JUN 3

Ruth 1:1-18
Memorise Joshua 24:15
“…choose you this day whom ye will serve…”

Ruth 1:1-18 is a very interesting passage, full of deep truths and meaning. Though, on the outset, it appears to be little more than a heartwarming story about family relationships, but if we dig a bit deeper, we realise it is so much more than that.

The passage starts off with a brief description of how the three main characters, Ruth, Naomi and Orpah, came to be in the situation in which they found themselves. Stranded in a heathen land with three freshly dug graves, two Gentile daughters-in-law, a heavy heart and nowhere else to turn, Naomi made a decision to return to her homeland in Judah. At the same time, she tried to persuade her 2 daughters-in-law not to go with her, but to remain with their kinsmen in their country. At first, both Ruth and Orpah proclaimed with one accord that they wanted to return with her. However, further coaxing from Naomi revealed their true colours. This brings us to the climax of the passage in verse 14, which is how they individually responded ultimately. Orpah’s kiss to Naomi was a farewell kiss for she had decided to stay in Moab with her family, while Ruth had decided to cleave unto Naomi and followed her all the way back to Israel.

Choices are what every Christian will have to make at various points in our lives, and this passage teaches us a very important lesson – which is the main point of this passage – on making choices: a good choice is not necessarily always the best choice. Orpah made the choice to bid farewell to her mother- and sister-in-law. We cannot say that it was wrong in itself for her to do so – the realities of the situation made it such that it would be more practical for her to stay behind rather than to pursue a seemingly hopeless life. However, Ruth made the far better choice to follow God’s will. This ultimately led her to a land where she was able to worship and know God, and to see God’s will fulfilled in the child that she would bear.

Dear teen, may you continue to seek the Lord even as you strive to dig deeper in His Word, trusting that His Holy Spirit will reveal to you its precious truths.

Thought: Understanding the main point of a narrative helps a lot in interpreting it.
Prayer: Lord, grant me a clearer understanding of Your Word.