A prominent man named Elimelech went to wait out the lean years in the neighboring land of Moab, with his wife (Naomi) and two sons. We are not told how long Elimelech may have waited before he made his fateful decision. She decided it was time to get out of Moab. Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! His intent was that once his sons would gain their consent, he would go back with his family to Bethlehem and have them converted. The next day, the other man refused to take Ruth, and she and Boaz were married. Even if she were able to bear children, it would be unreasonable for these two widows to wait 20 years for replacement husbands. No, in Naomis mind there was no good reason to remain with her as she returned to her homeland. Both the Benjamites sin and their judgment are similar to what happened in Genesis 19. That is ominous. Indeed, Ruth begins with a stark opening sentence that is intended to alarm the reader. The geological marvels, millennia in the making, drew more than 1. But in Old Testament redemptive narrative, famines often come to the land as God curses his people or tests them regarding their faithfulness. For instance, Samuel opens the story without naming Elimelech. 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. 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. Who will come without the frailty and weakness of Gideon?" 3 When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel. For example, the opening lines point us back to the book of Judges and one of the recurring themes in that book. Ruth would not only do this until death separated them, she would do so in death. 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. RecentlyI spoke on MEETING AT THE CROSSROADS and used the story of Ruth and Naomi to talk about what it takes to connect withothers and walk in the right direction. Ruths spiritual journey is similar to that of Abraham. Samuel immediately requires the reader to wrestle with the dire need of a faithful husband. 14 Again they wept loudly. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; Leaving His land, His people, His office-bearers, His worship and His day is leaving God. You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. The land of Moab had been a consistent place of curse for the people of God. They would be a reminder that Naomis sons their husbands had not married Israelite wives. When we read the Bible, we should expect to be taught the way of the covenant. The two were penniless, and supported themselves by gleaning grain (Leviticus 23:22) in other people's fields. Moab was a pagan land that worshipped many false gods and practiced human sacrifices. Do Eric benet and Lisa bonet have a child together? where did these children come from? (Isaiah 49:20-21). Thus, there was something covenantal about this famine. God said that Moab was strictly off-limits for the Israelites. People who want to stay in Moab. Abraham put the seed at risk when he represented his wife Sarah as his sister, and she ended up (temporarily) in Pharaohs29 (and later Abimelechs)30 harem. There is so much more to this story than merely the people in it this story is the story of the gospel. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. That is to say, the setting has redemptive or covenantal significance. She was married first to I might have taken her as my wife. It would do us well to review where the Moabites came from and how they related to Israel in the past. Naomi counseled Orpah and Ruth to do what seemed right in their eyes. Or, Ruth was Naomi's daughter in Elimelech was Naomi's husband. We shall see more about this in chapter 3. - Quora Answer (1 of 4): Because there was a famine in Israel, so he went to another country presumably Neither does she mention the mistreatment they would likely receive because Moab is Israels enemy, but they could probably read between the lines. Naomi did not doubt the existence of God nor did she doubt His power. 19So the two of them continued on their journey. Moses reiterates to the people of God that they must not only remain in the land He gives them, but they must occupy this land in spite of dreadful obstacles. Naomi doesnt mention that these women would likely not find an Israelite husband. 5 Then Naomis two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. 3:16).Ruth 1 itself indicates the spiritual significance of its first five verses. 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. Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. Because they had neither food nor money, Naomi chose to return to her homeland, Bethlehem, in Judah. Thus, we cannot say with certainty that the story of Ruth occurs late in the period of the judges, though this seems likely. Follow your sister-in-law back home! (Ruth 1:15). 12No, my daughters, return to your parents homes, for I am too old to marry again. There was a shortage of bread in Bethlehem, which towns name means house of bread. So what did Elimelech and his family do? That is precisely what Naomi did with Orpah and Ruth. A Jew who knows the law and doesnt live by it is not really a true Jew. Call me Mara because the Sovereign One has treated me very harshly. In the dark shadows of the days of the judges, we find two individuals whose lives are truly lights in the darkness. Naomi instructs us to beware of Calvinism run amuck. addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 + 'prca' + '.' + 'org'; The Moabites were known for their evil and for their false worship. For you are the temple of the living God. 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. Yet we are about to learn that the man who acts contrary to faithful service actually has a name that means God is King; he acts in complete opposition to his name. Learn more about our. I will be their God and they will be my people (Jeremiah 31:33). She has been convinced and turns back to her own country. In the past, Naomi was always portrayed in a somewhat flattering way. Elimelech chose to leave the land and to seek food from other fields. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. Then grief befell them in Moab! She had heard that the famine was over and was hoping to make a new start. In our text, Naomis conversation with her daughters-in-law is couched in language that gives the appearance that she is encouraging them to return to their families and their land because this would be in their best interest. 2). 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. 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. Moabwas fun, it was easy, and it was making me feel good. 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. In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the 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. The suffering of His people, whether for sins they have committed or for living righteously, is but the prelude to His glorious salvation. Ruth 1:2b. Naomi adds one final argument in favor of Orpah and Ruth returning home to Moab. 4 The LORD said to Moses, Arrest all the leaders of the people, and hang them up before the LORD in broad daylight, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, Each of you must execute those of his men who were joined to Baal-peor (Numbers 25:1-5). 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. 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. It has been supplied by the translators. How could any faithful Israelite encourage someone to return to their (false) god(s)? Be honest with yourself and recognizethat staying there is not good for you. 3Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. Elimelech is confronted with more than merely the problem of feeding his family; he has a covenantal choice set before him. The New Covenant promises that God will write the law on the hearts of those He has chosen for salvation, whether Jew or Gentile. God bless you! But sadly for his sons, then never comes, and they die in Moab. 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). 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). in 1971. ii. She would be buried where Naomi was buried. Stay in Bethlehem: risk starving their bodies. 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. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; They worshipped the god Chemosh, and apparently even offered this god human sacrifices (see 2 Kings 3:27). However, when that did not work, they turned to a different method. 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. People who are not traveling in the same direction. Naomi was preoccupied with the here and now, rather than trusting in Gods covenant promises by faith. 3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your children will conquer nations and will resettle desolate cities (Isaiah 54:1-3). He was not a faithful husband. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! Now that Orpah has decided to turn back, Naomi appears to have more leverage. And in good covenant form, she pronounced a curse upon herself if she did otherwise. That person is a true Jew at heart. And it happened or came to pass when the judges judged "famine" was in the land. 54-55). How wrong Naomi was. Nobody would yoke a donkey with an ox because one is smaller and it wouldn't work. B. Both women initially refused to heed Naomis exhortation to leave her and return to Moab. WebElimelechs Family Goes to Moab. Rather it points to the common problem of the progression of sins. The ultimate test is the Word of God and Naomis counsel, while it sometimes used Gods name, did not conform to Gods Word. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. This means that irony becomes the most important device for deepening our meditation on Ruth's story. They were both Moabite women, close to the same age. The best thing for Orpah and Ruth to do was to return to their people and their gods, Naomi concluded. The place known for refusing Israel bread is the very place Elimelech chooses to move his Ruth does not cling to Naomi as a kindred spirit, but as a very needy person. Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? 2 (Now the mans name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. Follow your sister-in-law back home! 16 But Ruth replied. Ruth was determined to serve and care for her mother-in-law; Orpah chose to look out for herself. To do it any other way was to disobey God. 1: Why did Elimelech go to live in Moab with his family? I pray that you, like Ruth, have forsaken all confidence in yourself and have cast yourself upon the one true God for salvation. Other translations have another another husband. Thus, we know that in these kinds of redemptive narratives famines are not random. Somehow God wrote His law on Ruths heart, not unlike Tamar and Rahab, her predecessors. How do you know when to leave and when to stay? married Boaz. And when both her sons died without bearing children, her situation seemed impossible. In Genesis 12, God tested Abraham's faith in his promises. 1In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. (8) All of this leads me to conclude that Naomi is not an example of faith, but an excellent example of Israels poor spiritual health. That strongly suggests that she was still a Moabite at heart, still an idolater at heart. What will he do? The Moabites were the result of the initiative and immorality of Lots oldest daughter. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Naomi not only disregards the Abrahamic Covenant, she also urges Ruth (and Orpah) to do likewise. The term she used to refer to Him Shaddai was a term that emphasized Gods great power. WebBible: Ruth Flashcards | Quizlet. she was the wife of Elimelech and the mother of Mahlon and Chilion "Then," he might say, "we will return to the land of promise." 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. In Judges 3, we read that the Israelites were subject to Eglon, king of Moab, for 18 years.8 Since the Moabites were not Canaanites, marriage to a Moabite was not strictly forbidden.9 Nevertheless, Moabites were not only regarded as aliens or foreigners, but also as second class citizens. Marriage to a Moabite was not something one did to gain status in Israel. The use of this word highlights for us the problem with trying to justify faithless living because it will only be for a short time. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; (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. Hi, I'm Carla! Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 6: What did Naomi tell the people in Bethlehem to call her? 21I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. [] Source: WHEN YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF MOAB [], Your email address will not be published. R. Simon b. Yoai contends (ib.) and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 9 He makes the barren woman of the family. Naomi should teach us to be careful about accepting the counsel of those who seem to be well meaning. The same is true for Naomi. To him be glory forever! Even the structure of the Hebrew in our story is similar to that of Abraham's story. 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. 11 In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. If you see what happens to Elimelech's sons you will remember Moab's method of destroying Israel. A pointer to the fact that, in moving from Bethlehem to Moab, Elimelech did not truly take God and His Word into account? If they were not faithful to this task, they would be tested even more severely and called back to faithfulness. In such a declared emergency, she reasoned, they must take extraordinary measures. Because Moab was a place known for its refusal to feed Israel bread. Do you recall what that method was? If Ruth is right in moving to Israel from Moab, then Elimelechs family were wrong in moving from Israel to Moab. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Chilion was the son of Elimelech and Naomi and the late 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. Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? Naomi and her sons lived in Moab for ten years and then both Mahlon and Kilion died as well, childless. From Ruth 4:13, one might infer that God prevented both Orpah and Ruth from bearing children to their husbands. This time it is Orpah who kisses Naomi goodbye. She then kissed both of them, a very clear signal of dismissal. What time does normal church end on Sunday? 3:15), and the fellowship of the saints, which is ultimately fellowship with the Triune God (I John 1:3)!Third, Elimelechs family left Gods office-bearers. So the woman was left all alone bereaved of her two children as well as her husband! Why were naomi and elimelech forced to flee Bethlehem and journey to moab? She was full when she had a husband and two sons; now she was empty, for all she had was Ruth. 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). Indeed, the structure of Judges begs us to ask about the future. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. They came empty (at least according to Naomis assessment see verse 21), but God would not let them go hungry (or childless). May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us! 18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more. One would have to begin by saying that these two women have a fair bit in common. And they will do this because they believe they are doing their friend a favor. Im an Assyrian not a Syrian. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Ruth's story has exactly this kind of setting as it regards the covenant. This means, says the rabbi, that Elimelech was only on a temporary journey. Of course, Moab is just such a place. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. You will note from the first verse of chapter 1 that the setting for the story of Ruth is the times of the judges. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. 15 They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, 16 on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus (Romans 2:12-16, emphasis mine). Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 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. Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? They struggled to find employment or they never really settled in their new environment or they experienced tragedy in their families (though few had it as hard as Naomi). 36 In this way both of Lots daughters became pregnant by their father. 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. He was clearly a faithless husband who led his family directly into death. When Naomi returns to Bethlehem, she finds most of the residents of the city still living there, and judging by what we are told about Boaz, they appear to have done fairly well. The son of the oldest daughter was named Moab; the son of the younger daughter was named Ammon. The psalmist maps out a common progression in the life of sin. 14 In her first attempt, Naomi issues a parting blessing, punctuated by a farewell kiss (verse 9). Moab. Return to Bethlehem (Ruth 1) 1 During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land 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. He keeps loyal love; that is, He is a God who perseveres in His love, and thus He is a covenant-keeping God. As well as the five indicators in Ruth 1, we should think about other, relevant, biblical teaching. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; And what accord has Christ with Belial? 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). We need to bear in mind that what is at stake here is the Messianic line, the line which will ultimately bring forth Messiah. 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).
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