The Price of Moab

Whether it is global recession or national recession, these are desperate times. Without much warning events began to unfold, businesses were folding, big institutions were laying off thousands of employees and we all know one or two people who are affected if we are not ourselves.
Everywhere you turn there is helplessness, poverty, need and hopelessness. The current situation reminds me of the picture Genesis 1 vs. 1 creates in my mind: darkness was upon the earth… a state of stagnancy… nothing moving… nothing growing, millions of people out of work creating desperation all over.
The Israelites faced desperate times as recorded in Ruth chapter 1 vs. 1: “ In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab taking his wife and two sons with him”
Desperation can drive us to do many things, unethical, unacceptable and to take extreme measures. Ever seen a desperate man or woman? They can do anything to survive. It is almost as if they are driven by some form of insanity as they lose all forms of moral consciousness. Elimelech moved to Moab – that was the peak of desperation. From the time the Israelites were leaving Egypt, God was clear on the Moabites. He told Israel to avoid them on their way. Moab was a no go area for them. Moab has that ‘that effect’ and God knew his people, He knew that Moab will lead them to death.
As we experience our own period of famine and desperation, we are faced with the same choice. Are we going to trust God who has promised that He will satisfy our souls in famine or are we going to look for succor somewhere else? Is Moab an option for the children of God? Famine is not strange to God, why would He make a promise of provision in famine? It is simply because it is a period or periods that we will go through.
Moab can be quite tempting and for someone looking for even food for her children, we may deceive ourselves that God surely will understand. But the truth remains that Moab will give us temporary succor but the price will be too dear. Elimelech died in Moab, his sons died in Moab even without having children. Was marrying Moabites a condition for Elimelech? It was bad enough that he moved to Moab but marrying them? You do not know what conditions the land of Moab will present no matter the carrot they wave in front of you. Moab is costly. Moab will take you and I away from God. God is clear on that one.