Condition of Man's Heart

In Ruth 1:2, we can read that during the time of the judges, Elimelech together with his wife and two sons left Bethlehem of Judah because of a famine.  We can observe two things in this particular verse:

First, there was a famine in the Promised Land that is supposed to be fruitful - a land flowing with milk and honey.

To understand this, we must remember that the narrative happened during the time of judges, that is, after the death of Joshua, son of Nun and assistant of Moses, and the whole generation of people who was with him also died, Israel practiced what the LORD considered to be evil by worshiping Canaanites deities (Judges 2:11).  So, in the burning anger of the LORD for what Israel did, He gave them into the domination of marauders who plundered them (Judges 2:14).

The famine that was experienced during the days of Elimelech was probably occasioned by the hostile invasions of the Philistines, Ammonites, etc., carrying off the corn as soon as it was ripe, or destroying it on the field - a punishments sent by God for the sins committed by Israel.

Second, an Israelite family left the land that they inherited from God and journeyed to the land of Moab.

The names of the family members will give us a hint why they decided to leave the land flowing with milk and honey and journeyed to the land of idolaters.

Elimelech whose name means "my God is king,"  Whenever his friends called to him, they didn't say, "Elimelech," but "My God is King," or "God is my King."  He has a wonderful name - a testimony of the sovereignty of his God.

His actions signifies his trust in what his name represents but it seems that he had forgotten that "The name of the LORD is a strong tower.  The righteous runs into it and is safe" (Proverbs 18:10).  However, he even named his two sons, Mahlon that means "sickly or unhealthy" and Chilion, meaning "weakness, wasting away" and came from the root word that means "consumption" (tuberculosis).

This verse simply indicates the condition of man's heart, that is, every person is born dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1) passed on from Adam (Romans 5:12).  Romans 3:23 also says that, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  The first part of Romans 6:23 confirms that if man did evil, the wages of it is death, that is spiritual death.

The reason why man don't experience a victorious life is because they act contrary to the nature, will, and Word of God (Proverbs 3:32).

However, the second part of Romans 6:23 says, "... but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  This will be the topic of my next blog.

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