The two women, now forever bound together by Ruths covenant, continued on their way until they reached Bethlehem. 16But Ruth replied, Dont ask me to leave you and turn back. Even if we realize that there are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. I believe the opening words of A Tale of Two Cities go like this: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . Surely these words aptly describe Ruth in the period of the judges. Not even death would separate them. How will this family survive without a faithful husband? 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. My impression is that Naomi had changed not only in her appearance (she may not have aged well in Moab), but also in spirit. And they continued to live there about ten years. A.Stewart, Pastorates: Covenant Protestant Reformed Church of Ballymena, Northern Ireland - 2001. (3) One gets the impression that those who remained in Bethlehem fared reasonably well during the famine; certainly better than Naomi and her family did. Thus, the reader of this narrative is forced to see the covenant connection between famine and the passages found in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Then we find that such ways become comfortable, and so we stand or linger in them. It must have been on Naomis watch that these two sons married their Moabite wives Orpah and Ruth. Arches National Park is famous for its iconic arches. land of Israel, which included Bethlehem where Elimelech and Naomi In Leviticus 26 we read. Ruth 1:1. Thus, there was something covenantal about this famine. This was the land in which God had already killed the men of Israel for the very same action. We should never have taken that one step in the direction of sin. Ruths words are beautiful, and thus it is no wonder that some have chosen to employ them for their marriage vows. Instead of trusting God to preserve her husbands line (indeed, the Messianic line), she at least passively (if not actively) approves of their marriage to non-Israelites. Let us reflect on these contrasts for a moment. I pray that you, like Ruth, have forsaken all confidence in yourself and have cast yourself upon the one true God for salvation. Hence, we can connect a theme in Judges with the events unfolding in our story here in Ruth. He did not seek repentance, nor did he stay to witness the recovery of the land. Naomi not only disregards the Abrahamic Covenant, she also urges Ruth (and Orpah) to do likewise. She does not acknowledge sin on her part (and Elimelechs), and she does not seek to repent. We will return with you to your people., 11 But Naomi replied, Go back home, my daughters! var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; WebElimelech and His Family Move to Moab 1 1-2 Long ago, in the days before Israel had a king, there was a famine in the land. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands! The term Ephrathites identifies the men with Ephrath. Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! They attempted to destroy Israel by getting them to marry their daughters. She had to leave her family, her homeland, and her gods and go to the place of Gods blessing. Samuel does this, not just once or twice, but he layers the whole story with irony. She would be buried where Naomi was buried. It is no wonder that Naomi speaks to her daughters-in-law about husbands, marriage, and children, because this is what is on her mind. 4 So her sons married Moabite women. In spite of the fact that Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his two sons (Mahlon and Kilion) are living according to the spirit of their day (doing what is right in their own eyes), two people (Ruth and Boaz) stand out as examples of those who live by faith in the God of Israel, and whose lives exemplify living in accordance with Gods Word. He says this because the Hebrew that Samuel uses to describe Elimelech's action is the word for "sojourning!" And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. If Naomi had other sons, she could give them to these women in Levirate marriage, but she has no other sons. But in Old Testament redemptive narrative, famines often come to the land as God curses his people or tests them regarding their faithfulness. From start to his family's finish, Elimelech acted contrary to his name and to the lessons of redemptive history. This should not come as news to us, but it is a truth that has not come easily to Jews, even some Jewish Christians.33 It is Naomi who fails to live up to the faith of her fathers, while Ruth is an example for all to follow, Jew or Gentile. In fact, my study for this sermon has caused me to think of Naomi in even less flattering terms. But according to Rab (B. Later, things seemed to look up for the bereaved family. Both were traveling with Naomi as she made her way toward Israel. What a difference it makes to believe in a God who is in absolute control and who is also merciful and gracious, causing all things to work together for our good and for His glory, if we believe in Him. Lot was turned to salt because she looked back at the city. For you are the temple of the living God. Thus, the use of the word lagur can be explained as related to geirut conversion. Many in Israel were wicked and unbelieving, and even the elect were not perfect, but the latter were the redeemed, called and believing people of God. Another crossroadsbut now the decision falls to Naomi to choose. No, my daughters, you must not return with me. There is something particularly encouraging about our text. Think of it: Naomi and her husband leave the land where God promised to bless them. It was a bad start, and sadly things didnt get any better over time. But is this really all that the first five verses of Ruth contain? 17 Wherever you die, I will die and there I will be buried. We should first note that Naomis words here are prompted by Orpahs decision to return home. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. There do not appear to be many generations between Boaz and David, but biblical genealogies dont always include every genealogical link in such cases. Stated in the words of the author of Judges, every man (and woman) was doing what was right in their own eyes. Here is a woman who is not walking by faith, but by sight, who is not living according to the law, but in disregard for it. Will he respond with repentance and humility or will he seek blessings outside the land? The famine in the land informs us about more than the climate; it awakens us theologically to the unfaithfulness in the land. Naomi instructs us to beware of Calvinism run amuck. Naomi also made it clear that this was because (in her mind) God had dealt harshly with her.16 Naomi measured Gods blessing only in terms of food and of family. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband. As Orpah kisses Naomi goodbye and turns back toward home, Ruth clings all the more tightly to her mother-in-law. Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia, Missions, Sister Churches, Christian Schools. The author has a covenantal perspective as he links us to Judges. food. WebAs a result, the socio-economic fabric of society was falling apart, and a famine gripped the land. She was one who received Gods blessings because she blessed one of Abrahams offspring by remaining with her and committing to care for her.28 Ruth was a woman who committed herself for a lifetime, and she did so in spite of her national pride, her family affections, the example of her sister-in-law, and the urgings of her mother-in-law. Why were naomi and elimelech forced to flee Bethlehem and The same is true for Naomi. As a relative of Boaz (ib. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons. The next day, the other man refused to take Ruth, and she and Boaz were married. Both the Benjamites sin and their judgment are similar to what happened in Genesis 19. 8But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go back to your mothers homes. It was completed by more than twenty biblical scholars who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. 2The mans name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. A descendant of Nahshon mentioned in connection with the erection of the tabernacle (Numbers 1:7). Thus, when Elimelech began to purse daughters for his sons, ironically, he went to a place cursed for this very action. Somehow God wrote His law on Ruths heart, not unlike Tamar and Rahab, her predecessors. I also think it is something for us to seriously ponder. Thus, we know that in these kinds of redemptive narratives famines are not random. (2) There is no indication that other Israelites from Bethlehem (or elsewhere in Israel) accompanied Elimelech and his family to Moab. This was a grievous sin, departing from the church of God and the communion of saints (Heidelberg Catechism, Q. We need to let that sink in just a bit. Second, this book points ahead to the New Testament days of the catholic or universal church, for Ruth is a Moabitess, a Gentile who is grafted into Israel. Who even remembers her name? 1. Return to Bethlehem (Ruth 1) | Bible.org Pay attention to do everything I have told you, and do not even mention the names of other gods do not let them be heard on your lips (Exodus 23:13). Naomi was now left without a husband, without sons, and without grandchildren. They worshipped the god Chemosh, and apparently even offered this god human sacrifices (see 2 Kings 3:27). There we read of the Sodom-like immorality of some of the Benjamites in the city of Gibeah, which resulted in the near extinction of their tribe. Ruth: A Loyal Love Story | Keep Believing Ministries There was a famine in the era of the Judges. May the Lord punish me severely if I do not keep my promise! ii. Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, moved to Moab during a famine. Were Orpah and Ruth Israelites? What are the qualities of an accurate map? lived and so they went to Moab where conditions were better and get Chilion was the son of Elimelech and Naomi and the late husband What a delight it becomes to experience the layers of irony unfolding into a beautiful story that breathes with love, life, and hope. 3 When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel. But what she fails to see is that God is only increasing her problems to the level of human impossibility, so that He can demonstrate His power and grace through her weakness. A Jew who knows the law and doesnt live by it is not really a true Jew. Naomi doesnt mention that these women would likely not find an Israelite husband. Samuel uses irony as his most powerful literary tool. Ruth - Bible Quizzes and Puzzles You need JavaScript enabled to view it. That is to say, while Elimelech may have intended to stay only as long as the famine was in the land, his sons remained long enough to reap the consequences. Who thinks of Orpah today? document.getElementById('cloak4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140').innerHTML = ''; We answer this question with a reminder that Israel was under God's command to remain in the land as part of their call to be faithful. var addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = 'spronk' + '@'; May the Lord show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me! God loves to show mercy and compassion. The same pattern in the land is taught in Deuteronomy 28. The Hebrew word for return is shubh (sounds like shove) and in this context it means: turn again, go on, go back, brought back, turn back. Instead, call me Mara,[a] for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. As the story of Esther unfolds, it looks as though every Jew is doomed to annihilation, but for the providence of God, whereby Gods enemies are destroyed and His people are spared. People of faith in God often stand out in times of crisis, so let us live by the principles of Scripture, rather than by pragmatism. 14 Again they wept loudly. No wonder God forbade Moabites from entering the assembly to the tenth generation.7. 12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. Subscribe today for access to my Free Faith Resource Library! And all of this resulted in the near annihilation of one of the twelve tribes (Benjamin) and a conspiracy to acquire wives for the remaining Benjamites in a way that was morally unacceptable. She had given up all hope. The present tense of the English Version seems to suggest that the sale is