Three Women

Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; should have...: or were with an husband should have...: or were with an husband Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. tarry...: Heb. hope it grieveth...: Heb. I have much bitterness And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Intreat...: or, Be not against me Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. was...: Heb. strengthened herself - Ruth 1:6-18

    "Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

    The study of Bible characters is one of the most profitable and instructive aspects of Bible study. I like to study people as they are set before us in the Scriptures, because the Word of God always gives us an honest representation of them and they set before us the varied circumstances and conditions of the believer’s life in this world. Seeing the hand of God in the lives of others, it is easier for me to understand the Lord’s dealings with me.

    Naomi had moved to Moab with her husband, Elimelech, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. They left Bethlehem in a time of famine. But Elimelech had brought his family down to Moab, a pagan, idolatrous land. It proved to be a very costly move. Elimelech died in Moab. His widow, Naomi continued to live there for some time. Her sons both married Moabite women, in direct violation of God’s express command (Deut. 7:2-3; 2 Cor. 6:14). And they both died childless. Naomi was left in Moab, a widow with two daughter-in-laws, three widows in one household, poor, destitute, and alone. That is where we take up their story. Read Ruth 1:6-18.

    Here three women are set before us by God the Holy Spirit. They are set before us upon the pages of Holy Scripture for our learning and admonition (Rom. 15:40. Naomi - was a woman who believed God and, after a time of great trial, returned to the people of God and the place of blessing. Orpah was very much impressed with Naomi and started with her back to Bethlehem; but at last returned to her people and her gods. Orpah rerpresents those who profess faith in Christ, but do not persevere in faith. Ruth was chosen of God, the object of special grace. Her decision to return to Bethlehem with Naomi was more than an act of love to Naomi. It was an act of faith in Naomi’s God, the Lord God of Israel. Ruth is set before us here as a picture of a true believer. True faith endures trials and temptations and perseveres unto the end. True faith cannot be destroyed. These three women, Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth are examples both of what we should and what we should not be and do.

    NAOMI’S DECISION

    Naomi was a woman of remarkable faith. We do not know much about her husband, or her sons, but Naomi was a believer. She left Bethlehem with her husband. And she stayed in Moab after Elimelech died. Yet, her heart was never in Moab. As Lot’s wife looked back to Sodom with regret, so Elimelech’s wife looked back to Bethlehem with regret. It appears that, by one means or another, all the time she was in Moab she kept up with what was going on in Bethlehem (v. 6). She maintained correspondence with Bethlehem.

    Here is a work of providence. The providence of God was at work for Naomi. The Lord God always deals with his children a wise and loving father (Heb. 12:5-12). Because he loved Naomi, the Lord would not allow Naomi to stay in Moab. He would not permit her to continue there, away from Bethlehem, away from his people, away from his worship. But to get her back he had to deal with her in a very trying way. First, the Lord killed her husband. Then, he killed both of her sons. He made Moab bitter to her. Thank God for those painful, bitter thorn hedges that force us to return to him when we would forsake him (Hos. 2:6-7).

    Here is a work of the word. The Lord caused this chosen one to hear the good report of his grace toward his people. Naomi “heard in Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread” (v. 6). When Naomi heard what God had done for his people, she believed the message and arose to return to Bethlehem. “Faith cometh by hearing!” By some means or another God Got the good news to Naomi that he had visited his people and given them bread. This is the way God saves sinners. He sends a preacher to proclaim the good news of his rich, free, abundant grace. The Lord has visited and redeemed his people. The Bread of Life has come down from heaven. Whenever God brings deliverance to his chosen, he causes them to hear the good news of his accomplishments of grace (Rom. 10:17). He never by passes the use of means, the means he has ordained for the salvation of his people.

    Here is a believer’s work of faith (v. 7). “Wherefore she went forth out of the place!” There can never be a reconciliation with God without a separation from the world. Those who eat at the Father’s table have to leave the hog troughs of the world. You cannot serve God and mammon. A choice must be made. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve!” Naomi had made her choice, and so must we (2 Cor. 6:17; 1 John 2:15). She was determined to leave Moab and return to Israel. She was willing to leave her dearest and nearest relatives. Naomi was a true believer. She knew from whence she had fallen. She knew what she had lost. She remembered how blessed things had been in Bethlehem. And she was determined to return. She counted no cost too great.

    ORPAH AND RUTH’S PROFESSION

    Orpah and Ruth both ‘went on the way to return” with Naomi to the land of Judah. Naomi was an exceptional woman. Though she was a stranger in Moab, both her daughters-in-law preferred living with her to returning to their parent’s homes. Not only that, they were ready enough to leave their families to return with Naomi to Bethlehem.

    Even though Orpah and Ruth were pagan idolaters, Naomi was kind to them. Without compromising either the glory of God or the truth of God, she lived peaceably in the same house with them. She honored God and won their affection by her kindness. We could all learn from Naomi (Rom. 12:18). Kindness is always right!

    Naomi urged her daughters-in-law to go back to their own families. She commended their behavior (v. 8). She prayed for them (v. 9). Then she kissed them good-bye (v. 9). But both Orpah and Ruth professed a determination to adhere to their mother-in-law. “They said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people” (v. 10). Their emotions were high. They were all boo-hooing and sobbing. And they made an emotional pact. But it did not last. Decisions based upon sentiment and emotion rather than upon sound judgment do not usually last very long.

    Then Naomi persuaded both Orpah and Ruth, with strong reasons, to go back to their own families (vv. 11-13). Why did she discourage them? What was her purpose? Did she not want to save them from idolatry? Did she not want them to worship God? Without question, Naomi wanted both Orpah and Ruth to accompany her to Bethlehem. But if they returned with her, she wanted them to return, not for her sake, but because they wanted to.

    Those who take up a profession of faith in Christ in order to satisfy someone else, or in the heat of an emotional experience, prove in time to be useless converts. An old deacon and dear friend who is now with the Lord, Bro. Darrell McClung, used to say, “Anything born in the storm will die in the calm.” If Orpah and Ruth did come with her to Bethlehem-Judah, Naomi would have them make a deliberate, informed choice. She was not a good “soul winner” by today’s standards. She was honest. She said, “If you go with me, it will cost you” (Matt. 8:19-22; Lk. 14:28; 18:18-23).

    Opah was easily persuaded to go back to Moab, to go back to her family, and to go back to her gods (vv. 14-15). Orpah’s kiss showed that she had affection for Naomi; but she had greater affection for Moab and for all that Moab offered. Like Orpah, many today see great value in Christ and have an affection for him, but cannot and will not follow him, because they simply cannot find it in their hearts to forsake the world. Many Orpahs, because of adversity and excitement, run well for a season. But after a while, like Demas, because they love the world, go back. Frequently, they forsake Christ with a pretended kiss of friendship and love!

    The motives of every professed believer must be tested. Naomi said, “Why will you go with me?” (v. 11). No earthly inducements were offered. No worldly gain was to be obtained. Nothing but faith in, gratitude to, and love for the Lord Jesus Christ can induce men to follow him through thick and thin.

    RUTH’S RESOLUTION

    Though Orpah forsook Naomi, and in forsaking Naomi forsook the Lord God, Ruth could not be persuaded to go back - “Ruth clave unto her” (vv. 15-18). Grace had chosen her. Providence arranged all things necessary for her soul’s eternal good. And at the appointed time, grace fetched her to the throne of God. Ruth, with complete resolution, walked through the door of commitment and closed it behind her. In this, she is a pattern to all who follow Christ.

    As she saw in Naomi what Orpah could not, believing sinners see the beauty and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ as he is revealed in us by the grace and power of his Holy Spirit through the preaching of the gospel (2 Cor. 4:6). We are made to see who he is - the God-man our Savior. We are made to see what he has done for sinners, that he has both brought in an everlasting righteousness for us by his obedience and fully satisfied the law and justice of God for our sins by the sacrifice of himself. And God the Spirit has convinced us of the fulness and perfection of Christ as our Mediator.

    John Gill informs us that the Chaldean paraphrase of Ruth’s statement suggests that her commitment was more than a commitment to Naomi. It was a commitment to her God, his worship, his will, and his people. As such, it represents the declaration made by believing sinners in the waters of baptism. By that symbolic ordinance (Rom. 6:4-6), being buried with Christ in the watery grave, believers assert publicly to God, before all the world, “I take the Lord God to be my God. I take his people to be my people. I am resolved that nothing shall separate me from him.. Thus we have bound our souls to him with an oath, vowing to walk with Christ our God forever in the newness of life. Like Jephthah of old, we have lifted our hands unto the Lord. We cannot go back. Let us each, like Ruth, be “steadfastly minded” to follow Christ all the days of our lives.