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This was a VERY HARD time for those in Israel. The economic status was down, due to the sins of Israel, which impacted generations – because Israel forget God and ignored spiritual leadership. It was a time when God and Wisdom was needed more than ever.
“there was a famine in the land”

To add salt to the wound of those living in Israel,they not only lived in very hard times but also a famine. Typically, when food has a sudden decrease in a geographic location, crime increases and people become desperate, begin to deceive (i.e. claim unemployment compensation, while making money “under the table”), commit theft (i.e. steal for the “common good”) and become vengeful (i.e. do everything they can to pull others down).
Who is Elimelech?

The name “Elimelech” means “My God is King”. He is from Bethlehem and married to a woman named Naomi and they have two sons: Mahlon and Chilion.
What did Elimelech do?

He sojourned to the land of Moab. Soujoun means to “take a pilgrimage”, “live as aliens” or “strangers in a new land”. It is the idea of establishing a temporary residence. Typically, people would “Sojourn” in times of famine. So we have hard economic times due to the famine in Bethlehem (which ironically means house of bread)…
What does this tell us about Elimelech?

It tells us he is attempting to be a responsible husband/father. Where he chose to go into a foreign land because there was something offered/available there that was not available in Bethlehem. Elimelech was probably highly concernd about finding a place for work and food so they can sustain their own lives. One may even say this is an honorable move on Elimelech’s part. However, we must evaluate Elimelech’s decision making. As written last time, I stated Israel was receiving divide judgment/punishment for their sins. Rather than receiving the judgment/trial, Elimelech chose to circumvent/escape/miss the problem or punishment. It is ironic, Elimelech’s name may means “My God is King” but his actions show he does not beleive “His God Does Care”. It is apparent from his actions, he has no faith in that God will see him and his familiy through this trial and he did not commit himself to relying wholly on God to meet his needs. He may have had doubts about the truth his name declared. Althought it is honorable to provide for your family, food, shelter, money ect.; however, it is never honorable at the expense of dishonoring God.
What are the consequences of Elimelech’s Actions?

Elimelech made the decision to move out of God’s design by moving to Moab. This led to his sons marrying Moabites. Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpah. Although Israel is not specifically forbidden to marry Moabites [Deuteronomy 7:1-3]; Moabites were not allowed in corporate church gatherings [Deuteronomy 23:3] therefore one can conclude it is unwise to marry a Moabite; and I would go as far to say against God’s will. Due to the implications this would have on your church attendance, learning God’s word and teaching God’s word to your familiy’s children.
So what is Elimelech’s Story?

A man is living in tough economic times of oppression, persecution and famine; attempted to care for his family by sojourning to land not called for God’s people, Moab for work/food – in an attempt to escape the punishment/consequences for the sins of God’s people as if he was privileged above the rest of Israel. There are consequences for his actions: his children made unwise choices to marry unwise people, he died, his children died and his wife and two daughters were left alone and more hopeless than if they lived in a land of famine. Elimelech chose to circumvent God’s judgment in an effort to benefit his family’s good.

Proverbs and Elimelech

Some of Elimelech’s Good traits

[Proverbs 16:26 NASB]

A worker’s appetite works for him, For his hunger urges him on.

Elimelech strongly desired to have a job. This is wise for any man and wise for a woman to seek a man who has a job, can keep a job or is earnestly/honestly seeking to be employed (I am not speaking about layoffs).The idea here is, if the man wants something he goes for it – earnestly.

[Proverbs 4:26 NASB]

Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.

Elimelech evaluated where his steps were and where they were headed. He knew there was no food and if he went to Moab there would be food, so he headed there.

[Proverbs 4:27 NASB]

Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.

Elimelech stayed focused on his path. He knew he had mouths to feed, he knew where to go to get food and he headed there.
4 Characteristics We Need To Look For In A Spouse

1. They Trust God
2. They Discern Righteously
3. They Take Responsibility
4. They Live Out Godly Stewardship

1.) Trusting God – do not listen to yourself

Elimelech forgot to trust God. He was focused on correcting the problem.

He didn’t trust God enough to follow through with God’s plan/decision; and he found it appropriate to chose to design his own solution rather than follow through with God’s plan. Althought it may seem honorable to move to moab to feed the family, it was not a wise decision. We all come across difficult times and it is in those time you make a choice. You make a choice to shine or whine. Either way, you will leave a mark on another person. We need to remain faithful to God in the bad times. We need to not only believe but live out our believe that God will get you through the trial and he will not leave you or forsake you. [For a great resource on this topic pick up Jerry Bridges' book, "Trusting God" ]. Proverbs instructs us not to lean on our own understanding [Proverbs 3:5 NASB] and to listen to counsel [Proverbs 12:15 NASB]. However, we sometimes tend to focus to believe we can “buy our way through/around” trials [Proverbs 11:28 NASB] or we forget to include God in our decision making and we begin to jump ahead of Him and get caught up in doing and forget God. Proverbs 19:21 states Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand.

Although we may have many plans in ourselves, we may not be “delivered” :

[Proverbs 28:26 NASB]

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

It is just foolish to think you can do any of this without God. Elimelech believe he could do it and he ended up dieing, along wit his sons, the ones he was trying to serve and protect all because he believed he was doing the right thing. Belief is not good enough, one needs wisdom. Becaues…

[Proverbs 21:2 NASB]

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.

We all think we are right, but it is not us who judge what is right but God who does. That is trusting God: A man must trust God over himself and His Family. Women look for a man who seeks the counsel of God. If he goes to make a decision without prayer, you got the wrong guy. Men look for a woman who is going to guide guide/direct/help you to do so.
2.) Biblical Discernment – true wisdom

So your husband is going to seek wisdom from God but is he going to take that wisdom and use it accurately? Elimelech never grasped God’s faithfulness; he heard it but he didn’t apply it to his life. He made decisions based on his family and not God. He displaced God with Family.

We need to not only receive the word of God but keep the word of God in front of us[Proverbs 6:20-24 NASB] . We must seek continually seek to make it a priority or we will forget God Deuteronomy 6:6-9. We are called to obey pur teachers, parents all the while using the word of God to guide us. For the purpose of not making unwise decisions that will greatly impact others . Otherwise “Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But those who keep the law strive with them“.[Proverbs 28:4 NASB]. Men look for a woman who is going to assist you in raising righteous children, they need to be “on the same page” and able to keep Jesus central in your child raising.Women, you need a man who is going to lead you and your family to raise Children who actively pursue righteousness.

3.) Responsibility

If you Trust God and Discern with His wisdom correctly you will be a responsible spouse. Elimelech was responsible but without the first two steps (Trust in God’s Faithfulness & using that to discern biblically) he showed are a lack of spiritual leadership responsibility that led to unintended consequences. (He was not evil, just unwise)

[Proverbs 6:6-10 NASB]

Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler, Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest. How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest”–

A wise spouse examines the situation and is autonomous in his/her life. They make decisions without being “told” and own up to their surroundings, going out and working to make things happen – without compromising God’s righteousness. Proverbs makes it clear, on many occasions, that responsibility is not easy [Proverbs 10:4-5; 12:27; 15:19]; rather, you have to work hard to maintain focus, purpose and at times youwill have to get your hands dirty. You have to tough it out. Proverbs also states, this cannot be accomplished if you are a lazy responsible person [Proverbs 19:15; 19:24 NASB]

Moreover, Proverbs indicates a wise spouse cannot be controlled by things other than God a desire to Glorify God [Proverbs 23:21 NASB]. Therefore, I encourage you to honestly LOOK at your boyfriend/girlfriend’s life look for these RED FLAG characteristics that may be in them:

* The Excuse Maker [Proverbs 26:13-15 NASB]
* The Let Down [Proverbs 10:26 NASB]
* The Prideful [Proverbs 11:14 NASB]
* The Whiny Dreamer[Proverbs 13:4 NASB]
* The “Innovator” [Proverbs 14:23 NASB]

4.) Stewardship

So he/she must trust God, take the wisdom of God and discern biblically to make responsible choices for the prupose of being a good steward of something that is not his in the first place.

We are called to Pay Attention, Know our Options and Give Reasonably to others

[Proverbs 27:23-27 NASB]

Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds; For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field, And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your maidens.

Does he/shemake good use of what he has? Does he/she take the limited resources granted to them and use them to maximize the value of God by magnifying God’s work in all things?
Conclusion

Elimelech didn’t set his wife up for success. The goal for every man is to cultivate the desire and motivation in his wife to live out Proverbs 31. The woman’s goal should be to be cultivated into the Proverbs 31 woman in an effort to support her husband to Trust God, Discern Righteously, Live Responsibly and be a Godly Steward of God’s Grace -and ultimately bring Glory to God alone.


All Glory to God Alone, You Are Loved

Judson



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