If so, perhaps the minister can moralize a little on the problems and dangers of emigration. Such is not the case, my friend, and seeing her as some kind of heroine will distort our understanding of the message of this wonderful book. Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. 34 So in the morning the older daughter said to the younger, Since I had sexual relations with my father last night, lets make him drunk again tonight. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole village was excited about their arrival. Not only is Naomi unable to provide these women with husbands (and thus with children), God is also dealing harshly with her. As well as the five indicators in Ruth 1, we should think about other, relevant, biblical teaching. She was married first to But when Ruth refused to return to her people and accompanied her to Bethlehem, Boaz entered the picture, a close relative, a possible redeemer. Ruth was the great grandmother of King David. Required fields are marked *. 1. Return to Bethlehem (Ruth 1) | Bible.org Ruth is never dealt with as a second-class believer. And there is another difficult part of leaving Moab. i. WebBible: Ruth Flashcards | Quizlet. 6Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. There is nothing random, therefore, about the construction of biblical narratives. Ruth's story springs up beautifully in the context of this agonizing cycle of failure, except with Ruth we are pointed to the need for more than a judge; there is a need for a faithful husband. You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How wrong Naomi was. Second, Naomis words are even more forceful here,14 issuing Ruth a command to leave her. No wonder Naomi finally ceased trying to convince her to turn back (verse 18). Are you in a place you dont need to be? If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. I also think it is something for us to seriously ponder. 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. WebThe name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. His intent was that once his sons would gain their consent, he would go back with his family to Bethlehem and have them converted. So she set out from the place [Moab] where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.. Ruth 1-2 You can almost feel the trembling in his voice as he pleads with his wife to pretend to be his sister. Samuel immediately requires the reader to wrestle with the dire need of a faithful husband. There was a shortage of bread in Bethlehem, which towns name means house of bread. So what did Elimelech and his family do? If God has it in for Naomi, what woman in her right mind would want to be closely associated with her? Elimelech was of the tribe of Judah. I am always seeking fellow travelers on the journey, so I hope you stay awhile, check out my free resources, and find encouragement for your soul. So God says in Deuteronomy 4:1. They produced offspring for the Benjamites by orchestrating the kidnapping and rape of 200 virgins.26 The Israelites were like Moabs mother in that they were thinking and acting like Moabites. She had to leave her family, her homeland, and her gods and go to the place of Gods blessing. Moab was a place of cursing for the people of God. Why And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. Who would want Naomi for a mother-in-law? What are the duties of a sanitary prefect in a school? 1 Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! Whether its a place we dont belong or a relationship going in the wrong direction or an activity were ashamed of or a habit thats strangling us, we need to get out of Moab. What a great story. 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. The author uses the literary setting to highlight for us that matters for this man are about to go from bad to worse. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. Sign up by filling out the form below, and you will receive weekly blog posts, monthly newsletters, free faith resources, and more! Where did Elimelech die? 1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. 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. she was the wife of Elimelech and the mother of Mahlon and Chilion I think the message is pretty loud and clear: Liz Curtis Higgs wrote a book, THE GIRLS STILL GOT IT, about the story of Ruth. addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 + 'prca' + '.' + 'org'; To use a food metaphor, the table is set for a choice that will determine the course of the story. Ruth opens with some dramatic flair, which heightens the irony. This was the land in which God had already killed the men of Israel for the very same action. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? No, my daughters, you must not return with me. He took his wife and Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. Stay in Bethlehem: risk starving their bodies. How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways! 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). One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. Is God judging here? We, too, live in very pragmatic times, and those who live by principle especially the principles of Gods Word are few and far between. 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. 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. var addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = 'spronk' + '@'; Naomis hope was in the physical rather than in the spiritual, in the present rather than in eternity. Thanks for sharing and God bless your ministry. 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. var addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = 'jdengelsma' + '@'; It would do us well to review where the Moabites came from and how they related to Israel in the past. If you desire to join a community where you can meet others for hope and encouragement on your faith journey, I would love to have you as a fellow traveler. We shall see more about this in chapter 3. He and his sons die in Moab leaving his wife and eventually his daughter in law, Ruth, to return to Bethlehem. Arches National Park is famous for its iconic arches. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, moved to Moab during a famine. Naomi is not at all like Ruth or Boaz; she is, in fact, a backdrop against which Ruth and Boaz are contrasted. The Hebrew term Elohim is plural, but some render it god here, and others gods. Chemosh appears to be the primary Moabite god, but there may well have been others. We cry out in frustration and desperation, "Who will free the people of God from this vicious cycle of failure and death? The sons married Moabite women and later died, and Elimelech also died.Naomi decided to return to Israel, and her daughter-in-law, Ruth the Moabitess, accompanied her with the intention of converting to Judaism. If leaving Judah was not bad enough, the place he chose to go was even worse. We should first note that Naomis words here are prompted by Orpahs decision to return home. Is it also a suggestion that the emigration of Elimelech and his family from Bethlehem to Moab is of a piece with the disobedience of that period? Wouldnt it be better for the two of them to travel together? 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. God bless you! Moab. NLT Teen Life Application Study Bible, Softcover, My First Hands-on Bible--soft leather-look, bold blue, NLT Thinline Reference Bible, Filament Enabled Edition--soft leather-look, rustic brown, NLT Spiritual Growth Bible--soft leather-look, cream floral, NLT Large-Print Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition--genuine leather, brown (indexed). Naomi was preoccupied with the here and now, rather than trusting in Gods covenant promises by faith. And yet as the story of Ruth unfolded this time, it suddenly became obvious to me that Naomi was no role model. My impression is that Naomi had changed not only in her appearance (she may not have aged well in Moab), but also in spirit. With more than 2,000 such formations documented within its borders, Arches boasts the "densest concentration of natural stone arches in the world" and the "most famous natural stone arch in the world," according to the park. 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. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? Ruth 1:2 - The Preacher's Homiletical Commentary 12 May the LORD reward your efforts! Some returned to the land of their birth.Is this what we have here in Ruth 1:1-5? All three women had to make a choice. Where will he turn to find food for his family? In the past, Naomi was always portrayed in a somewhat flattering way. 3 Sometime later Naomis husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. Ill attempt to support my conclusions as we proceed in our study of this book. var addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = 'laning' + '@'; Like Moabs mother, the Israelites reasoned that due to their circumstances, an Israelite line might become extinct. This, of course, is Naomis meaning. In our text (as in Judges and everywhere else in Scripture), man looks bad, very bad, and God looks good, very good. The context of these texts explains further the wickedness of those times. 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. That strongly suggests that she was still a Moabite at heart, still an idolater at heart. When Abraham responded in fear rather than in faith, his choices were so bad that even an Egyptian king rebuked him in Genesis 12:18 saying. 28:23-24).Together these first three factors are, to say the least, suggestive (three deaths, no reference to God in this scene alone in Ruth, and the dark days of the judges); the next two arguments are more explicit and are based on the words of Naomi and Ruth.Naomi states that, in the death of her three menfolk, the hand of the Lord is gone out against me (Ruth 1:13) and the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me (20). Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? var addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = 'laning' + '@'; 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. 12 Go back home, my daughters! He came alongside Eve as her friend, as someone who was doing her a favor. 91a), Elimelech, Salmon (the father of Boaz), Peloni-Almoni, and the father of Naomi were the sons of Nahshon ben Aminadab. where did these children come from? (Isaiah 49:20-21). Design by Social Village. It would seem to be significant that Naomi told Ruth that Orpah had returned to her god. In the dark shadows of the days of the judges, we find two individuals whose lives are truly lights in the darkness. 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. But wait, it gets even better! In moving to Moab, Naomi left the Lord to some extent and for some years. We read of the origin of the Moabites in Genesis 19,3 just after the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Web(3) Naomi selleth . ii. 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. 2 Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing. Naomis second effort13 will be less subtle and more pointed and forceful. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. When a famine came to the area around Bethlehem, Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab (Moab was the name of Lot's elder The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. 32 Come, lets make our father drunk with wine so we can have sexual relations with him and preserve our family line through our father. 33 So that night they made their father drunk with wine, and the older daughter came and had sexual relations with her father. Ruth Why do we know this? The ultimate test is the Word of God and Naomis counsel, while it sometimes used Gods name, did not conform to Gods Word. No! Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely (which is exactly what we see later when Boaz the faithful husband responds to God with faithfulness remember he lays down on a huge pile of harvest from the land). Hence, should a sensitive reader become surprised to read now that the result of Elimelech's decision is death to his sons? When I realized this, I blurted out, What a witch!, much to the surprise of the rest of the class. She has been convinced and turns back to her own country. 1: Why did Elimelech go to live in Moab with his family? var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; 1When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. For example, the opening lines point us back to the book of Judges and one of the recurring themes in that book. And they continued to live there about ten years. The contrast between Ruth and Orpah. Why did Elimelech live with his family in Moab? Elimelech was a faithless husband who led his family into the yawning jaws of death. Naomi thought of Gods blessings in terms of having food and a family. Jacob & Esau Pharez & Zarah 2). She was willing to sacrifice family ties, marriage, and a family to do so. Their ultimate blessing would have been to leave their land, their people, their false religion, and to identify with the Israelites and with their God. Look with me at these words from Genesis 19, taking up just after the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lots escape, along with his daughters: 30 Lot went up from Zoar with his two daughters and settled in the mountains because he was afraid to live in Zoar. Indeed, Ruth begins with a stark opening sentence that is intended to alarm the reader. For the children of the desolate one are more numerous. document.getElementById('cloaka1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68').innerHTML = ''; 20 Yet the children born during your time of bereavement will say within your hearing. 14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. Reformed Witness Hour Messages for May 2020, Corporate Responsibility and Ezekiel 18 . No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend (Isaiah 55:8-11). Elimelech died (of what, we are not told), leaving Naomi a widow, and Mahlon and Chilion orphans, in a foreign land (3). Thanks so much for meeting me here AT THE CROSSROADS. God has chosen to save Gentiles as well as Jews. The only time the land was dry was during times of curse. What a relief it is to leave Judges behind and come to the Book of Ruth! 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. The something that occurred is immediately coupled together with the problem of a famine. In the book of Ruth 1:1 we are told that there was famine in the Many tears were shed, but in the end both women refused to leave Naomi and return to their mothers home. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were This is the modern understanding of weather. Thus, there was something covenantal about this famine. To do it any other way was to disobey God. What are the qualities of an accurate map? The next thing we know, we find ourselves sitting in the seat of the fool. Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. For the Lord is afflicting me!. Why were naomi and elimelech forced to flee Bethlehem and journey to moab? His occupation is not known; the Bible never says. Rabbi Ginsburg argues that Elimelech is really not the problem; his sons are the problem. Thus, we cannot say with certainty that the story of Ruth occurs late in the period of the judges, though this seems likely. Naomi not only disregards the Abrahamic Covenant, she also urges Ruth (and Orpah) to do likewise. 1 Copyright 2010 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! WHEN YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF MOAB - At The Crossroads Other than weeping, Orpah remains silent;20 Ruths words and actions are what the author has chosen to report. It certainly would be safer for the two women to travel together, but it is Orpah who will travel alone, not Ruth. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Ruth 1:22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her Follow your sister-in-law back home! (Ruth 1:15). The translation project originally started as an attempt to provide an electronic version of a modern translation for electronic distribution over the Internet and on CD (compact disk). Bethlehem forsaken for Moab. There is no reason for you to return to Judah with me! For I am too old to get married again. Paul restates this law in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. They no longer have their old or former husbands because they have died. 2 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible. 11 In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. Today, people move all the time for jobs, family, location, schools, etc. document.getElementById('cloak6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19').innerHTML = ''; Rather, he searched for other places of blessing; he left the land of promise. var addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = 'jdengelsma' + '@'; It was a bad start, and sadly things didnt get any better over time. Were Orpah and Ruth Israelites? Other translations have another another husband. WebElimelech Moves His Family to Moab 1 In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 22So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. I pray that you, like Ruth, have forsaken all confidence in yourself and have cast yourself upon the one true God for salvation. She had heard that the famine was over and was hoping to make a new start. She had left her country and lost her husband and both her sons. "Then," he might say, "we will return to the land of promise." Lot and his two daughters are now living in a cave. It is available on the Internet at: www.netbible.org. How could Naomi encourage Ruth (and, by inference, Orpah) to return to their god(s), when doing so would condemn them eternally? Ruth was a superlative servant of God.Naomi and her family had sojourned in Moab during a famine. R. Simon b. Yoai contends (ib.) Elimelechs family left the land God gave WebSee Page 1. After Mahlon died and Ruth had My problem with the text in Romans 2 was that I couldnt think of an example of what Paul was saying. It took two attempts to convince Orpah to turn back and three attempts to convince Naomi that her efforts to turn Ruth away were futile. And both (at least initially) were committed to staying with Naomi, even if that meant immigrating to Israel. What a mighty, magnificent, merciful, awesome God we serve! The people were to know that as they lived in the land of promise in faithfulness, God would bless them. Moab was a pagan land that worshipped many false gods and practiced human sacrifices. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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. The oldest daughter (who will become the mother of Moab) saw their situation as impossible. These three widows, Naomi, Ruth and Orpah, were in a difficult and sad situation. 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. How could Naomi point them in the wrong direction? Maybe you remember this from the story of Naomi and Ruththere was a third woman standing at the crossroads when they had to decide between staying in Moab or returning to Judah. Famine drove them to leave their homeland and travel to Moab to make a new life. 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. We should never have taken that one step in the direction of sin. From start to his family's finish, Elimelech acted contrary to his name and to the lessons of redemptive history. The genealogy provided in chapter 4 would incline us to believe that the events of Ruth took place later rather than sooner in the period of the judges, because Ruth is the great grandmother of David.17 But other than this, there do not appear to be any direct links to events or persons in the Book of Judges. The more Naomi moans on about how bad things are for her, and how hopeless it would be for Orpah or Ruth to stay with her, the more we see the mighty hand of God working all things for the good of His people, as well as for His glory. Now, Naomi urges both of her daughters-in-law to go back home to their own land21 and to their mothers homes22 and to find a new Moabite husband, so that they might have security.23 While God promised to bless all those who blessed Abraham and his offspring, Naomi told her daughters-in-law that to stay with her would be to share in the curse God had placed upon her.24 As the story of Ruth and Boaz unfolds, God promises are fulfilled, while Naomis warning and instructions are proven to be false. Reformed Witness Hour Newsletter - January 2023, The Punishment of Rebellious Children (2). These choices are also related to the covenant and to the unfolding theme of our story. But he was not aware that she had sexual relations with him and then got up. var addy_text79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = 'Stated Clerk';document.getElementById('cloak79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c').innerHTML += ''+addy_text79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c+'<\/a>'; 2014 Protestant Reformed Churches in America. var addy_text6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = 'Stated Clerk';document.getElementById('cloak6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19').innerHTML += ''+addy_text6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19+'<\/a>'; Classis WestThis email address is being protected from spambots. document.getElementById('cloak79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c').innerHTML = ''; Even professing Christians can fall victim to the tyranny of the urgent. Someone reminded me that the Book of Ruth is a lot like the Book of Esther. of the backslider driven by momentary trials from Gods ordinances down to Moab. There may have been others who traveled to Moab with Elimelech and his family, but the author does not make a point of telling this to his readers. Such people are in misery, and honestly, they make those around them miserable as well. In an effort to escape the famine, a man named Elimelech took his family to Moab, where he intended for his family to sojourn until the famine ended.10 How could he have imagined how long his family would stay? Today, to depart from a true church, manifesting the three marks of faithful preaching, sacramental administration and discipline (Belgic Confession28-29), involves leaving pastors, through whom Christ teaches us; elders, through whom He rules and supervises us; and deacons, through whom He shows us mercy (Belgic Confession30-31).Fourth, Elimelechs family left Gods worship at the tabernacle, where God had manifested His presence in the Shekinah glory. He is slow to anger, and He does forgive sin. But the most dramatic new development in Naomis argument is her reference to Orpahs god: 15 So Naomi said, Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. 21I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Ruth Chapter 1 Some are so focused on courtship and romance in Ruth that they overlook its instruction on joining, staying in and never leaving Gods church. 20Dont call me Naomi, she responded. In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; In Ruth, this element of the curse of the Moabites is also mentioned. var addy_texta1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68 = 'Classical Committee';document.getElementById('cloaka1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68').innerHTML += ''+addy_texta1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68+'<\/a>'; RUTH 1 NLT - Elimelech Moves His Family to Moab - In Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. Were Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion all Israelites? I am reminded of Satans strategy in the Garden of Eden. For example, one might wonder, "Who is this guy anyway? Naomi advised Ruth to glean in the field of Boaz, since he was a relative of Elimelech. Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, moved to Moab during a famine. Orpah succumbed to Naomis reasoning and chose to pursue what appeared to be in her best interest. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Elimelech was Naomi's husband. But, like Naomi, God started taking things away from me one by one, so I was left standingat the crossroadsall by myself. As a relative of Boaz ( ib. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. Chilion, the only remaining son, also expired (5).Of the four who had left Bethlehem, only Naomi remained. Ruth opens with a startling statement of famine. His sons, on the other hand, decide to stay or to dwell in Moab. And so they, like Lots daughters (the oldest one in particular), devised a scheme whereby the line would be preserved, albeit apart from faith and obedience to Gods Word. Both had married Israelite husbands, had borne no children, and were now widows. Naomi and her sons lived in Moab for ten years and then both Mahlon and Kilion died as well, childless. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; If I have counted correctly, the term is used 48 times in the Old Testament; 9 times in the Pentateuch, 2 times in Ruth, 2 times in the Psalms, 1 time in Isaiah, 2 times in Ezekiel, 1 time in Joel, and 31 times in Job.
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