“The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.” Ruth 1:2 (NKJV)
We are going to spend some time in the book of Ruth. The first woman we encounter is Naomi. She was married to Elimelech and had 2 sons: Mahlon and Chilion. Elimelech was from Bethlehem.
The Bible tells us that they went to Moab because there was a famine in the land. (vs. 1) While they were in Moab, Elimelech died leaving Naomi with her two sons. “Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years.” Ruth 1:4 (NKJV)
Moab was a godless nation and in Numbers and Deuteronomy God had warned the Israelites not to intermarry with the Moabites. How could they expect any good to come out of marriages that God had warned them not to enter into? Both Mahlon and Chilion died without having any children, leaving Ruth and Orpah as widows along with Naomi.
Naomi decides it is time to return to Judah because she heard that there was food there now and she had no reason to stay in Moab. She is discouraged and as a widow has no idea how she will survive in Judah, but is trusting God to take care of her.
What can we learn from this part of Naomi’s story? Life can be harsh. Bad things can happen to good people. When we’ve gone to places that we shouldn’t go, God still calls us to come back to Him. God is faithful all the time! When all seems lost, I can find hope in Christ!
Listen to Adrienne Liesching as she sings “In Christ Alone.”
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 1/31/25, 6:00 am