Choices we make in life
October 7, 2019
Commentary
Ruth was not from the children of Israel but from one of the heathen nations, the Moabites. God had commanded His people to have nothing to do with this nation because of their sinfulness (Deut. 7:3, 23:3). Ruth grew up in Moab and she knew nothing about living for God, instead she worshiped idols. One day a new family moved into her village (vv. 1-2). The father and mother of this family had 2 sons (Mahlon and Chilion). Ruth learned that they had come from Bethlehem in the land of Canaan. She learned that this family had come because there was a famine in their land. Perhaps Naomi, the mother, had told Ruth why they did not worship their gods but the true and living God.
One day, Elimelech, the father in the home died and Naomi was very sad (v. 3). Later Ruth married one of the boys in the family and the other son also married a girl from Moab whose name was Orpah (v. 4). Ten years later, both of Naomi’s sons died (v. 5). Naomi began to think about her old home and how she’d like to go back to Bethlehem (vv. 6-7). She told Orpah and Ruth her plans. When the day came for her to start back Ruth and Orpah went with her a little way (vv. 8-9). Their hearts must have been sad for they loved her very much (vv. 10-13). Then Naomi told them “It is time for you to go back. You are young and you will marry again. Go back to your people.” Orpah kissed Naomi and started back to her home but Ruth clung to her mother-in-law (v. 14).
Application
Ruth makes a choice. She gave up her family, her home and even her country. Because of her choice she will reap results from it. Am I making selfish choices or choices that put God first in my life?
Ruth 1:1– 14 (NET)
1 During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land of Judah. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons. 2 (Now the man’s name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) They entered the region of Moab and settled there. 3 Sometime later Naomi’s husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. 4 Both her sons married Moabite women. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) And they continued to live there about ten years. 5 Then Naomi’s two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. So the woman was left all alone—bereaved of her two children as well as her husband! 6 So she decided to return home from the region of Moab, accompanied by her daughters-in-law, because while she was living in Moab she had heard that the Lord had shown concern for his people, reversing the famine by providing abundant crops.
7 Now as she and her two daughters-in-law began to leave the place where she had been living to return to the land of Judah, 8 Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Listen to me! Each of you should return to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me. 9 May the Lord enable each of you to find security in the home of a new husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye, and they wept loudly. 10 But they said to her, “No! We will return with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi replied, “Go back home, my daughters! There is no reason for you to return to Judah with me. I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands! 12 Go back home, my daughters! For I am too old to get married again. Even if I thought that there was hope that I could get married tonight and conceive sons, 13 surely you would not want to wait until they were old enough to marry. Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! No, my daughters, you must not return with me. For my intense suffering is too much for you to bear. For the Lord is afflicting me!”
14 Again they wept loudly. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her.
Illustration: Nicholes My choice to follow Chrst
While on a US Army troop ship from New York to Germany, I heard an announcement that there was a protestant service in one of the compartments. My first reaction was, who would want to go to some kind of a religious service on a beautiful day like this? However, in a few more minutes another announcement was made, and I decided to go see what it was all about. When I arrived at the meeting there were only 10 fellows out of 2600 on the ship. I sat in the back and listened to a Navy Chaplain tell how you could be as sure of heaven as if you were already there. When he ended, he asked for any who would like to know more to stay behind. I was the only one who stayed, and he went through the plan of salvation with me. He then asked me if I would like to make a decision to trust Christ and I made the choice to take Him as my Savior. (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).