Topic: CONSEQUENCES OF IMPATIENCE
Text:Ruth1:1-13
1:1 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges [a]ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to [b]dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
1:2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.
1:3Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.
1:4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they [c]dwelt there about ten years.
1:5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.
1:6 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 that the Lord had visited[d] His people by giving them bread.
1:7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
1:8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
1:9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
1:10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
1:11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
1:12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons,
1:13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!”
STUDY:
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 covenantinstructions. 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.
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