Ruth Post 2

So, Naomi, Ruth and Orpah leave to head to Bethlehem, Naomi's home. How do you think Naomi felt as she was leaving to go back home?' Read verses 8-13 Naomi blesses her daughters-n-law and sends them back to their people. However, they plead to stay with her. Read Deut. 25:5-10 What is the responsibility of the brother-n-law when his brother dies? Naomi did not have any more sons for them to marry. She was older and pass the age of marriage herself. They were young enough to remarry and start over. Naomi's sons had married women from Moab. Read Gen. 19:30-38 Who were the ancestors of the Moabites? If you read Numbers chapters 22-25, you will learn that there was a deep hatred between the Israelites and the Moabites because the Moabites attacked and oppressed them after they settled in Canaan. It was against the Jewish law for them to marry women from foreign lands and of foreign gods. Naomi had good reasons for telling her daughters to go back to their people. *to find someone they could marry *the hatred between the Israelites/Moabites (they could have refused her in Bethlehem) *her own uncertainty for the future Verse 13, Naomi states that the Lord's hand had gone out against her. Imagine Naomi in a distant land, all alone, not knowing what her future holds. Women were not like they are today. They didn't have the same rights as we do. They did not even own property. She was much older now and there was no one to take her in and no one to marry her daughters-n-law and keep the family inheritance. Sometimes we feel alone and feel hopeless, just like Naomi. Then we get depressed, turn bitter and start trying to blame others. We might have friends and family trying to help us but we refuse because we think we deserve it or because we are afraid of getting hurt again and we don't want to step out on faith. Have you ever had an experience where you felt like you were having a hard time accepting help, or better yet, even their love. You turn away the people who care about you because you are afraid. Ruth and Orpah told Naomi they wanted to stay with her. But she told them no and urged them to go back. After much weeping and crying out, Orpah makes the decision to return to her home and to her people. She kissed her Mother-n-law farewell and was on her way. Ruth on the other hand, refuses to leave Naomi. Read verse 16 and 17. She gave up everything she had and everything she was. She gave up her people, her gods, and even her life. Ruth did not care that Naomi was bitter and was pushing her away. Ruth did not care if the people would accept her or not. She was committed to Naomi and vowed to stay with her till death. Ruth didn't give Naomi much of a choice did she! You'll read in verse 19, that the two went on to Bethlehem.