When I was a little girl I used to constantly read the books of Ruth and Esther over and over again. We were encouraged at very young ages to try to get into a habit of individual reading apart from the family devotions. I was and still am a hopeless romantic. Cinderella was my hero! So I would read Ruth for the obvious romance and Esther because....well who wouldn't want to be queen and save the world?
Finally my dad told me, "Jaime, there are other books in the Bible...pick something else next time!"
So here I find myself once again going through a study in Ruth and Esther. It was chosen for the 12th grade girls at the church and we start it tonight. I get to start the lessons and I'm nervous. I'm always nervous because although I know the material, I don't know sometimes the best way to present it and what exactly the girls are going to need from it. I'm so glad God knows.
There is one over shadowing question in my mind. The amount of speculation that comes into play with the marriages of Ruth and Orpah to Mahlon and Chilion.
When the Elimelech gang packed it up and headed for the hills they were running away from famine, away from their land, their people....and their God. At first glance you think...the man's just providing for his family cut him some slack...but anytime that a Jewish individual took up residency in a pagan land, it was a picture that they were taking matters into their own hands and relying on their own strength. Essentially they were turning their backs on their God.
Disobedience Act 1: Elimelech decided that God could no longer care for his family and that he was going to need to do it himself. He headed to the land of their arch enemies...the Moabites. Unfortunately, trial followed him in Moab and he died there.
Disobedience Act 2: Weather or not the boys took their wives before or after their fathers death is not entirely clear. What is clear is that they shared their parents lack of respect for the God's laws and disbelief that God would provide. Soon after, they also died. Many speculate that their lack of trust and faith in God is what led to their death...this is not indicated in Scripture and can only be speculation.
The Blessing: So far Ruth is not such a wonderful fairytale aye? We have three men dead, and three widows without a penny to their names. Where is the blessing? Here, a picture of God's grace begins to peak through the clouds as Naomi decides to return home dejected, empty, and alone. In those last moments on the trail before heading down the mountain side Orpah leaves in tears. She's tasted of the God of Israel and all she sees is death and need. But then comes that beautiful speech...the speech so many now use as a picture of commitment in the wedding ceremony... Ruth says to Naomi, where you go, I will go, your people will be my people and your God my God! That is grace right there! God's grace! It is the testimony at the time of Ruth's conversion. She make the decision to follow God...to leave the world, her family, her friends, any chance of material possessions, all of it, behind her. She chooses to follow God....No Turning Back.
Does this mean we encourage disobedience. By no means....what it does mean is that even the stupid, faithless decisions of man cannot stop the work of Christ as He seeks and saves those who are lost. Either you will obey and follow Him and He will perfect His will in you and through you or you will decide to turn from Him and He will perfect His will in spite of you.
Choose to be a vessel of honor fit for His use!
Run with Patience
Heb 12:1
J~
