The Bitter Experience

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday January 14, 2017

Topic: The Bitter Experience

Text: Ruth 1:3 – 5       

When God called the Israelites and brought them into the Promised Land, He discouraged friendly relations with the Moabites (Deut. 23:3-6) but probably not forbidden, since the Moabites lived outside the Promised Land. Marrying a Canaanite (and all those living within the borders of the Promised Land), however, was against God’s law (Deut. 7:1 – 4).

Moabites were not allowed to worship at the Tabernacle because they had not let the Israelites pass through their land during the Exodus from Egypt. Unfortunately, this was the land

Elimelech chose as his destination for succour in time of famine and it left bitter experience for Naomi who survived the succour in the land of Moab.

As God’s chosen nation, Israel should have set the standards of high moral living for the other nations. Ironically, it was Ruth, a Moabitess, whom God used as an example of genuine spiritual character. This shows just how bleak life had become in Israel during those days.

There are things that can bring bitter experience for us especially when we remove ourselves from the terms of covenant we have with our God. The major thing that can bring bitter experience to us is sin. Sin is disobedience to God’s law and command.

God had set boundaries for us where we must remain or else there will be consequences. We must remain within the confines of God’s grace to enjoy that grace. We will only remain within the confines of God’s grace when we live in obedience to His word and commandments. Remember what the bible says that, he that breaks the hedge, the snake will bite.

Naomi lived 10 years in Moab and had nothing to show for it except Ruth who was used by God to console her for the wrong decision of the husband. Have you taken wrong decisions and they are now hurting and hunting you? God is ready to heal the hurt and remove the hunt if only you can return to Him and ask for forgiveness of your disobedience and sins. The choice is all yours. Have a great day.

Food for Thought: Wrong decisions can affect you and your posterity. Always seek God’s leading in your decisions.

Memory verse: Ruth 1 verse 5 - ​ And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband (ESV).

Prayer: God, grant that I will not take decisions that will bring bitter experiences to my families in Jesus name.

Mahlon And Chillion - Sickly And Dying

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday January 13, 2017

Topic: Mahlon And Chillion

Text: Ruth 1:2                  

Yesterday we read about the main theme behind the book Ruth which is famine. We also saw that Elimelech was not the first in the Scriptures to flee from the land afflicted by famine. Today, we have in our text the nativity of Elimelech and the names of members of his family. They are from Ephrathites-Bethlehem otherwise called Ephratha.

The name Elimelech means “My God is King,” while Naomi signifies
“My amiable, delight or pleasant one.” But the names of their children are worthy of note because it teaches us some lessons concerning the name we bear. Names are very significant in what we become or the way we behave in future.

Mahlon and Chillion signify “Sickness and consumption.” This shows that probably they were sickly children (sickle cell anaemia), and not likely to live long. They were seen as weak and infirm, fading and dying, and their parents gave them such names.

Most parents give names to their children as a reminder of what they have passed through before they were born. We can recall that of Jabez, Ichabod, etc. All these are not good names because they have ways of affecting the children in future. Some names can affect the way we live and behave just like Nabal (1 Sam 25:25) who acts foolishly because his name means foolishness.

Unfortunately, just as their names were, Mahlon and Chillion died in Moab without accomplishing anything simply because they were called sickly and dying, and it was eventually so. We should be mindful of the names we bear as it can make us or mar us. We shouldn’t bear names that will destroy our bright future. On the other hand, parents should give names that show faith, praise and joy of the Lord to their children. This will bring blessings upon our children more than the likes of Mahlon and Chillion.

Food for Thought: Your name affects what you eventually become in life either good or bad.

Memory verse: Ruth 1 verse 2 - And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chillion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

Prayer: God, I dedicate my name to you that I will live it out to your praise and glory in Jesus name. Amen.

When There Is Famine

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday January 12, 2017         

Topic: When There Is Famine

Text: Ruth 1:1

The story of Ruth takes place sometime during the period of the rule of the judges. These were dark days for Israel, when the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes (Judg. 17:6; 21:25). Such period is usually challenging to the faith of those who believe in God. It takes grit and determination to persist in the faith is such period.

Ruth, who is the main person spoken of in this book was subject to many afflictions and yet eventually, God gave her good and joyful offspring, teaching us to abide with patience till God delivers us out of troubles. Are you undergoing an affliction that has shaken your faith to its foundation? Have people concluded that your case is over and there is no more hope for you? Let this story of Ruth be a great source of encouragement for you.

We depend on God for the comforts of this life, as well as the life to come; and without His blessing, notwithstanding all human efforts, the earth would never yield a harvest. This was the case of Israel in the time of Elimelech and Naomi. This resulted to famine in the land and Elimelech took his family to Moab. Abraham did it by going to Egypt and Isaac wanted to do it too but God stopped him.

Most times, when there is famine in the land, it is usually the consequences of our sin. Running away from the land will not be the best. The first step is to seek the face of God in repentance. The famine some of us are facing now maybe sickness, no job, unfavourable business, failure in exams, problems in your marriage, delayed conception, etc. Running away as Elimelech did is not always the solution.

Some people ran away from their land because of famine, but not all have succeeded. There were people who stayed back and God remembered them. We should always seek the face of God when we are confronted with problems or else we will take decisions that might affect us adversely.

Food for Thought: Psalm 37:19

Memory verse: Ruth 1 verse 1 - In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

Prayer: Read Psalm 33:18 – 22 and use it to pray.