Alice C. Linsley
In the Bible divine disfavor is expressed by catastrophic events in nature. Examples include floods, droughts, and the destruction of crops by locusts.
In Ruth 1:1 we are told that Elimelech took his family to Moab to escape a famine in Bethlehem. This is a typical formula of biblical writers when they need to explain why someone has moved to another place. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are said to have left Canaan because of famine (Gen. 12:10; Gen. 26:1; Gen. 41:56-42:5).
Drought and famine are regarded as signs of God’s disfavor. When the people disobeyed, judgment came on the land by drought and famine (Lev. 26:23-26; Deut. 11:16-17; 1 Kings 8:35). This belief is expressed in the New Testament also. Matthew 24:7 and Revelation 6:8 speak of famine as evidence of God's judgment in the last days.
Another typical formula of biblical writers is found in Ruth 1:6. Naomi plans to return to Bethlehem because she has heard that “the Lord had visited his people” and there was food once again. Divine visitation expressed God’s favor toward people. Abraham was greatly favored when the Lord visited him at Mamre and announced that Abraham would have an heir by Sarah (Gen. 18). In Genesis we read, “And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age.” (Gen. 21:1-2)
The theme of divine visitation also appears in Exodus 3:16-17. Here God tells Moses to gather the elders and tell them “I have surely visited you…” and God promises to bring the people to “a land flowing with milk and honey.”
