I Can’t Go Back

When I read this story of Ruth, I found something interesting, something intriguing, and something stimulating. When I visit this time in scripture there is a tragedy, a disaster, a calamity, it’s a catastrophe misfortune, but on the other hand, it is an accomplishment, victories, successful story bundle up in this book called Ruth. There are 85 verses in four chapters of power packed information. In this story we know that Ruth was from a place called Moab, we also know that she was an intruder who had no business breaking into the greatest plan of history.

It’s recorded that in these days of the Judges, the Bible tells us that a famine broke out in the nation of Israel. Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, took their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion to the land of Moab in search of food.

Historians indicate to us that this famine very well could have been related to the raid that took place by the Philistines and the Ammonites and not a factor because of a drought and heat. Just maybe as soon as the crops ready for harvesting and enemy would swoop in and steal the crop from Israel. All of their hard work in plowing, planting, cultivating, and irrigating would literally come to nothing because of the work of their enemies would destroy it. They established themselves in Moab, they found the food in Moab. They found the work in Moab. Also, both of the sons found themselves wives among the daughters of Moab. As it may seem, Elimelech and Naomi begin to have a measures of success in their departure from Israel. But after a decade, the disaster would soon visit this family again. So, first, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi as a widow in a strange country. Then Naomi watched both of her sons died in this strange nation.

In all of her pain and grief, Naomi began to turn her eyes, ears, and her heart back toward her native land; with all that she had been through she said that I just want to go home. She heard of the prosperity that was beginning to happen again in Bethlehem. So she decided that it would benefit her to go back to her homeland and try to put what remained of her shattered and battered life back together again.

As she began to make her exit, as she is trying to depart, something strange happened; Naomi tried to discourage her in-laws.

In-spite of her efforts to discourage them, her two daughters-in-law decided at this point that they would return with her. On the trip back to Judah, Naomi began to attempt them again, she tried her best to dissuade, deter, dampen, daunt, dispirit, dishearten and discourage Ruth and Orpah from going with her.

When Naomi first began her discouraging remarks, neither daughter was willing to go back to Moab. But the Bible indicates to us that the more difficult that Naomi painted the picture that Orpah begin to yield or to give in on her commitment. But for Ruth, this only increased her desire, her grit and determination to carry on and to stay with her. And somebody here ought to know that the more you try to discourage some people to turn around, and go backwards, only makes them say I’m determined to walk with the Lord.

That is the way it is with some people who walks into a Christian setting. Know that walking this walk there are some days when you are going to gain, but there are also sometimes when you are going to have to give up some things too. There are times when people will try to discourage you. In fact, those that are in this thing for the Lord, it really doesn’t seem to discourage them at all. In fact, I have noticed that there are some who respond to this call of commitment with passion and desire and with steadfastness, so instead of it turning them back, there are some people who has decided, and who has made up in their mind and in their heart I Will Not Go Back, to the way things used to be, I will not go back to the old way of thinking, I will not go back to the slave mentality, I will not go back to business as usual, I will not go back to church as usual, and certainly I will To Moab. One reason that they will not go back is because they know that God doesn’t want them to return to mess. Moab was a hot lava mess, in fact in Psalms 60:8 notice what God called Moab, God said Moab is my wash pot," said the Lord. I don’t want to go backwards.

I have seen what the Lord can do.