Decision determines Destiny – Courtesy Benny Ho
When I was preparing for this sermon, it was so powerful, and it is so powerful now that I can’t express. I am blessed to have Jesus as my friend in my life.
We are doing a series on the Book of Ruth. The Series name is “FULLNESS THROUGH FAITH” by Benny HO. Benny Ho is a renowned Bible teacher, now serving as the Senior Pastor of Faith Community Church in Perth, Western Australia
Today is the first week of this series and we will be looking on “Decision determines destiny” from the book of Ruth chapter 1 :1-5
Benjamin Franklin one of the founding fathers of united states once met with all the intellectual scholars and most of them were secular .Benjamin started reading a story and after he completed reading it ,others were amazed with the story and they asked Benjamin ,which book is it? he said it is the book from the bible called Ruth.
The book of Ruth is full of excitement, suspense and a good ending. It starts with Despair but ends with Delight.
Let us read from the book of Ruth chapter 1:1-5
1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband
The book of Ruth begins with a famine and we need to ask ourselves “why this famine?” Let us look from the previous book, last chapter i.e. from the book of Judges chapter 21 :25
25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.
Even we are living in a time like this, where everyone wants to do as they wish.
What does the Bible talk about Famine?
Deuteronomy 11:16-17
16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you.
So there was a Famine in the land because everyone did as they desired and the Lord may have shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain.
During this time Elimelek, with his wife Naomi, and his two sons Mahlon and Kilion left Bethlem and went to Moab for a while. So Elimelek left Bethlem and moved to Moab.
It is quite interesting to know the meaning of Bethlem and Moab
Bethlehem means the “House of Bread” and Moab was always against Israel. We will learn more about Moab as we move on.
It was not a good idea to leave the land which was promised by God and live in enemy territory; and moving from one place to another has its own challenges, leaving your extended family, friends etc.
Why Elimelek wanted to do leave Bethlehem?
Name reflects the character of a person. Elimelek means “God his King”, Mahlon means “Sickly” & Kilion means “Poorly”.
Probably, because of their sickness Elimelek wanted to leave Bethlehem and go to Moab.
But his decision was to stay in Moab only for a while, however, it turned out to be 10 years and we see that in Ruth verse 1:1
1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab
And in Ruth verse 1:4
4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years
It was Elimelek’s decision to go to a place to provide for the family and survive from the famine, for a while, but they stayed there for 10 years.
Mark 8:35 states
35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.
It was during that time Elimelek and his two sons died, Ruth 1:5
5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
So, what’s wrong in having a desire to survive? Do we know how the Moabites came into existence?
The daughters of Lot committed incest with their father since they were getting old and they were worried about extending their family and this is how the entire community of Moab came into existence.
In Genesis 19:36,37 we read:
36 So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. 37 The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today.
It was a simple human decision also supported by reasoning. It was just to do things their way than God’s way. It speaks about those who walk in flesh than in spirit.
Human Reasoning is about bringing all the probability together and then taking decisions .
We cannot make decisions using our human reasoning and understanding.
Elimelek did not allow God to take decision and instead he took his decision looking at the situation.
Church , “DECISION DETERMINES OUR DESTINY” Whenever there is a Famine, we need to ask God , “why this famine?” Church, famine is only for a season.
In the Bible, other people also faced famine like Abraham, he also went to Egypt because of famine.
In Genesis 12, we see that Abraham lied that Sarah is his sister. And we also see that Abraham and Sarah decided that they will have children through their handmaid Hagar and the new community of Ishmael came into existence.
But God’s promise was not through Hagar, it was through Sarah , to fulfil his plans.
The problem with Elimelek and Abraham was they asked a wrong question in midst of crisis
They asked, how to get out of it, instead asking why this famine?
David also faced Famine, in 2 Samuel 21
21 During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
In verse 21 , David sought the face of the Lord and the Lord answered him.
Then David started rectifying issues , and in Verse 14 we see a breakthrough
14 They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.
We need to ask the right question, rather being upset about the situation. Why is this happening? Why are things changing?
How to avoid the attitude of Moab ?
Human Reasoning , an attitude of Moab to take situations under ones control is DANGEROUS.
Walk by faith not by sight:
In the time of crisis, we tend to take situations under our control, we all do it, but the result can be dangerous. In the time of crisis, we tend to take decisions which are not good.
We start compromising with our values for short term benefits.
Focus on Spiritual more than Physical
Faith is NOT denying the facts.
Abraham knew that he was old, and he can’t reproduce. So, Abraham can’t deny that he is NOT old.
If we are sick, we can’t deny that we are not sick.
Faith is NOT denying the facts, but facing the truth of God’s word, which overrules the facts.
Think long term, not short term
Elimelek provided for his family for 10 years, but he went far away from God’s plan.
If you are serving God but at the same time you want all the comfort and want to become popular ,it will not help.
Seek God’s kingdom first. It is a single choice. When there are multiple options ,we get confused.
When Jesus was tempted (turning the stone into bread) it was more of a physical test, than a spiritual test.
Following Jesus is more of choosing spiritual decisions than human reasoning.
Think from a long term perspective not short term.
Short term gains are of huge benefit but it is dangerous and short lived.
Virjil Selvan is Pastoring the New Hope Community. .
The New Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that New Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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