“Tragedy All Around”
By Pastor Rich Paradis
Ruth 1:1-5
In
most stories of note, before the resolution and the morals of that story, there
is usually a time of tension that sets up everything. As we take off in our
study of the book of Ruth, there is a very similar tension that is set before
us. Please do not read these introductory remarks as unimportant or as
something to merely read as informational. There is tragedy and great emotion
before us, and this type of tragedy must be dealt with before we can move
forward. Let’s look together at the disastrous decisions and circumstances that
will lead us forward in the story.
I.
The
Setting and Introductions Ruth 1:1-2
a.
As
the story opens in Verse 1, we are
given an approximate timing for what is before us. The words “when the judges
governed (judged or ruled)” give us some insight into both the time and the
setting for our story.
b.
According
to Judges 2:10-23, the Israelites were in very tumultuous times. They were in a
particularly rebellious time that included the following and worship of other
gods and the anger of God against them. But in the midst of this anger, God
raised up judges who would deliver the people from their enemies. But the
people did not listen to these judges for long and would soon be back about the
things that they had needed deliverance from in the first place. This pattern
will repeat itself often in the book of Judges.
c.
The
times were chaotic and largely without morality, making this story and all of
its beauty especially appealing. But make no mistake about it; these were
difficult times that were full of difficult people and situations. This is the
time between the original conquest of the land led by Joshua and the time of
establishing monarchy under Saul.
d.
We
are next told that the land of Judah was in a time of famine. Famines were not
unprecedented in this time of history or in this land. They could occur as
result of a number of possible things: there could have merely been a prolonged
period without rain to sustain the crops and food sources, there could have
been widespread damage done by attacking enemies that would affect the ability
to both raise and provide food to the people, and sometimes there was even
famine that was caused by the hand of God Himself in judgment of the people. We
are not told the occasion of this famine, but we will be given some clues along
the way that might give us insight that it might be the latter of these reasons
in this case.
e.
The
town of Bethlehem in Judah is noted next. Bethlehem is, of course, a very
important town in the history of the Bible as it is the birthplace of both
David and our Savior Jesus. It will also offer both the setting for this
family’s departure and the ultimate return of the remaining family members
after an extended time in Moab. There is some irony in the very name of this
city and the setting that we currently find it. The name “Bethlehem” means “house
of bread”. A famine is not exactly what you’d think of occurring in a town with
this name!
f.
Because
of this famine a man, his wife, and his two sons take off from the famine
situation of Bethlehem to seek food and provision for a while in the country of
Moab. You could nearly read right over this and miss some critical lessons from
this story if you were not careful. Moab is a region that lies about 50 miles
from Bethlehem on the other side of the Dead Sea. It is a region of sparse
fertile land and a lot of desert-like terrain. It is also a place of troubling
history as it applies to the people of Israel. Moab was neither a friend nor a
place for an Israelite family to run to during difficult times. In fact, there
were specific restrictions placed on the people of Israel regarding the
Moabites, specifically regarding intermarriage which will become an issue in a
few verses.
g.
First
of all, we must note that the times that we are currently discussing were not
times of mobility like those that we live in today. People just did not move
away. To move away would be done in only the direst of situations because
leaving home would be to separate oneself from family and all familiar things.
The idea of this man was to take his family to Moab for a time (sojourn or a while)
until things were more suitable for his family’s return home by instead we will
find them there 10 years later and in some very difficult and tragic
circumstances.
h.
The
names of this family are given in Verse
2. In order the names given are:
i.
Elimelech
– a personal name which means “my God is king.
ii.
Naomi
– a personal name which means “pleasant”.
iii.
Mahlon
– a personal name which means “frail or sickly”
iv.
Chilion
– a personal name which means “weak”.
i.
Before
moving on, let’s think together about a lesson for all of us. What do you do
when difficult times fall upon you and your family? What would you be willing
to do to insure physical “success” in times of trouble? Elimelech (which means
“my God is King) will make some tragic wrong decisions that can offer lessons
for us in our lives regarding decisions made during difficult times:
i.
Elimelech
(and unbelief) will run from problems by:
1.
Walking by sight and not by faith. We see nothing
of him going to prayer for this gigantic decision he is about to make.
2.
Majoring on the physical and not the spiritual. While
“providing”, we must not move away from the provision of God.
3.
Honoring on the enemy and not the Lord. These
descendants of Lot were the last place that he should have run to.
II.
Tragedy
Occurs Ruth 1:3-5
a.
As
Verse 2 ends, we are given a clue to this family and their time in Moab. What
began as a sojourn, or a short time in Moab until things improved at home, they
“remained” there. This move from a temporary stay to a more prolonged stay (at
least 10 years according to Verse 4) will prove disastrous and will set up the
rest of the story. As Verse 3 opens,
we are introduced to the beginning of the disastrous circumstances which will
fall on this family. The patriarch of the family, Elimelech, dies. But he is not
just the patriarch, he is Naomi’s husband. A tragic circumstance of this death
is now a reality for Naomi; she is left with her two sons.
b.
As
time goes on, a time period that is not measured for us, these two sons take
Moabite women as their wives. Verse 4
reveals this information and we now have a situation where a violation of
Jewish law is taking place. According to Deuteronomy 7:1, and 3 there is to be
no intermarrying with those of other heritages and those that had previously
been enemies of God’s people.
c.
The
names of the two son’s wives are given as the verse continues. Chilion’s wife
is named Orpah, which means “firmness of neck”. This name could be connected to
both her beauty and stature which was depicted by her long, good-postured neck
or as a result of her coming abandonment of Naomi. We do not know this for
sure. Mahlon’s wife was named Ruth (See 4:10) and she will be a central person
in the rest of the story. Whether the time of the family’s stay in Moab is 10
years or the time of these marriages is 10 years is not given for us, but
remember that the time is noteworthy in that the family was only to be in Moab
long enough for times to improve in their homeland. But now they have
established life in Moab.
d.
If
the disaster of the patriarch dying was not enough, we now have Verse 5 open with the death of both
Mahlon and Chilion! The cause of their death is not stated in the text. Was it
judgment by God? Was it something else? We do not know, but we do know that
disaster has struck a ¾ of this family that had left their homeland to “avoid
death” by starvation. What a strange turn of events that now leaves Naomi left
behind by her family and now in a foreign land with her two Moabite daughters
in law.
III.
An
Application For All Of Us
a.
Some
questions to ask yourself as the story opens:
i.
What
are you willing to do to “provide”? Would you walk away from the provision and
the advice of God?
ii.
Do
you struggle in the areas that Elimelech struggled? Do you believe that
consequences follow giving in to these struggles?
1.
Walking
by sight (or circumstance) and not by faith.
2.
Majoring
on the physical and not the spiritual.
3.
Honoring
the enemy and not the Lord.
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