Depend on God

Pastor Victory
May 16, 2016
4 min read

Ruth 1:1

“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 Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons”

Praise and honor is unto God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has begotten us in the beloved and by his grace I bring greetings to you dearly beloved. In the wake of this new day, together let’s examine the book of Ruth chapter one verse one. The chapter opens with ‘in the days when the judges ruled.’ Dearly beloved, it might interest you to know that the judges ruled the people of Israel from the death of Joshua, to the days of Samuel. As you know, Samuel was the last judge in Israel before they demanded for a king. It was during this era of the judges that there arose famine in the land. Now let’s examine briefly what a famine is. Famine is an extreme and general scarcity of food, especially within a large geographical area. A famine can impact family, finance, health, career, relationships, and education and even ones’ own faith. You may be said to be experiencing famine if you are not productive or fruitful in life and also if everything around you seems dry and scarce.

The reason for the famine recorded in Ruth chapter one verse one could be traced back to Judges chapter 6:1-6 where verse 1 says “And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years” in other words, the Israelites were under the oppression of the Midianites for seven full years. The nature of the oppression was that once the Israelites plants seeds and it began to grow, then the Midianites would come and destroy everything and also take the Israelites’ sheep, cattle, and oxen, therefore the Israelites became very impoverished by this. You may be said to be experiencing famine if you are not productive or fruitful in life and also if everything around you seems dry and scarce.

It was at this point in Israel that the ‘certain man’ whose name the bible records as Elimelech in verse two of Ruth chapter one decided to relocate out of Israel. To some people, this move by Elimelech would be considered the right thing to do. It was not unnatural, that this man feared for his life and that of his family. When one’s security and stability in life is threatened by an unwarranted situation, it becomes only natural to fret. It will not be out of place to say that Elimelech feared the unknown, starvation, poverty, and even death. To be in control, this man followed his first instinct which was to leave the famine stricken land behind and he took his decision without consulting with God. Lamentation 3:37 says “who is he that saith and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? And Proverbs 14:12 says “there is a way which seemth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” and the same Proverbs 16:9 and 19:21 both points to the fact that whatever plan a man devices, the end result lies with the Most High. When you take a decision in life that oversteps God’s opinion, you be rest assured that such decision will come back to bit. Fear can cloud ones better judgment because fear can make us focus on the circumstance and the present condition instead of focusing on the promises of God. Fear can make a man question the authenticity of God’s word therefore making a decision which may lead you the wrong way thinking you’re on track. The decision of Elimelech which led him to relocate to Moab cost him not only his life but that of his two sons as recorded in Ruth 1:3 and 5; the same death of fear that made him left Israel.

Dearly beloved, let me encourage you today not to make that decision in your mind based on fear or without due consultation with God. Isaiah 55:8-9 says “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” In other words, God’s purpose and intentions for us can never be wrong, allow God make that decision for you. I am very confident that if Elimelech had sought the face of God through prayers and had he applied the word, believe me child of God when I say that, the situation would have turned out differently. God would have reassured Elimelech that the famine will definitely come to an end because it did as recorded in Ruth 1:6 “then she (Elimelech’s wife named Naomi) 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.” Child of God, let me encourage once again that you seek God’s face and know his mind concerning that situation in your life and your intended decision and I guarantee you that He God will definitely visit you with the solution you need? Jeremiah 32:27 says “behold I am the God of all flesh: Is there anything too hard for me?" And Luke 1:37 answered to say “for with God nothing shall be impossible.” Dearly beloved, your situation is nothing short of that of Elimelech as long as it creates fear in your heart and gives you sleepless night, but know this sure word that the LORD will make it possible and you can depend on him.