Choices….To Leave or to Cleave
Ruth !:14 Then they wept aloud again, and Orpah kissed her mother in law (goodbye), but Ruth clung to her
Elimeleck and Naomi lived in Bethlehem -Judah (House of Bread and Praise) with their two sons Mahlon and Chilion. During a time of famine and hardship Elimeleck took the initiative and migrated with his family to the land of Moab (Waste). A nation that did not know Jehovah as their God and served other gods. They were pagans. O fear the Lord, ye saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him (Psalm 34:9)
The family was in Moab for ten years and during this time they shared the story of Jehovah their God. A holy and righteous God, a God who provides and protects His people. Within this land of plenty and prosperity tragedy struck. Elimeleck died in Moab followed by the death of his two sons. They went to Moab to escape possible death by famine but they died in Moab in the midst of plenty.
Naomi was left with her two daughters in law Ruth and Orpah in a paganistic land to fend for themselves. God had removed their fences. In her despair Naomi heard that the famine had passed in Bethlehem and again there was plenty at home in Judah.
The prodigal of the Old Testament arose and came to herself and started on her way home with her two daughters in law. When they came to the cross road, the place of decision, she encouraged them to stay in the country of their birth and start a new life.
Then they wept aloud and Orpah kissed her mother in law (goodbye), but Ruth clung to her (Ruth 1: 14)
Orpah and Ruth were converted, they loved Naomi, loved her stories, got to love the God of Abraham. At the cross road there was a choice to be made. Go on to Bethlehem to the unknown or stay in Moab where there is plenty. Orpah showed her affection for the church and the truth by kissing her mother in law but then she said goodbye, a kiss of departure. Like Lots’s wife she was in love with what she saw but could not take the step of faith.
Orpah separated herself not only from Naomi but also from the True and Living God. Sadly she set her face towards the city of plenty and the city of destruction. Her name is forever blotted out and is never again mentioned in scriptures, she reclines to obscurity, darkness and despair. She left…
Ruth chose to cling to the side of Naomi. (Ruth 1:16) I will go where you go, I will lodge where you lodge, Your people shall be my people and your God my God….
So Naomi returned from Moab with her Ruth the Moabitess and they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. (Ruth 1: 22) God honored Ruth’s courage. Ruth had a son named Obed and a grandson named Jesse who would be the father of David and from whose genealogy would come the Savior Jesus Christ.
Orpah left but Ruth clung. The word for today is cleave, in spite of your circumstances cleave. Cleave unto the Lord thy God (Joshua 23:8)