Calendar

PROVIDENCE, DECISIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES (2)
FRIDAY, JULY 5
Ruth 1:4-10

1 Samuel 22:1-4

 

“And they said unto her,
Surely we will return

with thee unto thy people.”

 

PROVIDENCE, DECISIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES (2)
 
The news of the end of the famine and the visitation of God reached Naomi; it found her with no stake in Moab. The news she received was to her the call of providence beckoning her home, for the reason they had left and stayed away all these years was now no more as the famine had ended.
 
“Then she arose… that she might return… for she had heard…” (Ruth 1:6). The verbs are all in the singular, indicating personal actions. Naomi took the initiative to return home. Though she had dwelt long in the land of Moab, she was still concerned with the Land of Promise for “she had heard.” As Nehemiah at the king’s court was concerned with news from Judah, and received word from those who returned, Naomi was also concerned with Bethlehem and received word about the workings of providence there. The famine that had driven them away had ended and the Almighty had visited the House of Bread, blessing it with bread.
 
“And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law…” (Ruth 1:8). The decision to move back was here informed by the news of God’s presence and providence in Bethlehem. Her motive for her decision was clear. But what about her daughters-in-law? Why were they accompanying her on her journey back? As the three women walked, Naomi turned to Ruth and Orpah, and the dialogue addressed the issue of motives in decisionmaking. With a blessing, Naomi told them to leave her and to return to their mothers’ homes, showing that her decision was a personal one and she did not intend by the decision to involve them in a change of country. This was a call for them to examine personal reasons apart from filial loyalty for accompanying her. She told them to leave her and return home, so they had to have a reason to accompany her back to Bethlehem. However, they chose to cling to and go with her, possibly motivated by duty and love (Ruth 1:10).
 
THOUGHT: “Love is the only state of mind from which all the only other duties that you owe them, can arise.” (John Angell James)

PRAYER: (Read Psalm 108.)

Search