The other day my daughter and I needed to go to Plover. When we arrived, we discovered that the road we needed was blocked off for repairs. So, we were forced to go into the parking lot of a long line of stores. In front of me -- was a pick-up truck. It was traveling super slow. We went past the first store and we still had to pass about 4 or 5 more stores following this truck. I got this great idea that I would turn down the next isle of cars in the parking lot and go around the truck – or better yet, find another way out of the parking lot. Do you know what I discovered? There wasn’t another way! I turned down that isle and drove the wide circle around the parking lot…while the truck drove in a terribly slow straight line. Eventually, I was forced to return to the same path I left to get around the truck. When I got back on that path, the same truck was still in front of me! When I pulled up to the store for curbside service – you guessed it…the same truck was right in front of me!!
Elimelech tried to go around God’s way and follow his own way. But it didn’t work out so well for him and his family.
Are we trying to take the short cuts and faster lanes in our relationship with the Lord Jesus – but the Lord is saying, “NO. I want you to follow me.”
It is so important that we yield to God’s way, instead of yielding to our own way.
Determined Pursuits (1:2, 4)
Heathen Wives – not to take heathen wives (Deuteronomy 7:3; II Cor. 6:14-18)
Take a look at the 10 year picture…
Elimelech dies close to his family’s arrival in Moab.
Elimelech’s two sons die 10 years later.
Elimelech’s wife, Naomi, has been in a foreign and forbidden country for 10 years without her husband! She is left with two daughters-in-law and no other family…in a foreign, forbidden land! Keep in mind, the husband, and the oldest son after the husband’s death, would have led the home. Naomi would have followed their leadership.
Devastating Results (1:3, 5) – Death
His life…his sons’ lives…and his testimony all suffered destruction.
This. is. Heavy. News. We often want to choose our way over God’s way…thinking it will be more satisfying and fulfilling. So, where does Elimelech’s way take him AND his family? Consider the 3 places “my way” will take me:
1. My way takes me away from God’s people.
Elimelech took his family away from the Israelites. There is nothing to compare to “like-minded fellowship.” In Moab, they would have found kind people. However, there would have been a shortage of:
a. God fearing people.
b. People who would pray to God with them and for them.
c. A church family.
Some may say, “Elimelech was taking his onto the mission field.” This was not a missionary endeavor. God doesn’t call you on a missionary endeavor that requires you to disobey Him! Elimelech reasoned that the command of God to not marry the unsaved could be broken. You don’t win people to Christ by disobeying the One you are pointing others to follow.
2. My way takes me away from God’s will.
God’s will was to stay away from Moab. God declares Moab to be His wash pot (Psalm 108:9). Moab is called Israel’s enemy in Numbers 22; 25; Deuteronomy 23:3-6; Judges 3:12-14.
God’s will also clearly stated a command against marrying the unsaved. Elimelech’s sons were of an age to marry. They ended up marrying Moabite women.
In Words We Live By, Brian Burrell tells of an armed robber named Dennis Lee Curtis who was arrested in 1992 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Curtis apparently had scruples about his thievery. In his wallet the police found a sheet of paper on which was written the following code, sort of a robber's rules:
1. I will not kill anyone unless I have to.
2. I will take cash and food stamps—no checks.
3. I will rob only at night.
4. I will not wear a mask.
5. I will not rob mini-marts or 7-Eleven stores.
6. If I get chased by cops on foot, I will get away. If chased by a vehicle, I will not put the lives of innocent civilians on the line.
7. I will rob only seven months out of the year.
8. I will enjoy robbing from the rich to give to the poor.
This thief had a sense of morality, but it was flawed. When he stood before the court, he was not judged by the standards he had set for himself but by the higher law of the state. Likewise, when we stand before God, we will not be judged by the code of morality we have written for ourselves but by God's perfect law. (Source: Choice Contemporary Stories & Illustrations For Preachers, Teachers, & Writers, Craig Brian Larson)
Romans 8:31 reminds us, “If God be for us, who can be against us.” God & I make a majority. Why would the believer want to “switch teams” in the middle of battle (famine, desperate times, only God can provide the miracle that is needed)? It is at this time that we need to run closer to God…not further away from Him.
3. My way takes me away from God’s blessing.
Elimelech took his family away from Judah because there was a famine. He reasoned that His way (even though it required disobedience) would make things better. Did things get better when Elimelech rejected God’s way? No. Elimelech died, his sons died, and Naomi is left with two unsaved daughters-in-law. She had no followers of the One true God to comfort her, pray with her, and help her as a new widow.
When Adam & Eve ate of the tree that God declared off limits, they were removed from the garden and hardships in life were introduced. Genesis 3:13-19, 22-23.
When Moses chose unbelief and stroke the rock, he was not permitted to enter the promised land. Numbers 20:10-12.
When Jacob chose to deceive, he ran away as his brother promised to kill him…but Jacob never again saw his mother (Rachel) alive. Genesis 27:41-30:24.
When Ananias and Sapphira lied about the sale of their land, they died. Acts 5.
Insisting on “MY WAY” over God’s Way proves to be challenging at best…and often destructive!
“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
An inner-city church had an annual student recognition day. Normally, students would share about their educational experiences and then the pastor would get up and offer a few closing words. One year, the pastor’s words were a bit alarming. He stood up in front of all the young graduates and proud parents and said, "Children, you’re going to die! You may not think you’re going to die, but you’re going to die! One of these days they’re going to take you out to the cemetery, drop you in a hole, throw some dirt on your face, and go back to the church to eat potato salad.
When you were born, you alone were crying, and everybody else was happy. The important question I want to ask is this: When you die are you alone going to be happy, leaving everybody else crying? The answer depends on whether you live to get titles or testimonies. Will they list your degrees and awards, or will they tell about what you meant to their lives? Will you leave behind a newspaper column telling people how important you were, or will you leave behind crying people who give their testimonies about how they’ve lost the best friend they ever had? Will they talk about all the boards you sat on and things you owned, or will they talk about all the money you gave away that made a difference in this world?
"There’s nothing wrong with titles. Titles are good things to have. But if it ever comes down to a choice between a title or a testimony, go for the testimony …"
Pharaoh may have had the title, but Moses had the testimony!
Nebuchadnezzar may have had the title, but Daniel had the testimony!
Queen Jezebel may have had the title, but Elijah had the testimony!
Pilate may have had the title, but my Jesus had the testimony!
And then he asked a single question: "What will it be for your life? Title or testimony?" (Source: James Emery White, You Can Experience a Purposeful Life, 86-88)
Choose God’s way every time…even when life is hard. It is there you find peace, rest, and contentment.