The Book of Ruth
thirst of the soul. It is a thirst for joy, a thirst for happiness, and a thirst for hope. All of these things can be resolved if you go in front of God. However, people are so stubborn that they will not return to God. That stubbornness forces people to make their own broken cisterns. People do not return to God; instead, they work hard on their own and to try to fulfill their wants. This is the second evil. In Romans 2:5 it says, “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” This
stubbornness that is found in man brings the wrath of God. We can see this stubbornness also in the story of Elimelech. He faced the famine by creating his own cistern. He did not turn his heart towards God. Who allowed the famine. On his own, he headed toward Moab to get food.
MOAB, A PLACE OF STUBBORNNESS Lot, Abraham’s nephew fathered Moab with his own daughter. God saw that Moab was full of distrust and evilness. In Deuteronomy 23:3, God said that the descendents of Moab could not enter the Assembly of God. Let’s take a look at how Lot had Moab. Lot was greedy for fortune and grew uncomfortable living with his uncle, Abraham. So he departed from him and followed after his ambitions in Sodom. God judged Sodom with fire for its evilness but saved Lot and his family. However, Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt because she could not throw away her hope in Sodom. It had already been long time since his two daughters also lost hope and faith by living in Sodom. Filled with fear, Lot lived in a cave on a mountain with his two daughters. Abraham was the source of blessings for Lot. Departing Sermon • 41