“In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons.” (Ruth 1:1-3 NLT)
Period – the days the judges ruled Israel
Situation – famine
Solution – relocate your family
Problem – husband dies
In his desire to provide for his family, Elimelech relocated them away from family and community. Sadly, what started out as a seemingly good thing ended up being a challenge as he died leaving his wife with their sons.
Sometimes what seems to be a good idea, the sensible or logical thing to do may not work out the way we hope. I don’t see where Elimelech sought God for direction. He just did what he thought was right in his own sight.
I have made decisions based on my read of the situation without seeking God’s direction. Sometimes I’ve felt like I’ve got this only to find out that I really didn’t have enough information to make the decision I made. While it seemed logical it doesn’t mean it’s the right decision. We must learn to ask God first, even in what we consider the small things.
"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." (Psalm 37:23 NLT)
We must learn that our loving Abba Father wants to be involved in the details of our life and we should want to let Him! Remember, He sees the end from the beginning so seeking His perspective on the choices we face, the decisions we make, is the wisest thing we can do. He sees what we can’t, and He knows what we don’t know. We can trust Him with the details of our lives.
"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all." (Proverbs 3:5-7 MSG)
Be Encouraged! ❤
(Updated from the Vault of LWM)