When people migrate within borders or across borders, it is usually for a plethora of reasons. Some move to escape persecution. Others move for economic reasons, hoping to find a cushion to their biting realities. The general expectation is that once a move is effected, all previously known problems would be left behind. The reality, however, is that even when old problems are gone, new ones soon replace them. In our text, a man of Bethlehem Judah by name Elimelech migrated with his wife and sons to Moab in order to escape famine. It was a move laden with misfortune as the story unravelled. The man and his two sons died in a strange land.

The existence of problems in a place is not enough reason to relocate…The issue is that if we move without God’s warrant, we risk plunging ourselves into greater problems.

It would be spreading undue fear to suggest that all moves result in misfortune. There have been people in the Bible and contemporary life who moved and prospered. The point to stress is that movement of any kind must be orchestrated by God. The existence of problems in a place is not enough reason to relocate. The problem might be the reason God put you there to begin with. It could be what providence has earmarked you to resolve. It could also be that there are life-altering lessons that God wants you to learn. Hagar ran away when Sarah dealt harshly with her. The angel met her in the wilderness and asked her to return to her mistress and submit to her. Imagine God asking her to return to a place she had encountered problems! The issue is that if we move without God’s warrant, we risk plunging ourselves into greater problems.