Ruth is a wonderful story about faith, loyalty, God's promises, dedication, hard work, obedience and love. As I read through chapter one yesterday I saw something different about one of the characters in the story his name is Elimelech. Elimelech is only mentioned two times throughout the story but his action in how he provided for his family is remarkable! His obedience and making a decision to save his family caused a ripple effect that has effected millions including you. Let's meet Elimelech in the story of Ruth. Ruth 1:1-3 NLT 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. 2 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. " We can see from the beginning of the story that there was a famine in the land. Elimelech realized it and took action to make sure his family could be safe and thrive. What I want to point out from Elimelech's life are two things we can learn from him and apply into our lives.
The first is awareness. Awareness from Webster's Dictionary means "the quality or state of being aware: knowledge and understanding that something is happening or exists promoting a heightened awareness of the problem seemed to have only a slight awareness of what was going on an acute awareness of subtle differences." Elimelech was aware of the situation that came across his family he saw the famine come and he knew what the famine could do to his family so he took action! We must have an awareness of when things are happening in our lives the good, the bad, and the ugly and we must be ready to act so we can make the best decision to preserve our lives, our dreams, and our future, our family, and etc. This is what Elimelech did.
The second is his leadership. What faith it took him to go and sojourn into the land of Moab. He saw an opportunity to lead his family to a place of provision and protection from the natural disaster. Leadership from the Webster's Dictionary means: "the act or an instance of leading and leading means providing direction or guidance." We are all called to leadership so rise up! Do it in your life find an area where you can lead and bring direction and guidance to yourself, family, friends, place of employment, or etc. Go act in faith go and sojourn to a land you do not know. Do it so you can bring yourself, people around you, and future generations to have provision and protection for a new future new dreams and new memories. This is what Elimelech did for his family.
If you do not know Christ and would like to know Him you can. He has down what Elimelech did for his family for you! He is aware of you and took a leadership opportunity and came so you can have a new future , new dreams, and new memories if you would like to know Him then say Jesus I ask you to forgive me of my sins and I ask you to come into my life I am yours and you are mine! In Jesus name we pray amen! Now get plugged in read the stories in the Bible, go to church, and see what happens.
Godspeed,
Robbie
