Good Idea Gone Bad

Did you ever have one of those days when you figured it couldn't get any worse and then it seems to go down hill?

Such was the way things unfolded for Naomi, who along with her husband and two sons decided since there was a famine in Israel why not go to Moab. After all, there was food there


Ruth 1:1-5 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband. NASU

So how can we learn from this difficult situation that came upon her.

1. We don't see Elimelech spending time in seeking God's direction.
2. Look how God looked upon Moab. Ps. 108:9 Moab is my washbowl.... dirty, filthy, disgusting
3. Famine's in Israel were God's judgement, running from God does not avoid judgement in our lives. (Ask why before we consider running)
4. Marriage women outside of Israel was forbidden by God.
5. Short term solutions can have long term consequences.

There is much we can learn from this difficult situations. Look around you today. Are you facing a challenge? You can learn from it (don't run away).

There is TRUTH that you know you must obey. Obey it!

But this bring up another question. What if I already messed up? Let just say, come back for more.... God will show us that there is HOPE even in the midst of difficulties.