The famine was over back in Bethlehem, Judah. Even though Naomi had left the Promise Land with her husband, she knew that she could return back to the Father's house. This is a great reminder for us. If you've left your Father's house, you can always come back home.
Naomi knew that if she returned back to her hometown, she would get a warm welcome. She also knew that life would be different for her daughter in-laws, Orpah and Ruth. Their chances of marrying again were slim to none because they were from the land of Moab. They would continue to be widows and live in poverty.
Naomi loved her daughter in-laws. We know how difficult it could be at times for a mother to think anyone is worthy of her son(s). Let's not forget that these young women were foreigners who's background consist of idolatry and paganism. I'm sure Naomi, like most mothers, had in her mind what type of women she wanted her sons to marry.
Naomi shows a true representation of Christ when she accepted Orpah and Ruth. God accepts us into His family regardless of our backgrounds, ethnicity and idolatry. She was pleased with her daughter in-laws. These young women had been good wives to her sons. How could they not be good wives to her sons after Naomi embraced them as daughter's?
Because of her love for them, she encourages them to return home. She wanted the best for them. Naomi didn't want these precious women to live in poverty not knowing how they would be cared and provided for. She didn't have a next of kin to marry them according to the Mosaic Law. (Deuteronomy 25:5-10)
Naomi was selfless. She put the needs of her daughter in-laws before her own. Orpah and Ruth was all that she had left. But, she considered their needs before her own. We should consider the needs of others before our own. When we act selflessly, others are encouraged to follow our example. That's what Ruth did. Ruth's selfless act fulfilled the prophesy that Jesus Christ would be born in Bethlehem.
Orpah returned back to what was familiar to her. The worshiping of idols and pagan gods. Why is it when we're faced with a tough decision, we turn to what's familiar? Let's make the decision Ruth did when she clung to Naomi. We need to cling to God even if we don't know what the outcome is going to be. Ruth didn't know what would happen to her if she went to Bethlehem. At the time, Ruth didn't know that her decision would be recorded and remembered throughout history. Our decision may cause someone else to walk in their destiny and fulfill the call of God on their life. Let's not be like Orpah. Orpah was never mentioned again in Scripture. Ruth, however, was mentioned in the 1st chapter of the the New Testament. (Matthew 1:5)
Key verse - Ruth 1:16
But Ruth said: "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.
Let's make a declaration of faith like Ruth:
"I will not turn back to my old ways of living. I take my place in the family of God. They are my people and my dwelling is in their midst."
