The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 13 March 2026 – Consequences Of Impatience
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TOPIC: Consequences Of Impatience
READ: Ruth 1:1-13
1 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 Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
THE MESSAGE:
The events in the Book of Ruth are accepted to have taken place in the time of the Judges (Ruth 1:1). Elimelech from Ephrathites left Bethlehem-Judah with his family comprising of Naomi his wife, and Mahlon and Chilion, his sons, and journeyed to live in the land of Moab because of famine. When they settled in the land, the two sons married Moabite women. Orpah and Ruth, respectively. And this was obviously against God’s covenant instructions.
Unfortunately, in the space of about 10 years of living in Moab, Elimelech and his two sons died. Having heard of the divine intervention and provision for the people back in Bethlehem-Judah, Naomi began to think of returning home. However, probably the shame of returning home with reports of death in the family couldn’t allow her go with her daughter-in-laws. She realised that God was not happy with their impatience.
We must consider greatly the decisions we take against our faith in times of difficulties. Our departure from the Lord has grave consequences. In James 1:2-4, we are advised to consider the times of trouble as an opportunity for great joy. We should consider it so because, when our faith is tested, it provides opportunity for our endurance to grow, and at the completion of its growth, makes us perfect and complete. Be patient and stay with the Lord, no matter how hard things turn out, someday, it will be better.
PRAYER: Lord, keep me from hurrying away from Your will. Please help me Lord to always trust You through tough times.
