I pointed out in our last study that choices matter in life. Some have unintended negative consequences.
Elimelech’s decision to take his family to
Deuteronomy 23:3-6 indicates they were excluded from the congregation of the Lord. They worshiped Chemosh, a deity whose worship was similar to that of Baal.
Sometime after he moved to Moab with his family Elimelech died. He couldn’t have anticipated this. But now his wife was a widow in a strange land. The son’s found themselves wives from among the Moabites and tried to make a go of it together with their mother Naomi.
What originally was going to be a short time ended up being over 10 years. Then the sons both died. Now Naomi was alone with two foreign daughters-in-law.
Elimelech’s choice had unintended negative consequences. Yes, choices matter.