Naomi with Ruth and Orpahin a drawing by Chagall
WORDS LIVED !
Unlike Oprah's half-hearted speech Ruth backed up these high sentiments with concrete action and refused to abandon her aged mother-in-law. Jewish tradition says that Orpah turned back just four miles outside of Moab and that she shed only four tears over the thought of parting from her mother-in-law Naomi. But the rabbis go on to say that in recompense for the four miles that she went with Naomi, Orpah gave birth to four sons - Goliath and his three brothers ! How different was to be faithful Ruth's fate ! Ruth by her act of obedience and selflessness earned her place in the genealogical line of the Messiah,Jesus. The King James in just five words succinctly records the place of Ruth the Moabitess in the blood line of Jesus of Nazareth…“Boaz begot Obed of Ruth…” (Matthew 1:5) What seemed back in Moab like a small act of fidelity from a daughter-in-law towards her late husbands mother, became in the fullness of time a pivotal link in the chain of events which would usher in a Saviour for the world. There are no small decisions, each day we choose a path that may have eternal consequences. The Scripture adjures us to make wise choices and Joshua challenges us to “Choose this day whom you will serve.?” (Joshua 14:25) Our answer to that particular request will have reprecussions not just here but for eternity !
Gerard O'Shea
.
WORDS SPOKEN WORDS LIVED !
.
One of my favourite stories in the Bible is the little book of Ruth which is tucked in between the weightier tomes of Judges and 1 Samuel. It tells the story of Naomi and her two daughters-in-law Ruth and Orpah and the events which unfolded after the two girls lost their husbands and Naomi her sons. Three women alone in the land of Moab without a male to provide and protect was not a viable proposition in the patriarchal culture of those days, so the mother-in-law decided to return to her own place of Bethlehem, encouraging the girls to remain behind and find husbands for themselves. Orpah shed a few crocodile tears and took Naomi's advice and remained behind but the Bible says that Ruth clung to Naomi saying, “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17)Unlike Oprah's half-hearted speech Ruth backed up these high sentiments with concrete action and refused to abandon her aged mother-in-law. Jewish tradition says that Orpah turned back just four miles outside of Moab and that she shed only four tears over the thought of parting from her mother-in-law Naomi. But the rabbis go on to say that in recompense for the four miles that she went with Naomi, Orpah gave birth to four sons - Goliath and his three brothers ! How different was to be faithful Ruth's fate ! Ruth by her act of obedience and selflessness earned her place in the genealogical line of the Messiah,Jesus. The King James in just five words succinctly records the place of Ruth the Moabitess in the blood line of Jesus of Nazareth…“Boaz begot Obed of Ruth…” (Matthew 1:5) What seemed back in Moab like a small act of fidelity from a daughter-in-law towards her late husbands mother, became in the fullness of time a pivotal link in the chain of events which would usher in a Saviour for the world. There are no small decisions, each day we choose a path that may have eternal consequences. The Scripture adjures us to make wise choices and Joshua challenges us to “Choose this day whom you will serve.?” (Joshua 14:25) Our answer to that particular request will have reprecussions not just here but for eternity !
Gerard O'Shea
1 comment:
Could this be where the term "Ruthless" came from?
Post a Comment