RUTH 1:2-4
The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two
sons were Mah/on and Chilion-Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of
Moab and remained there. Then Efimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two
sons. Now they took wives of the women of r , Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and
the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years.
Time has a way of slipping by quickly. Perhaps you've heard of the fellow who said, "You know,
I'm 56. I'm middle aged!" His wife brought him back to reality when she replied, "How many
men do you know who are 112?"
Time slipped by for the family of Elimelech as well. Ruth 1: 1 indicates that Elimelech moved
his family to Moab with the intent to "sojourn" there. The word sojourn carries the idea of a

temporary stay. Elimelech hadn't intended to remain in the land only to visit a short time until the
famine was over. But verse 4 reveals that before they knew it, they had been in the land for ten
years. The sons who had gone there as young men had grown up,married local women .and
eventually passed away, as had their father (v. 5).
Sometimes we intend for situations to be only temporary. We think, Just as soon as the kids are
through college, we'll start tithing again. Or perhaps you reason, As soon as I get through this
busy period at work, I'll get back to having a daity quiet time. But days turn into weeks, weeks
into months and before you know it, circumstances that were only going to be temporary have
become a way of life.
Have you allowed something that was intended as transient to become a permanent fixture in
your life? Have you been waiting for a more convenient time to do what you know you should be
doing now? If time has slipped away for you, don't linger another day "in a distant land." If
you're not where you should be, this is the day to do something about it.

DON'T EXPECT TIME TO STAND STILL JUST BECAUSE YOU DO.

WOODROW KROLL
www.backtothebible.in