Ruth’s Journey
“Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjuda went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons. “
- Ruth 1:1 (KJV)
“In the days when the Judges ruled:” This account begins in the closing days of the Judges, a 400 year period of general anarchy and oppression when the Israelites were not ruled by kings, but by periodic deliverers whom God raised up when the nation sought Him again.
Notable among the Judges were Gideon, Samson, and Deborah. Each of these were raised up by God, not to rule as kings, but to lead Israel during a specific challenge, and then to go back to obscurity.
“The days when the Judges ruled,” were actually dark days for Israel; the period was characterized by the phrase everyone did what was right in his own eyes as we see in the following scripture passages from The Book of Judges:
“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
- Judges 17:6 (KJV)
“In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.”
- Judges 18:1 (KJV)
“And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.”
- Judges 19:1 (KJV)
“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
- Judges 21:25 (KJV)
“A certain man of Bethlehemjuda:” In these days, a man from “Bethlehemjuda” left the land of Israel to “sojourn in the country of Moab,” because of famine. Bethlehem was a rich agricultural area, the city name means "House of Bread,” but times were tough, so he went to the pagan land of Moab.
To do so, he had to hike through the desolate Jericho pass, through the Judean wilderness near the Dead Sea, going across the Jordan River, into the land of Moab. This was a definite departure from the Promised Land of Israel, and a return towards the wilderness from which God had delivered Israel hundreds of years before. These were clearly steps in the wrong direction.
“A famine in the land.” God specifically promised there would always be plenty in the land if Israel was obedient. Therefore, “a famine in the land,” meant that Israel, as a nation, was not obedient unto the Lord as we see in The Book of Deuteronomy:
“And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you.”
- Deuteronomy 11:13-17 (KJV)
“Went to sojourn:” This means to leave with the intention to return. The next verse tells us the name of the man was Elimelech and his intention of short visit turned into ten, tragedy-filled years, and Elimelech never returned to Israel. The name Elimelech means "God is king,” but he didn't really live as if God was his king.
Christian brothers and sisters, remember, God is always King of His Kingdom and to His subjects, no matter who currently holds the seat of power!
God bless!
---------------
Ruth 1:2-5: Tragedy In Moab
“And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there. And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.”
- Ruth 1:2-5 (KJV)
“And Elimelech, Naomi's husband died:” When Elimelech and his family came to Moab, they did not find life easier. Elimelech soon died, and his wife Naomi was left to care for their two boys, Mahlon and Chilion.
It is hard to say that this was the direct hand of God's judgment against them. It is sometimes difficult to discern why tragic things happen. What is certain is that the change of scenery didn't make things better. We sometimes think we can move away from our problems, but find we just bring them with us. No matter where you go, you bring yourself with you - so the same problems can continue in a different place.
“And they took them wives of the women of Moab:” Mahlon and Chilion grew, and took wives among the Moabite women, named Orpah and Ruth. Again, this was not in obedience to God; God commanded the Israelites to not marry among the pagan nations surrounding them.
“And Mahlon and Chilion died: “As time went on, “about ten years,” Naomi's sons died. So now there were three childless widows, Naomi and her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth.
Biblical and historical scholars tell us that to be a childless widow was to be among the lowest, most disadvantaged classes in the ancient world. There was no one to support you, and you had to live on the generosity of strangers. Naomi had no family in Moab, and no one else to help her. It was a desperate situation.
Christian brothers and sisters, who do you turn to when you are in a crisis situation?
When in doubt, turn to God!
God bless!
Comments