“In the days when judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab.” (Ruth 1:1 NIV)
Have you ever started a journey thinking it would be short, but end up becoming long and complicated? Life often takes us on journeys we never planned. Like Elimelech, many begin with the hope that the move will be “for a while”, yet the path becomes longer, heavier, and sometimes chosen, sometimes forced, sometimes commanded by God. But Ruth chapter one shows a family who moved simply for survival.
Survival pressure can push people into difficult decisions. There was a famine in Bethlehem, and Elimelech left with his entire family, intending to stay in Moab for a short time. Unfortunately, ten years later, only the wife, Naomi, returned, but with a daughter-in-law. Their story reminds us that survival choices must be guided by God, not fear. When bread seems scarce, pray, seek His direction, and trust that obedience keeps you within His plan.
When your job, marriage, ministry, or finances no longer look like what God promised?
Pray, wait, and seek God’s guidance before stepping out. Note that not every open door is divine; not every closed door is demonic. Survival decisions must be guided by discernment, not desperation. May the Lord guide our decisions, restore our losses, and align us with His harvest season.
Rev. Moses A. Sodeinde
