widow.
• Social Safety Nets: Ancient Israelite society placed a strong emphasis on maintaining family and community support networks. Widows without children or close relatives to offer help might lack the social and economic support systems available to other women in similar circumstances. Without the protection and resources provided by a husband or adult sons, widows could be vulnerable to exploitation or marginalisation.

• Limited Employment Opportunities: While some women, including widows, engaged in economic activities to support themselves, societal norms and cultural expectations limit work available to them. Widows without children to help with household responsibilities might find it challenging to balance work outside the home with their domestic duties, further constraining their economic prospects.

Overall, in ancient Israelite, widows without children grappled with economic challenges. These were connected with broader social, legal, and cultural factors shaping women’s roles and status in the community.

Naomi returns to Israel with Ruth

With no relatives in Moab and the famine in Israel gone, Naomi decides to return. Orpah and Ruth insist on following her. All three women were grieving widows, but Orpah and Ruth decide to leave their families and go with Naomi.

Naomi blesses and urges them to go back to their families. She had no other son for them to marry to keep their husband’s linage open, according to the levirate marriage custom. At Naomi’s insistence, Orpah kisses her mother-in-law and goes back home.

Ruth makes a covenant with Naomi

Ruth’s deep convictions led her to cling to Naomi and make this powerful statement:

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.

Ruth 1:16-18 (NLT)

The elements in Ruth’s words “Your people will be my people and your God my God. And where you die, I will die and be buried”. That only death will separate them, sounds almost like a covenant you make with your spouse. In her words, she is leaving behind her family and gods and totally embracing Naomi and her God.

This was a remarkable and selfless action, as Ruth had nothing to gain from following Naomi. She was also a grieving widow, who set aside her grief to take care of her grieving mother-in-law.

Her statement and action definitely gets God’s attention and attracts His favour. It converges with His Devine order on how Israel should treat the widow, fatherless and alien among them. Exodus 22:22-24. Ruth was not an Israelite, but she was displaying the values of their law in her behaviour towards Naomi.

We can read God’s heart for widows and orphans in Psalm 68:5.

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
    this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

Psalm 68:5 (NLT)

Naomi and Ruth in Bethlehem

In Bethlehem, Ruth wasted no time, but went to work in the fields gleaning wheat to provide food.

When we actively orient our hearts towards blessing others it opens doors for us. It also guides our footsteps towards places where we can connect with blessings.

Ruth Encounters Favour with Boaz 

Ruth had been working in a field of a wealthy relative of Naomi on her late husband’s side, called Boaz. Boaz noticed Ruth, and his workers informed him who she was and how she’d been working very hard.

Boaz extended favour towards her and advised her to glean with the women who worked for him. He also invited Ruth to lunch and gave her more food to take home.

Ruth was oblivious that Boaz was Naomi’s relative, till she got home with the food he gave her.

Ruth, faithful to her promise

Faithfully, Ruth continued working hard and taking care of her mother-in-law daily.

Meanwhile, Naomi had returned to Bethlehem feeling empty, childless and perhaps ashamed and overwhelmed with grief. She felt abandoned by God, this reflected in her statement in Ruth 1:19-20.

19 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.

20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me.

Ruth 1:19-20, (NTL)

‘Naomi’ means ‘pleasant’, but so deep was her grief that she wanted her name to reflect her bitter circumstances. Blind sided by grief, she did not initially notice that God was blessing her with a daughter. Ruth was doing for Naomi what a daughter would do for her mother.

During difficult times, especially if they happen repeatedly, it’s tempting to think that God is punishing us. However, according to scripture, God desires to bless us with a fulfilling life. It’s also instinctive to become so upset, we don’t notice the opportunities and people He places around us to bless us.

But as Ruth persevered faithfully serving Naomi, and found favour with Boaz, it lifted Naomi’s head from her grief. A spark of hope ignited within her, as she realised Boaz was a family redeemer. He could marry Ruth, what a blessing! He could also redeem the estate of her late husband, and provide an heir.

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

Psalm 3:3, (NLT)

The cycle of blessings

Naomi gave Ruth a strategy to set in motion the levirate marriage custom.

First, Ruth was blessing Naomi, now Naomi’s blessing Ruth. They’re syncing in an echo system that converges with God’s word, will and ways, and leads to an outcome of blessings.

26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:26-27.

Blessings disguised as an inconvenience

God’s usual way of blessing people is often through others who make themselves available. Both parties often get blessed through the process. The opportunity is not always attractive and will often come when it is more convenient and reasonable to say “no”.

We see this later with the nearer family redeemer. Ruth 4:1-6. Where Boaz sought another family redeemer nearer than him in the pecking order.

Boaz approached this family redeemer with the question of redeeming the lands of Mahlon and Kilion. His willingness faded once he realised he’d have to marry Ruth and that their first child wouldn’t belong to him. He thought that his agreement could jeopardise his estate, so he rejected the offer.

What we see as a blessing depends on the filters we have developed for our vision, forming our worldview. Elijah prayed for rain after a three-year drought in Israel and asked his servant what he could see. His servant, observing, told him there was a cloud the size of a man’s fist. But Elijah saw a mighty storm brooding on the horizon. But his servant saw just a small cloud with a zero potential of producing drought braking rain. I Kings 18:41-45 (NTL)

Ruth marries Boaz

Boaz bought the land of Elimelech, knowing the risks to his as well. But he went ahead, joining Naomi and Ruth in the sequence of God’s blessings.

A widow’s story of honour and love evolves as Boaz married Ruth, who bore him a son. Everyone was pleased, as they saw this as Naomi’s son and the entire village were wishing this family well.

It’s interesting that the Bible says that God enabled Ruth to become pregnant. She wasn’t a young wife, neither did she bear children for Mahlon, her late husband. However, doors opened for her in this marriage.

Their son’s name was Obed, who became the father of Jess, the father of David, the linage of Jesus. God’s covenant to David was that He would establish an eternal throne through his linage.

This promise has an eternal weight of glory that outweighs the fading glory the first family redeemer, sought to preserve. God’s ways are for more vast and intricate than ours.

A thought and question for you

“Have you ever experienced a blessing disguised as an inconvenience? Share your stories and insights in the comments below, and let’s explore together how God might be inviting us to partner with Him in birthing something new!”

Joanne Sojinu, Author, A Mother’s Prayers, Week By Week Devotional for Your Unborn Child