First, we have references to three deaths in one small family (3, 5). The incarnate Son of God redeems His elect people through His cross for He is our blood relative who makes us flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone spiritually. Orpah seems to have no great spiritual interest in Israel or in the God of Israel. Leaving the people of God is leaving the God of His people. var addy_text79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = 'Stated Clerk';document.getElementById('cloak79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c').innerHTML += ''+addy_text79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c+'<\/a>'; 2014 Protestant Reformed Churches in America. Start your free trial today! I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.'. What a delight it becomes to experience the layers of irony unfolding into a beautiful story that breathes with love, life, and hope. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), Ruth: A Story of Redemption -- A Study of the Book of Ruth. 37 The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. Ruth is very significant as regards church membership, departing from the church and joining the church. Her commitment is not just to Naomi; it is a lifetime commitment to Israel and to her God. Named after a female character, Ruth could be described as a romantic book, for it begins with several tragedies and it contains a courtship (of a sort) which issues in a marriage (between Ruth and Boaz) and the birth of their son (Obed). The contrast between Naomi and Ruth is very clear when the two womens words and actions are viewed from the vantage point of the Abrahamic Covenant. Warren Wiersbe, one of my favorite Bible teachers, puts it like this: Emilelech walked by sight not by faith and took his whole family right down with him. She would be buried where Naomi was buried. People who are not traveling in the same direction. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? (21). This family would have journeyed north to Jerusalem and then crossed the Jordan River by Jericho. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. The something that occurred is immediately coupled together with the problem of a famine. Its tough to do. Fifth, what about remembering Gods day and keeping the fourth commandment in Moab? If God has it in for Naomi, what woman in her right mind would want to be closely associated with her? 13Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? Now that Orpah has decided to turn back, Naomi appears to have more leverage. Conversely, one who is not a Jew and isnt instructed by the Law may have the law written on his (her) heart, and thus do the things the law requires. I pray that you, like Ruth, have forsaken all confidence in yourself and have cast yourself upon the one true God for salvation. Orpah and Ruth were committed to returning to Israel with their mother-in-law. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest. WebWhy did Elimelech and his family go to Moab? A few years ago, I found myselfat a crossroadswith a several key friendships in my life. The chapter begins, In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a man from Bethlehem in Judah left the country because of a severe famine. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; We find Ruth contrasted with Orpah, and then with Naomi. Ruth and Naomi are very different people. R. Simon b. Yoai contends (ib.) and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 9 He makes the barren woman of the family. var addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = 'jdengelsma' + '@'; WebHence, Elimelech decided to go to Moab anticipating that his sons might marry the daughters of Eglon. There is really no evidence of faith (on Naomis part), either. What begins as a tragedy of death and sorrow ends in the birth of new life and the resurrection of hope for the family of David. What a relief it is to leave Judges behind and come to the Book of Ruth! var addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = 'laning' + '@'; Classis EastThis email address is being protected from spambots. I am now inclined to believe that Ruth is an example of Romans 2:12-16. For you are the temple of the living God. elimelech died, leaving naomi and her daughters-in-law alone. We need to bear in mind that what is at stake here is the Messianic line, the line which will ultimately bring forth Messiah. Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i More. Ruth was born in Moab about B.C. Naomi felt that God was against her, and every indication is that she felt God had dealt with her in a harsh and severe way. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; Surely this poor fellow doesn't understand the covenant". They did not seem to live by it, so why would they consider it important to teach it to a Moabite? A baby viper, says the old puritan preacher, will soon grow into a large snake if you let it live so don't let it live for one second, but kill it quickly. In the book of Ruth 1:1 we are told that there was famine in the 25 Translations differ here, but I think that this daughters choice of words is very important to consider. God bless you! We know that this backfired because Balaam could not curse those whom God had blessed.5 When this approach did not work, Balaam counseled Balak how to harm Israel in a very different way by having the Moabite women seduce the Israelite men.6 One might easily infer from this that the Moabites, like the Canaanites, were a sexually immoral people (in a way that tempted the Israelites). The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. Many of the commentaries on Ruth argue that the initial setting provides a mere backdrop to the story and nothing more. We are not told how wide-spread it was, but we do know that it affected Bethlehem (which ironically means house of bread). Boaz commanded his field-workers to be considerate toward her. 1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Orpah succumbed to Naomis reasoning and chose to pursue what appeared to be in her best interest. We are connected theologically with the last verse of Judges as it unfolds in Ruth, but with curses that will be reversed by a faithful husband rather than a judge. I hate to say this, but after being involved in ministry for many years, I would have to say that some of the worst counsel I have ever heard has come from well-meaning Christians. He and his sons die in Moab leaving his wife and eventually his daughter in law, Ruth, to return to Bethlehem. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. Many, including me, are troubled by the times in which we live, but this is no excuse for ungodly behavior. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. But leaving is hard sometimes, isnt it? Thankfully, she later confessed and returned to Israel.Elimelechs sin is condemned inBelgic Confession28: We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and out of it there is no salvation, that no person, of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw himself to live in a separate state from it; but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it, maintaining the unity of the church; submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof; bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ; and as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them. The very first Psalm teaches us this in vivid images of walking, standing and sitting. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. But, given his subsequent actions, we have no problem understanding that his final decision was more closely connected with food than with faith. The oldest daughter (who will become the mother of Moab) saw their situation as impossible. This would have been And when both her sons died without bearing children, her situation seemed impossible. There is so much more to this story than merely the people in it this story is the story of the gospel. 1, iv. Rather it points to the common problem of the progression of sins. reghdfe predict out of sample; The son of the oldest daughter was named Moab; the son of the younger daughter was named Ammon. The faithful believer was never to be "unequally yoked together". What is wrong with reporter Susan Raff's arm on WFSB news. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. B. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. God said that Moab was strictly off-limits for the Israelites. Will he respond with repentance and humility or will he seek blessings outside the land? The term Ephrathites identifies the men with Ephrath. Many years later, the Israelites were camped on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River from Jericho, poised to enter the Promised Land. Sin has a way of making progress in our lives even if we start in rather small ways. Famine in the Old Testament is a call to repentance and to covenant renewal. Pat. Sign up by filling out the form below, and you will receive weekly blog posts, monthly newsletters, free faith resources, and more! Then we find that such ways become comfortable, and so we stand or linger in them. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. A man of the tribe of Judah, living in Bethlehemjudah at the time of the Judges (Ruth i. Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. 16But Ruth replied, Dont ask me to leave you and turn back. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' 11 In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. WHEN YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF MOAB | At the Crossroads. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law had already set out for Israel11 when Naomi began to have second thoughts not about her return, but about having two Moabite daughters-in-law in tow when she arrived at her home town of Bethlehem. There do not appear to be many generations between Boaz and David, but biblical genealogies dont always include every genealogical link in such cases. 36 In this way both of Lots daughters became pregnant by their father. The final chapters of the Book of Judges are certainly the worst of times, and yet the Book of Ruth describes the best of times. This suggests to me that godly character is not only evident in the good times, but even more dramatically in the bad times. | He left his wife | His sons murdered him | He died | He was killed by the King of Moab |. 6 So she decided to return home from the region of Moab, accompanied by her daughters-in-law, because while she was living in Moab she had heard that the Lord had shown concern for his people, reversing the famine by providing abundant crops. var addy_text4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = 'Classical Committee';document.getElementById('cloak4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140').innerHTML += ''+addy_text4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140+'<\/a>'; The geological marvels, millennia in the making, drew more than 1. Obviously, Naomi had changed. Orpah chose differently than Ruth and Naomi. has Naomi sold. WebAccording to the Bible, why did Elimelech go to live in Moab with his family? The famine in the land informs us about more than the climate; it awakens us theologically to the unfaithfulness in the land. 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. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. These cookies do not store any personal information. Ruth does not cling to Naomi as a kindred spirit, but as a very needy person. Ruth opens with a startling statement of famine. It is also true (as God Himself says above) that God also punishes the guilty, but that is not the totality of who God is. My sense is that most of the residents of Bethlehem stayed in Bethlehem, rather than leaving to sojourn in a foreign country during the days of the famine. 14 In her first attempt, Naomi issues a parting blessing, punctuated by a farewell kiss (verse 9). And Naomi was now ready to arrange for a marriage and offspring in an unconventional way, just as Tamar, the mother of Moab, and the Israelites (more recently) did. He intended to leave the Promised Land briefly in a time of famine, but his sons decided to live in the foreign land. The wonder is that God remained faithful to those who so easily abandoned Him. 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. lived and so they went to Moab where conditions were better and get I so love the story of Ruth and Naomi, and each time I read it, I learn something new and powerful. [] Source: WHEN YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF MOAB [], Your email address will not be published. The reader is required to peel back these layers of irony so as to deepen his appreciation of God's grace and mercy to the needy. In Job and in Ruth, this term seems to underscore Gods power, but in the context of suffering and adversity. 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. What Naomi does mention pertains to marriage and child bearing. She urged her daughters-in-law to return to their mothers home, with the expectation that the LORD would bless them with security in a marriage to a new12 Moabite husband. Ruths words are her covenant with Naomi, with Israel, and with God, patterned after Gods covenant with Abraham and his descendants: Only death will be able to separate me from you! (Ruth 1:16-17). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. (Ruth 1:1-22)2. The latter chapters of the book of Judges contain variations of In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes (17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25). But, like Naomi, God started taking things away from me one by one, so I was left standingat the crossroadsall by myself. Both the Benjamites sin and their judgment are similar to what happened in Genesis 19. Thus he trusts in this The subject was the Book of Ruth. If you have time this week, my suggestion is to go to the book of Ruth and read it. And with Gods help and the support of others who love you and are moving in the same direction, make the decision to get out of Moab today. I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. May your acts of kindness be repaid fully by the LORD God of Israel, from whom you have sought protection! (Ruth 2:10-12, emphasis mine). Web(3) Naomi selleth . land of Israel, which included Bethlehem where Elimelech and Naomi Another label for pragmatism is doing what seems right in our own eyes. That was the spirit of the age during the days of the judges. Ruth is the perfect story of transition. married Boaz. If you see what happens to Elimelech's sons you will remember Moab's method of destroying Israel. It is not Naomis belief in the sovereignty of God that troubles me as much as how she applies it. And they continued to live there about ten years. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Read More. Leaving His land, His people, His office-bearers, His worship and His day is leaving God. Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia, Missions, Sister Churches, Christian Schools. WebElimelechs Family Goes to Moab. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 9May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage. Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept. . The sin of leaving Israel?Second, Ruth 1:1-5 is the only scene in the book in which the name of God is not mentioned. She returned to Moab. His intent was that once his sons would gain their consent, he would go back with his family to Bethlehem and have them converted. Can this be Naomi? they asked (verse 19). And in good covenant form, she pronounced a curse upon herself if she did otherwise. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Her name was Orpah. "Then," he might say, "we will return to the land of promise." Send me a private message so I can pray and come alongside you as you turn in a new direction. Follow your sister-in-law back home! (Ruth 1:15). You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Naomis second effort13 will be less subtle and more pointed and forceful. It may be. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. She has no husband to father sons, and she is too old to bear children anyway. This, of course, is Naomis meaning. The closing chapters of the Book of Judges contain some of the most gruesome accounts in all of the Bible homosexual Benjamites want to rape a guest in their city; a woman is brutally gang raped by these same men; her husband seems more than willing to sacrifice her to save his life, and then he chops her dead body into twelve pieces which he delivers to every part of Israel. They would be a reminder that Elimelech and Naomi had left Bethlehem when the going got tough. Angus Stewart, Pastorates: Covenant Protestant Reformed Church of Ballymena, Northern Ireland - 2001. His counsel (even though it effectively called God a liar) was given as though it were in her best interest. And then, within 10 years, both Naomis sons died. Is God telling you to get out of Moab? It certainly would be safer for the two women to travel together, but it is Orpah who will travel alone, not Ruth. Likewise, the foolish person who decides to live like this soon discovers the deadly character of such a decision. There is something particularly encouraging about our text. Just being Jewish and knowing the Law of Moses isnt enough; one must also live by the law. Ruth, a Moabitess, became Naomi's daughter-in-law. Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia, Missions, Sister Churches, Christian Schools. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Follow your sister-in-law back home! 16 But Ruth replied. Elimelech exhibits an almost crazy decision when he left Bethlehem, the house of bread, and sought bread from Moab. Were Orpah and Ruth Israelites? 10 The rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return, but instead water the earth and make it produce and yield crops, and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat. 1, iv. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her. On account of famine Elimelech and his family left Bethlehem-Judah for the land of Moab. Second, Naomis words are even more forceful here,14 issuing Ruth a command to leave her. The contrast between Ruth and Naomi. Others fail to see this teaching on church membership in Ruth because they have not fully grasped the robust biblical and Reformed doctrine of the church, as summarized, for example, inBelgic Confession28: We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and out of it there is no salvation, that no person, of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw himself to live in a separate state from it; but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it, maintaining the unity of the church; submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof; bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ; and as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them. Ruth is never dealt with as a second-class believer. In her mind, this was the normal, the customary, way to produce offspring. 20 It could well be that Orpah had much to say, but the author did not wish to focus on her as she is not the heroine of this story. We are not told how long Elimelech may have waited before he made his fateful decision. The same is true for Naomi. Ruth was the great grandmother of King David. A descendant of Nahshon mentioned in connection with the erection of the tabernacle (Numbers 1:7). However, even if the date does not match exactly with the conclusion of Judges, the author is definitely pointing us back to Judges and to something that occurred in that time. More tears are shed. daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. God had given Israel the land as a place of rest and blessing. Who will be the judge that does not fall like Samson fell? 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. Who would carry on his line? Ruth 1:1-5. He says "a certain man" of Bethlehem went to sojourn away from the land. 12No, my daughters, return to your parents homes, for I am too old to marry again. My problem with the text in Romans 2 was that I couldnt think of an example of what Paul was saying. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. A sensitive reader would have learned in covenant history that there are certain places one should never go for bread. 10 From what we learn from the Book of Ruth, one does wonder what role Naomi played in this decision. Naomi did not doubt the existence of God nor did she doubt His power. Judah married a Canaanite woman, and two of his sons died because of their sin. The Cross And Christs Suffering For Sins (1 Peter 3:18-22), 6. Isnt it so cool how the Bible is like that? Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you. 1 Copyright 2010 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. For the connection between Ephrath and Bethlehem, see Gen. xxxv. WebAnalyzes how ruth opens with a man leaving bethlehem of judah, along with his wife and two sons, for the land of moab during the time of the judges. Responding to the famine, Elimelech, his wife Naomi and their two sons moved to Moaba move of desperation given the long enmity between Israel and Moabwhere they thought the prospects for productive work were greater. Jacob & Esau Pharez & Zarah If we are correct about the date of the book, then it fits perfectly with how the book of Judges ends and how Ruth's story begins. the portion of land, which belonged to our brother Elimelech. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. But Ruth refuses to abandon Naomi and clings to her tightly. Reformed Witness Hour Messages for May 2020, Corporate Responsibility and Ezekiel 18 . How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways! (Ruth 1:1+2). She had had a long stretch of time during which she observed Naomi's righteousness, and she (Ruth) became convinced that she must serve the One God and abandon her former idolatry. The term she used to refer to Him Shaddai was a term that emphasized Gods great power. Anyone anywhere in the world with an Internet connection will be able to use and print out the NET Bible without cost for personal study. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The oldest daughter went first, bearing a son whom she named Moab. She then kissed both of them, a very clear signal of dismissal. He is the ancestor of the Moabites of today. Thus, when Elimelech began to purse daughters for his sons, ironically, he went to a place cursed for this very action. In such a declared emergency, she reasoned, they must take extraordinary measures. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; There is yet another irony in Elimelech's choice of Moab. To develop this point, I would have to summarize the four chapters of Ruth, but you can read the book for yourself to trace Jehovahs sovereign decree and hand guiding the various characters.Fourth, this book is significant because it presents the godly examples of Ruth herself, Naomi and Boaz, people whose virtues we would do well to emulate.But there is another important theological and practical lesson from the book of Ruth, especially chapter 1, that is often unnoticed or underdeveloped in sermons and writings on the eighth book of the Bible. Many tears were shed, but in the end both women refused to leave Naomi and return to their mothers home. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Learn more about our. There is a difference between fearing God, and being afraid of God; the Godly fear God as a child does his father, the wicked are afraid of God as the prisoner is of a judge. How much is a biblical shekel of silver worth in us dollars? And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: And he said to the kinsman, Naomi, who has returned from the land of Moab, has resolved to sell the portion of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech. How will this family survive without a faithful husband? The crises of life are Gods pop quizzes, times when He puts our faith to the test, times when He gives us an opportunity to put our faith on display. Thank you, sister friend! Rather, he searched for other places of blessing; he left the land of promise. Ruth provides us with a vital part of our Saviours genealogy, for she was the great-grandmother of King David from whom came the Messiah, according to His human nature. Those who place too much emphasis on marriage and child bearing should listen well to these words of Scripture: 6 He bends down to look at the sky and the earth. 1In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 2). Let us reflect on these contrasts for a moment. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). The word does mean something, but not exactly what the rabbi thinks. during the time of the judges in Israel. One may rightly ask why we would criticize this poor fellow for trying to get his family some food. A Christian wife is having difficulties in her relationship with her husband, and she shares this with a Christian friend. I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. Now I should stop to say that I firmly believe in the sovereignty of God, that God is in absolute control of everything that takes place on this earth. She believes in a God who is all powerful, but who is not merciful and compassionate. (2) There is no indication that other Israelites from Bethlehem (or elsewhere in Israel) accompanied Elimelech and his family to Moab. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. 26 The way they acquired the 400 wives by wiping out Jabesh Gilead is no more noble. (If you're a human, don't change the following field), Ruth 1:1-6 - Famine in the House of Bread. Required fields are marked *. They werent just turning their backs on their hometown of Bethlehem and its people: they were turning their backs on God. The two sons married: Mahlon was joined to Ruth and Chilion wedded Orpah (4).However, the two marriages remained childless and worse was to follow. His occupation is not known; the Bible never says. In the past, Naomi was always portrayed in a somewhat flattering way. Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! This faithless man journeys to the worst possible place one can imagine as it relates to the hope for bread, to the land of Moab. She was married first to Ruth was the great grandmother of King David. But about ten years later, 5both Mahlon and Kilion died. Other translations have another another husband. 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. Both were related to Naomi in the same way. The Lord continue to prosper your ministry. At the very times when outward appearances look to us as though God is against us, God is at work behind the scenes for us. It has been supplied by the translators. Famine drove them to leave their homeland and travel to Moab to make a new life. Elimelech's actions are an apt illustration of this principle. He was not a faithful husband. He was clearly a faithless husband who led his family directly into death. His faithfulness to His people and to His covenant is at a time when His people are not faithful to Him and when they are living in disregard for His law. addya1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68 = addya1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68 + 'sbcglobal' + '.' + 'net'; She decided it was time to get out of Moab. 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.
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