Compared to the 150 chapters of Psalms, the book of Ruth is deceptively light. Chapter 4 may seem insignificant, but there are tons of truths in this small but valuable book. Each name, place, and deed speaks of the indescribable glory of God, the splendor of the Church, and the indescribable wonders of Jesus Christ and the salvation available to those who believe.
The book begins with the story of a starving man and his family in Bethlehem, Judah. Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his two sons remain in Moab, suffering, weak, and anxious. Why do they leave Bethlehem in Judah, meaning the house of bread and praise, and go to Moab, a city named after Lot’s son born of incest with one of his daughters? Because of hunger! First, we must take into account the fact that we also encounter hunger in the church and in spiritual life. I know because I’ve been there. Sometimes I wonder if God has forgotten about us. Sometimes joy dries up, and the hunger of hope and despair seizes our souls. And in such a dry spiritual place, we must not wander far from home, either individually or even as a whole church. Elimelech saw the situation he faced and acted without the word of his Lord. When we are faced with a difficult situation in life, it is vital that we do not go beyond God’s Word. We must never leave Bethlehem Judah, the house of bread and praise.
After they entered Moab, Elimelech died, leaving his wife Naomi with two sons. After some time, her two sons married two women from the land of Moab, Orpah and Ruth. The names of these two women are also very important in this story. Orpah means “to turn away” and Ruth means “friend of God.” As we continue to read, Naomi’s two sons also died, Naomi’s husband and her two sons died, and she and her two daughters-in-law from the land of Moab were strangers to her. I find myself on land.
Now put yourself in her shoes. Alone in a foreign land, she suffers and is spiritually shrouded. Maybe you’ve found yourself in a similar place. Hunger can be caused by more than just food. Peace, joy, and hope for the future can be lost. It may be the loss of health, a loved one, or a relationship. Those dry places are where God can bring forth a harvest of life. Let’s see how.
Verse 6 says: “And she rose up with her daughters-in-law to return from the land of Moab, for she had heard that in the land of Moab her Lord had visited his people and given them bread. ” This is very comforting. Note that here, in the land of Moab, is a place of loss, grief, and irrelevance. At this place, she heard that there was bread in the place where she left. As you read this right now, you can hear God’s voice in the midst of loss, grief, and hunger. Our Lord is always near and always ready to visit His people with bread from heaven to feed your souls. What must we do when we hear God’s call? Read verse 7.” So she took her two daughters-in-law and left the place where she was. And they proceeded toward the land of Judah. ” This is our answer. As Naomi, we must come out of the spiritual loss we find ourselves in. Naomi left where she was, in this case Moab. You can also leave your current isolation location and take your loved ones and responsibilities with you. Not only did Naomi leave that place of loss, she also had a place in her heart to go. And that place was Judah, specifically Bethlehem in the land of Judah. She was returning to her home.
Like the prodigal son, Naomi was going home to more than just a home. Remember in verse 7 that she heard that her Lord had visited the land with bread. That bread is the precious words of God and Christ. We must preach the gospel. We must proclaim God as the bread, the manna from heaven that feeds hungry souls. Naomi heard the words. She rose from her place in Moab and went to Judah.
Judah, as mentioned above, means “praise.” Naomi was learning to praise again. She can only imagine how much heartache and bitterness she must have felt after losing her husband and her two sons. How many times have we found ourselves somewhere and wondered how we got there? Or maybe, like Naomi, someone else’s choices caused us loss and grief. Still, we must cultivate a heart of praise. As strange as it may sound, Naomi was heading towards Judah. She turned her direction to her admiration. If we are to turn back to God, it is essential that we learn to praise, even if we cannot see the fruits of change at that moment. In fact, one of the words of praise speaks of prophetic praise. Praise that a person offers for the blessings that are to come. Naomi left Moab. And we must also leave behind a place of loss and heartache.
Naomi told her two daughters-in-law to stay in the land of their birth and depart for Judah. One of her will stay and the other will stick with her. Her cutting was Ruth.
Notice that there are three women who have had three deceased husbands. It must also be noted that each of these women has a different ending. The Greek word for soul is psyche, and the gender is female. The word for spirit is pneuma, which has a masculine meaning. These three women (feminine in spirit) can represent the heart, or they can also be thought of as Paul speaks of her sanctification in the three realms of spirit, soul, and body. You can Therefore, your soul is feminine in a sense and is the realm of your mind in that it receives seeds and knowledge, whether you are male or female. These three women have three ways of thinking about her as a human being, and here’s how.
Orpah stayed in Moab. Her name means “turn her back.” Orpah had the opportunity to go to Judah, a land of praise and a place where God visited His people with bread. She remained behind. She never found what she needed most. She remained in the land of Moab, the land of the lost. Some never leave their sins behind.
As you read further, you will see that the story unfolds like this. When Naomi entered his hometown, many people said, “Here is Naomi.” Her response is in verse 20. “Don’t call me Naomi (joyful), call me Mara (bitter).” Because the Almighty treated me harshly. ” Beloved, if you turn away from communion with God and turn to the world, it will torment you. And listen. God didn’t do it to you. Too often we blame God for our own mistakes and choices. Naomi left Bethlehem Judah with her husband and her two sons and returned without them.
As the story progresses, Naomi teaches Ruth how a kindred savior can marry her and keep her husband’s inheritance intact. In a touching love story, Ruth marries a relative of Naomi’s, and Ruth becomes the wife of a wealthy man, albeit a Gentile, and they have a son named Obed, who becomes the father of Jesse. Yes, I’m talking about King David.
After all the suffering, starvation, loss, and heartache, who would have thought that David’s royal lineage would eventually emerge from what appeared to be chaos, confusion, and suffering? Orpah will turn away from him and remain in Moab, the land of loss. Naomi will return and she will be consoled to see her daughter-in-law marrying the wealthy Boaz. Ruth left the land of Moab, came to Bethlehem Judah, the house of bread and praise, married Boaz, and became perfect in that she produced a royal descendant, David, and ultimately the Son of God. You will have great recovery and fulfillment. Lion of the tribe of Judah.
Keep the faith. Do not wander into the land of Moab, even if you are in a dry place. In the days ahead, God will visit His people with bread. Stay close to the Lord and be faithful.
