The Messianic seed was often put at risk in the Old Testament. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. What is this you have done to me? The scene requires Elimelech to make choices about his family's future. Humanly speaking, staying with Naomi does not offer much promise of a good life for these Moabite widows. It must have been on Naomis watch that these two sons married their Moabite wives Orpah and Ruth. 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. WebBible: Ruth Flashcards | Quizlet. Many tears were shed, but in the end both women refused to leave Naomi and return to their mothers home. Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the LORD forever, because they did not meet you with bread and water on the road when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole village was excited about their arrival. Here is a story that not only warms our hearts, it encourages our faith by unveiling the providential hand of God in bringing salvation and blessing during one of the darkest periods in history. Thus, we cannot say with certainty that the story of Ruth occurs late in the period of the judges, though this seems likely. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). Ruth 1:2b. Elimelech felt his family was at a crossroadsand made a decision to leave. May you grow in giant leaps in Jesus Name. More tears are shed. I also think it is something for us to seriously ponder. This is exactly what Boaz commended Ruth for doing: 10 Ruth knelt before him with her forehead to the ground and said to him, Why are you so kind and so attentive to me, even though I am a foreigner? 11 Boaz replied to her, I have been given a full report of all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband how you left your father and your mother, as well as your homeland, and came to live among people you did not know previously. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her. Is God telling you to get out of Moab? WebWhy did Elimelech and his family go to Moab? WebElimelechs Family Goes to Moab. Orpah seems to have no great spiritual interest in Israel or in the God of Israel. The Cross And Separation From The World (1 Peter 4:1-6), 7. moved to Bethlehem with her mother in law, Naomi, she met and When they return, Ruth meets Boaz, and he fulfills the role of kinsman redeemer. var addy6abc068fa8d6d6e3ed55f5c6ed881e19 = 'spronk' + '@'; At this point in time, one would not think that Naomi would be at the top of the list in the hall of faith: 13 These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. She seems to have little or no conviction regarding her sins, the sins of her husband, or of the sins of the nation. The famine in the land informs us about more than the climate; it awakens us theologically to the unfaithfulness in the land. The two sons married: Mahlon was joined to Ruth and Chilion wedded Orpah (4).However, the two marriages remained childless and worse was to follow. No! has Naomi sold. His oldest daughter concluded that their father would die without an heir. Those who place too much emphasis on marriage and child bearing should listen well to these words of Scripture: 6 He bends down to look at the sky and the earth. 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. Naomi saw singleness (widowhood for her) and childlessness as a curse, while Paul taught that singleness could facilitate ministry to others and to God (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. She would go where Naomi went and live where she lived. What is wrong with reporter Susan Raff's arm on WFSB news. After Mahlon died and Ruth had The two were penniless, and supported themselves by gleaning grain (Leviticus 23:22) in other people's fields. Because Moab was a place known for its refusal to feed Israel bread. To this we shall return in our next article in theNews, DV. Not only is Naomi unable to provide these women with husbands (and thus with children), God is also dealing harshly with her. A descendant of Nahshon mentioned in connection with the erection of the tabernacle (Numbers 1:7). var addy_text4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = 'Classical Committee';document.getElementById('cloak4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140').innerHTML += ''+addy_text4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140+'<\/a>'; The ultimate test is the Word of God and Naomis counsel, while it sometimes used Gods name, did not conform to Gods Word. Where did Elimelech die? 2). This would have been WebWhich was our brother Elimelechs He calls him their brother, because he was near of kin to them. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. Elimelech died (of what, we are not told), leaving Naomi a widow, and Mahlon and Chilion orphans, in a foreign land (3). 8 Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds, 9 for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans. Many, including me, are troubled by the times in which we live, but this is no excuse for ungodly behavior. She had given up all hope. Thus he trusts in this James 1:15. He came alongside Eve as her friend, as someone who was doing her a favor. 3:16).Ruth 1 itself indicates the spiritual significance of its first five verses. 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. We know that this backfired because Balaam could not curse those whom God had blessed.5 When this approach did not work, Balaam counseled Balak how to harm Israel in a very different way by having the Moabite women seduce the Israelite men.6 One might easily infer from this that the Moabites, like the Canaanites, were a sexually immoral people (in a way that tempted the Israelites). Thus, the use of the word lagur can be explained as related to geirut conversion. It would seem to be significant that Naomi told Ruth that Orpah had returned to her god. As they entered Bethlehem, they became the talk of the town. Elimelechs family left the land God gave them in Bethlehem, which land was a sign of the heavenly inheritance.Second, Elimelechs family left Gods people. var addy_text4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = 'Classical Committee';document.getElementById('cloak4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140').innerHTML += ''+addy_text4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140+'<\/a>'; God bless you! (9) What we know (and Naomi does not) is that God is about to do a wonderful thing for her, solely on the basis of His grace. Famine in the Old Testament is a call to repentance and to covenant renewal. 3, 4). Thus, we know that in these kinds of redemptive narratives famines are not random. Both were related to Naomi in the same way. Naomis second effort13 will be less subtle and more pointed and forceful. This email address is being protected from spambots. Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! There was a famine in the era of the Judges. 32 Come, lets make our father drunk with wine so we can have sexual relations with him and preserve our family line through our father. 33 So that night they made their father drunk with wine, and the older daughter came and had sexual relations with her father. There is nothing random, therefore, about the construction of biblical narratives. She decided it was time to get out of Moab. Named after a female character, Ruth could be described as a romantic book, for it begins with several tragedies and it contains a courtship (of a sort) which issues in a marriage (between Ruth and Boaz) and the birth of their son (Obed). WebScarcity of food compelled him to emigrate with his family to Moab, where he died, and where one of his sons married Ruth ( ib. Its tough to do. (1) There is no clear link to a particular time, to a particular judge, or to a particular event recorded in the Book of Judges. Can this be Naomi? they asked (verse 19). Lines and paragraphs break automatically. 11 In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. It is not only Ruth and Naomi who benefit from Gods work in the Book of Ruth, for everyone who has been saved by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ has been saved by the offspring of Ruth and Boaz. What are the duties of a sanitary prefect in a school? In Judges 19-21, we find a similar situation. He says this because the Hebrew that Samuel uses to describe Elimelech's action is the word for "sojourning!" Such is not the case, my friend, and seeing her as some kind of heroine will distort our understanding of the message of this wonderful book. The inference is clear: to remain with Naomi has no promise of blessing and every reason to expect that they will share in her divinely-imposed affliction. 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. Surely it fell short of what Ruths experience will be. Would he trust in God's promise to provide food for his family in the land or would he leave in fear? We see how heedless it was for Elimelech to seek refuge in this land for the reasons that he did. Ruth was born in Moab about B.C. 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). Is Brooke shields related to willow shields? Webwhy did ruth and orpah make a different decision +27(0)11 048 1418 / (0)11 656 2000; subaru sambar parts canada; arkansas game wardens by county. Will he respond with repentance and humility or will he seek blessings outside the land? 1 Copyright 2010 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. She persuaded her younger sister to help her get him drunk, and then for both of them to sleep with him to produce offspring for him. Leaving the people of God is leaving the God of His people. Today, to depart from a true church, manifesting the three marks of faithful preaching, sacramental administration and discipline (Belgic Confession28-29), involves leaving pastors, through whom Christ teaches us; elders, through whom He rules and supervises us; and deacons, through whom He shows us mercy (Belgic Confession30-31).Fourth, Elimelechs family left Gods worship at the tabernacle, where God had manifested His presence in the Shekinah glory. Fearing they would be overrun by the Israelites, Balak (king of Moab)4 hired Balaam to curse Israel. 12 Go back home, my daughters! And thus there is no evidence of repentance on her part at this point in time. Naomis first attempt is described in verses 8-10. (Ruth 1:1-22)2. Indeed, Ruth begins with a stark opening sentence that is intended to alarm the reader. At first they hired Balaam to curse Israel. They insisted on going on to Israel with Naomi. The Promised Land, which was supposed to be characterized as a fruitful land, is now described as dry. When famines strike the land, they are not the result of a bare meteorological phenomenon. For I am too old to get married again. "Then," he might say, "we will return to the land of promise." I am reminded of Satans strategy in the Garden of Eden. (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. Is it also a suggestion that the emigration of Elimelech and his family from Bethlehem to Moab is of a piece with the disobedience of that period? and a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. And yet as the story of Ruth unfolded this time, it suddenly became obvious to me that Naomi was no role model. Samuel does this, not just once or twice, but he layers the whole story with irony. In moving to Moab, Naomi left the Lord to some extent and for some years. 6: What did Naomi tell the people in Bethlehem to call her? Naomi did not doubt the existence of God nor did she doubt His power. Ruth is very significant as regards church membership, departing from the church and joining the church. Some years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely Christian in a hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is as though she has forgotten Gods description of Himself in Exodus 34: 6 The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed: The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, 7 keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. This family would have journeyed north to Jerusalem and then crossed the Jordan River by Jericho. It led to a hopeless fatalism: It doesnt really matter what I say or do; God is against me, and there is nothing I can do about it.. This was the land in which God had already killed the men of Israel for the very same action. 2 These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods. People who want to stay in Moab. Ruth does not cling to Naomi as a kindred spirit, but as a very needy person. lived and so they went to Moab where conditions were better and get You should do the same.. during the time of the judges in Israel. We read in Deuteronomy 23:3-4. He turned his back on them and He dried up the land. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25), Ruth: A Story of Redemption -- A Study of the Book of Ruth. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; The more Naomi protests her miserable state, the more we are being prepared for a great work of God. It is a beautiful story of redemption and restoration. Web1. 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. 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). When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. When a famine came to the area around Bethlehem, Elimelech and Naomi moved to Moab (Moab was the name of Lot's elder Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. Cursed shall be the fruit of your body and the produce of your land, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. But he was not aware that she had sexual relations with him and then got up. His counsel (even though it effectively called God a liar) was given as though it were in her best interest. The oldest daughter (who will become the mother of Moab) saw their situation as impossible. From Ruth 4:13, one might infer that God prevented both Orpah and Ruth from bearing children to their husbands. But ten years later tragedy hit struck again as both of Naomis sons diednow leaving three women defenseless, alone, and with no way of supporting themselves. 12No, my daughters, return to your parents homes, for I am too old to marry again. Your threshing shall last till the time of vintage, and the vintage shall last till the time of sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely (which is exactly what we see later when Boaz the faithful husband responds to God with faithfulness remember he lays down on a huge pile of harvest from the land). And so they, like Lots daughters (the oldest one in particular), devised a scheme whereby the line would be preserved, albeit apart from faith and obedience to Gods Word. He and his sons die in Moab leaving his wife and eventually his daughter in law, Ruth, to return to Bethlehem. She was not a Jew, and she had not been raised by parents who taught her the law. Because of a famine, they relocated to Moab, a neighboring country where there was food. It would do us well to review where the Moabites came from and how they related to Israel in the past. Of course, Moab is just such a place. The women of the village said, Can this be Naomi? 20 But she replied to them, Dont call me Naomi! var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; Moab was a place of cursing for the people of God. We are connected theologically with the last verse of Judges as it unfolds in Ruth, but with curses that will be reversed by a faithful husband rather than a judge. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 17 Wherever you die, I will die and there I will be buried. Moabwas fun, it was easy, and it was making me feel good. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Why did Elimelech take his family to Moab?, Why was it wrong for Elimelech to take Q. The Moabites had resorted to more than one way to curse and to destroy the Israelites. In Esther, the people of God were supposed to return to the Promised Land, but they chose instead to dwell in the apparent peace and safety of Persia. The stage is set, and the setting is loaded with redemptive meaning. Orpah chose differently than Ruth and Naomi. 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. I would be very reluctant to conclude that Ruths husband or his parents taught her the law. 15 So Naomi said, Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. James illustrates the progression in the following way: Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. We need to bear in mind that what is at stake here is the Messianic line, the line which will ultimately bring forth Messiah. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In her second effort, Naomi insists that her daughters-in-law must not return with her because it would only cause them to endure some of her affliction (verse 13). 25 Translations differ here, but I think that this daughters choice of words is very important to consider. He took his family away from the covenant and proved to be an unfaithful husband. var addy_text79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = 'Stated Clerk';document.getElementById('cloak79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c').innerHTML += ''+addy_text79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c+'<\/a>'; 2014 Protestant Reformed Churches in America. Ruth's story springs up beautifully in the context of this agonizing cycle of failure, except with Ruth we are pointed to the need for more than a judge; there is a need for a faithful husband. 2 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible. We can almost hear him telling himself and his family, "Look, I know that we shouldn't be doing this, but we will only stay until the famine has ceased!'. The term Ephrathites identifies the men with Ephrath. Web214 views, 46 likes, 14 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Reels from Prayers Move Mountains: Ruth 2:20 "The LORD bless him!" so this might not seem like a big deal to us. The subject was the Book of Ruth. She returned to Moab. PRC-Related: RFPA, Standard Bearer, Reformed Witness Hour, Etc. I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. There we read of the Sodom-like immorality of some of the Benjamites in the city of Gibeah, which resulted in the near extinction of their tribe. When we read the Bible, we should expect to be taught the way of the covenant. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel. Required fields are marked *. Thank you, sister friend! Indeed, the structure of Judges begs us to ask about the future. The closing chapters of the Book of Judges contain some of the most gruesome accounts in all of the Bible homosexual Benjamites want to rape a guest in their city; a woman is brutally gang raped by these same men; her husband seems more than willing to sacrifice her to save his life, and then he chops her dead body into twelve pieces which he delivers to every part of Israel. Arches National Park is famous for its iconic arches. 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. document.getElementById('cloaka1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68').innerHTML = ''; 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. There is no doubt that this is a great honor and privilege for a woman. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, here is a brief summary of just the first chapter: The book of Ruth opens with an Israelite, Elimelech, leaving Bethlehem with his wife Naomi and two sons, Mahlon, and Chilion. WebAccording to the Bible, why did Elimelech go to live in Moab with his family? I might have taken her as my wife. Pat. (Now they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.) A Jew who knows the law and doesnt live by it is not really a true Jew. DO YOU HAVE A MOAB THAT YOU NEED TO LEAVE? 14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c + 'gmail' + '.' + 'com'; If you have time this week, my suggestion is to go to the book of Ruth and read it. God had given the Israelite a way of understanding the world and life in the land. 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. Obviously, Naomi had changed. However, when that did not work, they turned to a different method. How do you know when to leave and when to stay? . Famine in the land of promise can mean only one thing; God is testing with his people. In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the 28:23-24).Together these first three factors are, to say the least, suggestive (three deaths, no reference to God in this scene alone in Ruth, and the dark days of the judges); the next two arguments are more explicit and are based on the words of Naomi and Ruth.Naomi states that, in the death of her three menfolk, the hand of the Lord is gone out against me (Ruth 1:13) and the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me (20). has Naomi sold. WebWhat happened to Elimelech in Moab? She has chosen to permanently leave her homeland and family and to embrace Israel, the Israelites, and Israels God as her own, forever. 19So the two of them continued on their journey. 4 So her sons married Moabite women. This email address is being protected from spambots. The word of God required him to hold fast to the promises and thus to seek the restoration of the land. What a difference it makes to believe in a God who is in absolute control and who is also merciful and gracious, causing all things to work together for our good and for His glory, if we believe in Him. The contrast between Ruth and Naomi. All scripture [including the first five verses of Ruth] is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in0 righteousness (II Tim. I hate to say this, but after being involved in ministry for many years, I would have to say that some of the worst counsel I have ever heard has come from well-meaning Christians. 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. They were both Moabite women, close to the same age. 20 It could well be that Orpah had much to say, but the author did not wish to focus on her as she is not the heroine of this story. Moab. Warren Wiersbe, one of my favorite Bible teachers, puts it like this: Emilelech walked by sight not by faith and took his whole family right down with him. A godly Israelite would not only trust in the one true God, Yahweh, they would also know that there are no other gods. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; 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. And it happened or came to pass when the judges judged "famine" was in the land. Stay in Bethlehem: risk starving their bodies. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer[b] and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?. This is the origin of the Moabites and the Ammonites. Naomi, that is come again out of the land of Moab, selleth a parcel of land; meaning, that she was determined upon it, and was about to do it, and would do it quickly, and he had it in commission to propose it to a purchaser: which was our brother Elimelech's; not in a strict sense, but being akin to the kinsman and himself, and having been a neighbour of them all, and an inhabitant of the place, he is called their brother; though some Jewish writers (f) say, that he was in a strict sense a brother of Boaz and this kinsman, and that Tob, Elimelech, and Boaz, were brethren, and so Tob was reckoned the nearest kinsman, and had the first right to redeem, because he was the elder brother but this does not seem likely; See Gill on Ruth 3:13. There was a shortage of bread in Bethlehem, which towns name means house of bread. So what did Elimelech and his family do? 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! (4) While the author does not make a point of it, it seems reasonable to assume that the famine (as well as the deaths of Elimelech and his two sons) was a manifestation of divine discipline. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; WebWhy did Elimelech go to Moab? Reformed Witness Hour Messages for May 2020, Corporate Responsibility and Ezekiel 18 . I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands! addya1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68 = addya1ecccfd0b401858a2877dcb45f7be68 + 'sbcglobal' + '.' + 'net'; Not even death would separate them. It was a bad start, and sadly things didnt get any better over time. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) document.getElementById('cloak4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140').innerHTML = ''; I am now inclined to believe that Ruth is an example of Romans 2:12-16. A very happy ending!Considering the book theologically, Ruth is significant for four main reasons that have been widely recognized by Gods people. (2) There is no indication that other Israelites from Bethlehem (or elsewhere in Israel) accompanied Elimelech and his family to Moab. 10 The rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return, but instead water the earth and make it produce and yield crops, and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat. And one of these two Ruth is a Moabite, not an Israelite. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.'. 3 When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel. Judah (through whom the messianic line would be traced) kept his third son from a Levirate marriage with the first sons widow, and then had sex with a woman he thought was a cult prostitute.31 God not only preserved the messianic line, He was faithful to fulfill His (Abrahamic) covenant32 with Abraham.
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