Sermon 1: Famines And Failures Series

When we face famines in our lives, we may be tempted to forsake the Lord and listen to the siren call of the world. Don’t do it!—It’s a tragic mistake. I’ve known many times when people who at one time were really growing in the Lord began to face some troubles, or were hurt over something, or something happened at church, or they difficult trials—and they went through a famine. Instead of sitting the famine out and trusting God, they gave up and quit on God.

But here’s the really tragic thing about it—All too often, when a man leaves the house of bread and praises, he takes his family with him!

Look at verse 4 – “And they married Moabitess women; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth…”

Do you see the problem? – A Hebrew was forbidden to marry a Gentile. It was not a racial thing. It was a religious safeguard to protect God’s people from the temptation to idolatry.

Here we see that Elimelech’s two sons followed their dad in the way of disobedience, and they ended up marrying pagan girls. When someone leaves the house of bread and praise, they take their family with him.

Illus. – I’m thinking of a man now I’ll call Dan who was saved and served God. Dan was faithful to our church in While House, Tennessee where I served as the associate pastor for three years. Dan had a servant’s heart; he lived a godly life; he was faithful to church.

But Dan got mixed up in a little church problem, and though the participants in the situation eventually made things right, the experience caused him to stumble. He couldn’t see this as a temporary famine that would pass. He should have said to himself, “Okay, nobody’s perfect. Let`s forgive and forget the whole thing.” Instead, he just never showed up for church again.

In one week, Dan completely gave up and quit on God. We visited him and tried to help him; we pleaded and exhorted—all to no avail!

What did he do?—He faced a famine, but he couldn’t take it. So, he left the house of bread and praise and sojourned to the country of Moab. He left the will and the fellowship, and the communion with Almighty God and traded it for the world.

And the result in his family was a tragic mess! The oldest son, once a fine, young follower of Christ, became a dope head and a drunkard. The second son too chased after the world, following his brother. The daughter had a baby out of wedlock and has lived with one man after another ever since.

Why?—It all began when a daddy left the place of blessing and happiness and growth and fulfillment and traded it ALL for the world—and he lost his family! “There was a famine in the land—and a certain man of Bethlehem-judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his two sons.”

III. FINALLY, NOTICE THIS: THERE WERE FUNERALS IN MOAB

Verse 3 says, “And Elimelech, Naomi's husband died…”

If we as Christians stay in fellowship with God, God will ultimately give us joy and peace and fulfilment in this life. The Christian life was meant to be ENJOYED. No, it’s NOT always easy; it’s NOT always a bed of roses. Sometimes there WILL be trials and famines—BUT, it can STILL be a life of fulfillment, and joy, and peace, and excitement, and thrill, and expectancy. Yes, we have our share of burdens—but the burden of the cross is nowhere near as heavy as the burden of sin!