Falling in love with Jesus pt 5

by Leona Kidd

2 Chronicles 7 teaches that the cure for famine is to remain where you are and call upon God.  But Elimelech and his family went toMOAB.

In Psalms 108 God referes to Moabas His washpot, or Moab is my toilet bowl. 

In a sense Elimelech and Naomi were saying its getting tough here in the House of Bread (Jerusalem), the place of Praise (Judah), let’s go swim in the Toilet Bowl.

In Ruth verse 3 we see that Elimelech dies.

Verse 4 – Naomi’s two sons took Moabite wives, Oprah and Ruth.

Oprah means Youthful, or immature and Ruth means friendship.

They dwelt inMoabfor 10 more years.

Verse 5 – Both Mahlon and Kilion died leaving Naomi without her two sons and her husband.

Verse 6-21 Naomi hears that the Lord has provided food for the Israelites.

Naomi and her two daughter-in-laws leave the place they had been living, and set out to return to Bethlehem-Judah.

On the way Naomi tells the daughter in laws to go back to their homes.  They both wept – twice more Naomi tells them to return home as she is unable to provide husbands for them.  Oprah kisses her mother in law good-by but RUTH clings to Naomi.  Once again Naomi petitions Ruth to go home.

In a very devoted, loving, loyal and sacrificial statement Ruth says “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you.  Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.  May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

Ruth not only commits herself to Naomi, but she commits herself to Naomi’s God and her people.  Its not about a marriage for Ruth as she does not know whether the Israelites will accept her – a Moabite – or marry her.

Ruth and Naomi journey on until they come toBethlehemwhere the towns people greet them with great joy.  The women exclaim “CAN THIS BE NAOMI?”

“DON’T CALL ME NAOMI – CALL ME MARA. BECAUSE THE ALMIGHTYHASMADE MYLIFEVERY BITTER.   I WENT AWAYFULLBUT THE LORDHASBROUGHT ME BACK EMPTY.

Naomi went away with a husband and 2 sons, and returns without them.  Nor does she have a male child to carry on the name and  redeem their property.  Women were not allowed to own property.  Even though Elimelech had sold the property when they left forMoab, there is the right to redeem the property, or BUY BACK THELAND.