(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Ruth 1:6–18, “Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread. Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah. And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept. And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me. And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.”
When Naomi lost her last son she decided to return home. There was no such thing as a widow’s pension and she had no husband or son to support her in Moab. On the other hand, there was a God designed program for supporting widows in the Law. Naomi also heard that the drought was over in Judah and they had food there. She set out to return to Bethlehem, which means “the house of bread”. At first her two daughters in law came with her but she told them to remain with their own families in Moab for they would be well cared for while Naomi had very little to give the. Even though the Law provided for a man’s brother to raise children with his widow in Israel, Naomi had lost both her sons and had no one to look after the younger widows either. Orpah understood the wisdom of Naomi’s advice and went back to her father’s house to be cared for by her loved ones. On the other hand, Ruth said she wanted to go back with Naomi. Ruth had been impressed by her husband’s people and their God. She wanted to stay with her mother in Law and worship Naomi’s God. She was another one of those people in the Old Testament who took a long term view of life rather than a short term view. She knew that, as time went by, the Lord God would prove to be faithful under all circumstances because He is consistent and had perfect integrity so He could be trusted for time and eternity.
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