06.23.21
Naomi and Orpah
It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him. (Lamentations 3:22-24)
We are taking a little time to consider the little Book of Ruth, often referred to as ‘The Romance of Redemption.’ Today we wish to focus on two of the three women in this account which occurred during the days of the Judges.
Our leading figure is Naomi. She was the wife of a man who left Israel during a time of famine, moving to the land of Moab. She is the mother of two sons who, after marrying women, from Moab, both died. She was thus left in a strange land responsible for two young, widowed daughters-in-law.
All of these things are recorded in the first chapter of the Book of Ruth. What did Naomi choose to do in this tragic situation? She finally decided that it was time to return to her own country. We could say that she repented of the sin of leaving Israel in the first place. God has made it clear in His Word that His blessing is upon His people as they remain in their land.
Second, she developed the fruit of God’s chastening. The fruit was very bitter with the deaths of all her menfolk. She aged greatly in those years in Moab. She even wished to change her name from Naomi, which means ‘pleasant,’ to Mara, which means ‘bitter.’ She was experiencing God’s chastening, which always begins as bitter, but comes out as sweet as God’s child submits to it. We will soon see the grace of God at work after her costly sojourn in Moab.
Our second lady is Orpah, one of the daughters-in-law. Her name means ‘stubborn.’ She was raised in a heathen land without the light of God’s truth. The Moabites originated from Lot through incest. Their religion was one of gross idolatry, which included child sacrifice.
But by the grace of God, she came in contact with some people who knew the true God. She married into Naomi’s family and thus was able to see how people of God lived up close.
When Naomi decided to return to Israel, the two young widows had to make a choice. Would they stay behind with their people, or follow their mother-in-law? Orpah first chose to go with Naomi, but then changed her mind and chose to stay in Moab. She thus made the choice of her physical family over God’s family. She chose her gods over the One true God.
What a price she paid! She lost the blessing that Ruth eventually received. She lost a high place in history. But most important, and most sad, she likely lost her soul. We hear nothing more of her life, so we can only conclude that she returned to her parents, her wicked gods, and thus died as a lost soul and is now forever in hell.
Though this is a true account from 3500 years ago, it is cautionary tale for all time. When we have a choice to make between the truth and error, what path will we choose? We have that same choice today. We either come in repentance and faith to the Father through the Son to gain life, or we stay on our own path, and lose out on eternal life.
And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. (13) These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may continue to believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:11-13)