Ruth 1:1-5
1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to reside in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.
2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. So they entered the land of Moab and remained there.
3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.
4 And they took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other, Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.
5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
Ruth, a Moabite Wife
Migration to Moab
There are many unexpected hardships in life. That is no different even for Christians. In the face of such hardships, the choices we make determine our future. Do you continue to trust in God’s promises and remain where you are placed? Or do you act on your own judgment? In today’s passage, a man from Bethlehem in Judah named Elimelech is faced with a choice. Let’s take a look. (1) The time is “in the days when the judges governed” (v 1), which is the time of the Book of Judges. It’s a time when “there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 21:25). (2) Not only the Israelites were in spiritual turmoil, but they also were struck with material scarcity. Elimelech, a man from Bethlehem in Judah, faced impoverishment due to a famine that hit the land, leaving him in distress. (3) In order to save his family, he made the decision to leave Bethlehem and temporarily stay in the fields of Moab. He took his wife Naomi and their two sons and left their homeland. In the past, Abraham went to Egypt, Isaac to the land of the Philistines, and Jacob to Egypt as well, all due to famine. However, in the case of Jacob, his move was under God’s permission, whereas for Abraham and Isaac, it wasn’t.
Unexpected tragedy
Leaving the land given by God came with its dangers. Even in today’s passage, tragedy strikes Elimelech and his family who moved to the fields of Moab. Shortly after their migration, Elimelech passed away. Naomi was left to raise her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. After about ten years, they had taken Moabite wives, Orpah and Ruth. However, the two sons also died. Naomi was left with her two Moabite daughters-in-laws. It’s understandable that Elimelech wanted to protect his family, but leaving the promised land for that purpose can’t be justified. In our lives, there is a cross we cannot avoid. No matter how painful, we must bear the cross to obtain the things with eternal value. Let’s remember that changing our location or situation without God’s guidance won’t be a fundamental solution to our problems.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, even in the midst of trials, Your love and grace remain unchanged. Please give me the strength to carry the cross we are given. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.