ROLE PLAY (RUTH): Would you go back to Naomi?

A little backstory for context.

There was a man named Elimelech. He had a wife, Naomi, who bore him two sons. The name of the first was Mahlon and the other, Chilion. It was the time of the judges in Israel and a famine was biting hard in that period. In today’s parlance, you could liken the situation to an economic recession.

Like every rational man would do, a broke Elimelech added two plus two and subtracted four. He decided to hustle to another country, which was Moab. Here is the twist, however. God had sternly warned the children of Israel to have nothing to do with the Moabites, but sapa blocked his ears. 

Years rolled by and Elimelech died in a strange man’s land. 

Thinking Out Loud

• What kind of advice did Noami give her husband before they traveled? 
• Would it be safe to assume she had persuaded her husband and he refused as per “the Man of the house”? 
• Why didn’t she go back when she lost her husband? 

Anyway, back to the matter. 

Naomi took wives unto her children among the children of Moab. Unto one, she took Ruth and the other Orpah. They all resided in the land for ten years. Ten years in a strange land! Unfortunately, it took the death of her two sons for her eyes to open and for her to decide to go back home. Empty!

Despite her persuasion to her daughter-in-laws, Ruth claved to her and insisted on going with her. Orpah, on the other hand, decided she was not ready to waste her life and that she needed to explore. She meuved. 

Ruth followed Naomi and even promised to serve the God of Israel. Right there and then, God began to come through for her. Whereas, Orpah’s story ended in the book of Ruth chapter one. Ruth’s story and impact have transcended generations because she aligned with God. 

Then, Naomi got home and she did something. She asked people to call her ‘bitterness’. 

Thinking Out Loud

Personally, I still think that was not the wisest decision. But I digress.

Immediately Ruth chose God and stepped out, it was a step out in style, grace and fullness of God. She became gracefully encrypted. 

Remember Elimelech? The one in our first paragraph. Okay. He had a kinsman who was wealthy and responsible. Apparently, he met Ruth when she came to his farm to glean the field and that was it. Remember Esther’s story and how she found favour too? 

To cut the story short, Elimelech’s kinsman, Boaz, sought to marry Ruth. Well, they eventually did. But here’s the juiciest part; a discovery that is about to be unveiled. 

You know how it is when you stick with God and He comes through for you, right? Ruth marrying Boaz was just a tip of the iceberg. 

Ruth became a direct lineage of Jesus Christ. Ruth and Boaz birth Obed, Obed was the father of Jesse, Jesse was the father of David. 

Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

A couple of moral lessons from this story:

1. Ruth was loyal and committed to her mother in law. She did not neglect Naomi when she needed her the most. She was a consolation to Naomi.
2. Ruth put her trust in God and didn’t lean on her own understanding. Because of this she became a woman worthy to be in the lineage of Jesus Christ.
3. Ruth did not let her past determine her present and future. She hoped for a bright future and God granted her wish.
4. Ruth was hardworking, despite her sad past she worked hard. It was while she was gleaning the field in Boaz farm that he met her. Sometimes we need to get up and get out.

In today’s world, where uncertainties abound aplenty. If you were in Ruth’s shoes, do you think you would consider going with your mother-in-law? We’d like to hear from you.