A famine in Israel made him consider the welfare of his family, so Elimelech took his family to Moab. He was their provider. He couldn't let them starve to death. And it didn't look like things were going to get any better in Israel.
It looked like a very logical solution.
Head to greener pastures.
The two sons found wives. Moabites.
What was a father to do?
His boys had to have wives. It was time for them to move out on their own. Start their own families.
There weren't any Israelite girls in their area.
It seemed like a very logical solution.
Elimelech dies. And his two sons die.
Apparently the sons died soon after marrying, because no children are mentioned.
Elimelech's wife, Naomi, heard in the fields of Moab that the famine in Israel was over. She heads back home.
One daughter-in-law stays with her, the other returns to her parents.
As Naomi and Ruth near the village of Bethlehem, someone recognizes Naomi.
"Isn't that Naomi?"
"Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?" (Ruth 1:20-21)
A father's decisions, which seemed logical to him, brought calamity to his family. His death and the death of his two sons were the direct result of his disobedience.
The law of Moses clearly stated that if the children of Israel were disobedient, the LORD would bring famine. Instead of running away from the LORD to Moab, Elimelech should have repented of his sins and sought to bring about restoration in Israel.
But it was easier to pack up and move to Moab.
Taking the easy way out ended up in death and bitterness.
Times of difficulty should lead us to repentance, turning back to God rather than running from Him.
Running may seem like the logical solution, but the only running we should be doing is toward God and righteousness.
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