BACKSLIDING ELIMELECH

Backsliding Elimelech

Ruth 1:1-6

       Backsliding does happen.  See Hosea 11:7 "And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him."  Elimelech's name :2 testified to God's Sovereignty.  His name meant "My God is King." This was a time when God's sovereignty was rejected.  Judges 21:25 "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."  Ruth 1:1 tells us our narrative was in the time of the judges.  Elimelech's backsliding left the place of God's choosing which was named Bethlehem (House of Bread).  Instead he sojourned in the land of Moab, which was marked for destruction, Num. 24:17 "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth."  Elimelech was not alone in his backsliding.  When a child of God backslides, he is always apt to influence someone else.  Elimelech took his wife and two sons with him.

       Backsliding is usually brought about, as it seemed to have been here, by self-assertion, Pro. 14:14 "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself."  Because there was a famine in the land, Elimelech decided to leave for the land of backsliding without conferring with the Lord about his situation.  Because of the famine, he could justify himself for making his move.  When any of us backslide, we can most always find something to "justify" our decision.

       Backsliding always pays its price too.  See verses 3, 5.  We see that Elimelech and both of his sons died in that land.

       The only way to answer backsliding is to go back to where one left his path.  In this case with Elimelech now dead, Ruth decided to return to the House of Bread.  She was encouraged to make this move because of the grace of God which had visited His people and had given them bread.  Christ told us in Matt. 6:33 that those, who would seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, would have added to that his daily needs, food, clothing, etc.