Ruth Series 3
Orpah shook Ruth back from her day dreaming and both of them smiled to themselves knowingly.
“Orpah, do you think that God has a reason for my being here?”
“Sister In-law, from the little I know about their God, he doesn’t make mistakes, he always has reasons for the things he does” “Now hurry to have a bath go to sleep, you have a long day ahead of you”
How can this God that claim to love her so much take away the source of joy from her and her sister-in-law, at least if he didn’t love her he should have considered her aged mother-in-law, Naomi. Well her husband had told her never to question God, but it is so hard she sobbed.
“Ruth and Orpah, today is the day I go back to my homeland as I have heard that there is no longer famine in the land, go back to your parents as you are still in your prime and can still get husbands, but I have no sons anymore that I can give to you in marriage”
Ruth looked at her frail mother-in-law and her heart wept for her, they both reached out and gave their mother-in-law a hug.
“Mama, we are not going back to our father’s house”
After much persuasion from their mother-in-law, Orpah hugged and kissed her mother-in-law goodbye and turned to go back to her people.
“Ruth your sister-in-law has gone back, surely you also must return now to your parents, as I have nothing to offer to you”
And Ruth said, “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay: your people will be my people, and your God will be my God: Wherever you die, I will also die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and worse, if anything but death part thee and me”
She thought to herself “what else do I have to lose?” my parents have dis-owned me; I can’t get a husband even if I go back because the guys my age are weary of me. I am going to miss my dear friend Orpah, but I can’t leave Naomi now, I have come too far to go back.
She carried her head up high as soon as they stepped into Bethlehem, this was another phase of uncertainty in her life. The town women rushed to hug Naomi leaving her by the side.
She thought to herself “Well I lost my husband too, and I don’t mind a hug also” but they all acted as if she wasn’t even standing there, she just let out a big sigh as she tagged along at the back to a new place that she would call home. She could hear her mother-in-law tell the town women to call her “Mara” instead of “Naomi” because the Lord had dealt bitterly with her.
Ruth shivered “Oh Lord! I don’t really know what plans you have for me here but let your will be done”
To read Ruth Series 2 click here