“And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.” (Ruth 1:14)
This Scripture is from the book of Ruth and the time of decision for both Ruth and Orpah the wives of the sons of Naomi. Naomi’s husband had died and so had her sons. Naomi decided to return to Judah and told both her daughters in law to return to their families. (Ruth 1:2-9) Both Orpah and Ruth loved Naomi. Both of them cried. And both wanted to stay with Naomi. They both said they would follow Naomi to Judah. (Ruth 1:10) But when the time of decision came, Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, left Naomi and returned to her family. (Ruth 1:14)
Orpah returns to her family and her life as a Moabites. She is not heard from again and nothing else is heard about her. But the Word tells us that Ruth clave to Naomi. Ruth unwaveringly maintained her loyalty to Naomi and pledged to go wherever Naomi decided to go and live with her as a Jew, make God her God and to die a Jew. (Ruth 1:16-17)
It was easy to live like a Jew when all was going well for Orpah and Ruth. Their husbands were alive and providing for them. They had a home and food to eat. They could actively follow all the rules and regulations a Jewish wife had to perform. But now, there was no one to provide for them. Where would they live? What would they eat? It's easy to follow the Lord when everything is going well with us. We joyfully and thankfully praise the Lord for all of our blessings. We obediently read our Bibles and attend church. There is a smile on our faces and use Scriptural or “churchy” phrases in our speaking. But when things go bunkers, are we an Orpah or a Ruth?
When life is hard it can wound our hearts so that instead of hope, we despair and instead of faith, we doubt. We may not realize it, but our words and actions are telling. We return like Orpah to our former life of hopelessness. We may say things like, “What do I do now?” or “What will happen to me now?” Those simple phrases tell it all. What will we do? We will do what the Lord tells us to do. What will happen to me now? We are in God’s hand and whatever He chooses will happen to us. We will trust and believe that we are God’s child and He wants the best for us, although at the time of our difficulty it may not look good.
I think we all will have a Orpah and Ruth moment. Will we return to what we know, our old way of thinking and living? Or will we cleave to the Lord, believe the unseen and speak words of faith. Will we go to a life of obscurity or remain in God’s light, love and blessing. One thing we can depend on here on earth is that things always change. Things may get worse before they get better. When Naomi and Ruth get to Judah, life didn’t miraculous get better. Ruth had to find food. She worked as if she were one of the servants gathering corn left after the workers reaped the fields. It was humbling work. And Boaz had to tell his workers not to disrespect her. (Ruth 2:9) So I’m sure they were not easy on her before that.
Ruth was not a Moabites in her heart anymore. She trusted God’s Word in the lips of Naomi, her mother-in-law. She obeyed Naomi and found favor with Boaz because of her faithfulness to Naomi and her God. (Ruth 2:11-12) Will we obey the Word of God, the Word that He has spoken to us? Will our hearts be content with the turn of events in our lives? Will we continue in hope and faith?
We know how Ruth’s life continues. She is blessed beyond even her imagination. She marries Boaz who is rich and can provide for her and Naomi. So, in her blessing, she blesses others. Boaz becomes her redeemer, buying her land and becoming the father of his kin so that his family line continues. And she becomes the grandmother of King David whose reign is everlasting. That means that David’s reign is eternal and divine. And this is through Jesus Who comes through David and through Ruth. It’s the reign of Jesus which is eternal and divine. (2 Samuel 7:13) God gives Ruth a divine legacy in His books. And God promises us a divine legacy, an eternal inheritance. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12) When the proof of our loyalty to God is tested and approved, we will receive the crown of life.
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