The next thing we know, we find ourselves sitting in the seat of the fool. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. She views God as harsh and uncaring, doling out affliction and trouble in a way that is completely unrelated to her attitudes and actions. The term she used to refer to Him Shaddai was a term that emphasized Gods great power. 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). Samuel immediately requires the reader to wrestle with the dire need of a faithful husband. 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. I am now inclined to believe that Ruth is an example of Romans 2:12-16. Ruth would not only do this until death separated them, she would do so in death. But in Old Testament redemptive narrative, famines often come to the land as God curses his people or tests them regarding their faithfulness. Design by Social Village. Scarcity of food compelled him to emigrate with his family to Moab, where he died, and where one of his sons married Ruth (ib. 26 The way they acquired the 400 wives by wiping out Jabesh Gilead is no more noble. Elimelech's actions are an apt illustration of this principle. Elimelech died (of what, we are not told), leaving Naomi a widow, and Mahlon and Chilion orphans, in a foreign land (3). 11 The thought occurred to me that Naomis journey back to her homeland traced the steps of the Israelites when they first entered the Promised Land. She believes in a God who is all powerful, but who is not merciful and compassionate. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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 To him be glory forever! His occupation is not known; the Bible never says. 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. 4 So her sons married Moabite women. The chapter ends with the authors assessment of where things stand, with a hint of what lies ahead. Naomi advised Ruth to glean in the field of Boaz, since he was a relative of Elimelech. Elimelech is confronted with more than merely the problem of feeding his family; he has a covenantal choice set before him. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way. And there is another difficult part of leaving Moab. For instance, Samuel opens the story without naming Elimelech. Ruth was determined to serve and care for her mother-in-law; Orpah chose to look out for herself. 35 Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him? Start your free trial today! One has to ponder the outcome of her decision. Indeed, the structure of Judges begs us to ask about the future. Let us reflect on these contrasts for a moment. land of Israel, which included Bethlehem where Elimelech and Naomi WebElimelech Why did Naomi decide to return from the country of Moab? 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. The wonder is that God remained faithful to those who so easily abandoned Him. 1:2 (Now the mans name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. We can be sure from this word that Elimelech had every intention of staying in Moab temporarily. If they were not faithful to this task, they would be tested even more severely and called back to faithfulness. Naomis third appeal is to Ruth alone, based on Orpahs decision to return home. This would have been We need to let that sink in just a bit. document.getElementById('cloak4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140').innerHTML = ''; Indeed, Ruth begins with a stark opening sentence that is intended to alarm the reader. And he mentions Naomis return out of the country of Moab, to intimate that her poverty constrained her to sell her estate which her husband left her. Orpah succumbed to Naomis reasoning and chose to pursue what appeared to be in her best interest. Then we find that such ways become comfortable, and so we stand or linger in them. Perhaps one reason why the author does not make a major point out of the theme of divine judgment is because his purpose is to emphasize divine mercy, not only as God provided food for His people, but also in His providential provision of a family and a posterity for Naomi and Elimelech. They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 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. Follow your sister-in-law back home! (Ruth 1:15). Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Thus, the use of the word lagur can be explained as related to geirut conversion. moved to Bethlehem with her mother in law, Naomi, she met and I will be their God and they will be my people (Jeremiah 31:33). 6: What did Naomi tell the people in Bethlehem to call her? I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. So God says in Deuteronomy 4:1. Oh My! 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. WebAccording to the Bible, why did Elimelech go to live in Moab with his family? In the book of Ruth 1:1 we are told that there was famine in the 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? Who thinks of Orpah today? of the backslider driven by momentary trials from Gods ordinances down to Moab. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. lived and so they went to Moab where conditions were better and get The same is true for Naomi. However, there appears to be far more than meets the eye. 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. Thanks for sharing and God bless your ministry. var addy_text79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = 'Stated Clerk';document.getElementById('cloak79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c').innerHTML += ''+addy_text79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c+'<\/a>'; 2014 Protestant Reformed Churches in America. This means that irony becomes the most important device for deepening our meditation on Ruth's story. Rather it points to the common problem of the progression of sins. 3:16).Ruth 1 itself indicates the spiritual significance of its first five verses. They lived in the town of Bethlehem in the tribe of Judah in the land of Israel, in the days of the judges (1), that is, after the deaths of the elders who outlived Joshua and before the reign of King Saul.But famine struck the promised land, including Judah and Bethlehem (1). Naomi not only disregards the Abrahamic Covenant, she also urges Ruth (and Orpah) to do likewise. Its tough to do. What will he do? So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. More tears are shed. 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. has Naomi sold. Such people are in misery, and honestly, they make those around them miserable as well. Put another way, the title of this book is Ruth, not Orpah. 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. This is the first Bible study on Ruth 1:1-6. Lots daughters, the Israelites (on behalf of the Benjamites), and Naomi are inclined to resort to a pragmatic solution, rather than one that is faith-based and rooted in principle. The people were to know that as they lived in the land of promise in faithfulness, God would bless them. These are the times of darkness when godliness should shine forth as a brilliant light. He and his sons die in Moab leaving his wife and eventually his daughter in law, Ruth, to return to Bethlehem. A godly Israelite would not only trust in the one true God, Yahweh, they would also know that there are no other gods. Mahlon, the older son, died. What Naomi does mention pertains to marriage and child bearing. Just being Jewish and knowing the Law of Moses isnt enough; one must also live by the law. In Job and in Ruth, this term seems to underscore Gods power, but in the context of suffering and adversity. Blessings to you and your ministry as well. Thus, we know that in these kinds of redemptive narratives famines are not random. 1: Why did Elimelech go to live in Moab with his family? 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. But he was not aware that she had sexual relations with him and then got up. The context of these texts explains further the wickedness of those times. Because her family died Why did Elimelech and his family go to Moab? Depending on where they settled, the trip would have been about one hundred miles and would have taken about a week. and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 9 He makes the barren woman of the family. To use a food metaphor, the table is set for a choice that will determine the course of the story. Naomis second effort13 will be less subtle and more pointed and forceful. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name (Genesis 12:1-3, emphasis mine). If Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon, and Kilion suffered because of their sins, they deserved it. food. 1 Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! The women of the village said, Can this be Naomi? 20 But she replied to them, Dont call me Naomi! They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) The NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, also known as THE NET BIBLE, is a completely new translation of the Bible, not a revision or an update of a previous English version. Orpah seems to have no great spiritual interest in Israel or in the God of Israel. Because they had neither food nor money, Naomi chose to return to her homeland, Bethlehem, in Judah. In such a declared emergency, she reasoned, they must take extraordinary measures. Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church of Singapore, Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Australia, Missions, Sister Churches, Christian Schools. They no longer have their old or former husbands because they have died. After Mahlon died and Ruth had Having started off on a rather negative note, let me hasten to say that the Book of Ruth is a breath of fresh air for those of us who have just come from the Book of Judges. The suffering of His people, whether for sins they have committed or for living righteously, is but the prelude to His glorious salvation. There is a vital spiritual lesson to be gleaned from Ruth 1:1-5 (we covered its history in the last issue of the News). Therefore all those who separate themselves from the same, or do not join themselves to it, act contrary to the ordinance of God.At first blush, Ruth 1:1-5 records a very simple human story, involving a family of four, consisting of a man and his wife, Elimelech and Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion (2). 19 So the two of them journeyed together until they arrived in Bethlehem. Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? Mahlon, son of Naomi and Elimelech.