When Life Gives Lemons, Praise God Anyway
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1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
This portion of scripture takes place between 1290 BC and 1115 BC.
We have the husband, Elimelech, and wife, Naomi, and the 2 boys. They were from the tribe of Ephraim living in the land of Judah.
There is a famine and Elimelech decides to leave Israel and move to Moab. This was a curious choice for Elimelech. Moab was an enemy of Israel. There had been many battles between the 2 countries.
Sons: Mahlon & Chilion
Great famine in the land
Bethlem judah > Moab
Did Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, make the decision to leave Israel and move to Moab out of haste and desperation or was this after time in prayer?
This portion of scripture ends on a very sad note. The woman Naomi has lost everything. Now we know how the story ends. But at this point in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah; they did not know how this story was going to end.
This portion of scripture ends on a very sad note. The woman Naomi has lost everything. Now we know how the story ends. But at this point in the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah, and even Boaz who was in a distant land; they did not know how this story was going to end.
Bad things do happen to everyone no matter who you are. Naomi’s reaction to such loss is:
Husband: Elimelech
Wife: Naomi
Sons: Mahlon & Chilion
Great famine in the land
Bethlem judah > Moab
Did Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, make the decision to leave Israel and move to Moab out of haste and desperation or was this after time in prayer?
Ephrathites
13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.”
Not one of us will get through life unscarred
If no wounds upon our body, then our hearts
Lord you work all things by Your plan
And nothing comes without passing through Your hand
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/newsong/betweenthecrossandcrown.html
How many times have we wanted to blame God when something bad happens? We are hurt and angry and we want someone to blame. Someone to vent our emotions on. Someone to carry the weight. Naomi is not alone with her feelings or her reaction to the Lord.
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
John 11:
But we must remember that when bad things happen, it is not because the Lord is against us, but the complete opposite. We live in a sin-infested world. We are just passing through.
Naomi brings Ruth back with her to Israel. She has no husband, no sons, and no grandchildren. She is bringing back a Moab daughter-in-law. A woman who devotes herself to Naomi and to the God of Israel based on what she has seen with this family.
The life of Naomi is restored. What was lost in Moab was restored in Bethlehem. What we have lost to sin was restored to us in Bethlehem. Where Jesus Christ was born and the world experienced hope as the love of God invaded the enemy’s kingdom.
I was once teaching a Missionettes group about the Beautidudes
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
And in talking about this it is very important to remember
Matthew 5:
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
And
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10
One of the girls asked me.”I understand that Satan hates God. He wants to be God. I get that. But why would he hate me. I did not do anything to him.”
I then asked her some questions. What if your dad inherited a large sum of money? What if he decided to use that money and buy a new car? What if he decided to take the family out and do something really fun? Would he leave you at home while everyone else enjoyed the inheritance?
She answered, “Of course not.”
I said you are right because your dad loves you. Well, your heavenly dad loves you even more. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we become part of His family. And Satan hates that. He knows there is a great city with streets of gold, a pure river clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God, and the glory of God provides all the light. And Jesus Christ is building our mansions.
Satan does not this creation that God loved so much that He sent His one and only son to redeem.
Satan does not want any of us to enjoy the glories that are being prepared for us.
Conclusion:
James 1:17
The life of Naomi is restored in Bethlehem. What was lost in Moab was restored in Bethlehem. What we have lost to sin was restored to us in Bethlehem. Where Jesus Christ was born and the world experienced hope as the love of God invaded the enemy’s kingdom.
Conclusion:
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Bad things happen. Things happen that are beyond our control. When Mike was very sick with hemolytic anemia and we did not know if he was going to live or to die. He had so little blood in his body that the doctor had said he had never seen anyone with that low amount of blood and still alive. At that moment, I had to make a decision. The voice of a woman from church who had lost her husband to cancer said she would never forgive God from taking her husband. I vowed that if I walked out of that hospital a widow, I would not blame God. In fact I would be thankful for the time that we did have and our 3 beautiful children that God has given us. But we serve a God who will walk through those times with us. We are not alone. My God wants the best for you in your life no matter how it may appear right now.
Think about the Boaz that is in your future. Just because you may not see it does not mean it is not going to happen. Continue to seek out the Master.
Read your bible. Spend time in prayer. Allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you.
Life can be hard, but God is good.
Stand back and see the glory of God.