February 29, 2024
Daily Devotion:
"The Breath of God"
2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Passion Translation
God has transmitted his very substance into every Scripture, for it is God-breathed. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness. Then you will be
God’s servant, fully mature and perfectly prepared to fulfill any assignment God gives you.
Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training
in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
God had chosen Israel as His people. He led them out of slavery, through the wilderness, and into the
Promised Land. The people were to remain His, and they were not to intermarry with anyone from the nations surrounding them, especially the Ammonites and Moabites. Both of these nations opposed Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness, and the Moabites even hired Balaam to curse Israel.
The purpose for keeping God’s people separate from the surrounding nations was because God knew that His people could easily be led astray and fall into idolatry. However, if a Moabite or Ammonite turned from their pagan ways and followed God wholeheartedly, they were welcomed into the people of God.
Ruth is a prime example of this, turning from the ways of her people and choosing to follow Naomi’s God.
Ruth became the ancestor of the greatest king of Israel and was held in great honor among God’s people because of her faithfulness.
This was not the first time the exiles had to repent of this particular sin. They had intermarried and been
led astray by the idols of other nations before. Nehemiah 9:2 and 10:28 show previous instances where the people repented and turned from this sin. The events in chapter 13 took place about thirty years later, showing that even though they had repented, the next generation had disobeyed again. Yet, God was faithful, and His Word did not return void. When the people read it, they responded, repenting and turning from their sins. Even though they had fallen
back into a pattern of sin, God had compassion for His people. His Word was effective and led His people to repentance.
The same is true for us. Even when we fall into sinful patterns, God is faithful and patient with us. He will
use His Word to call us to repentance.
