why did elimelech and his family go to moab

maio 1, 2023 0 comentários

(Now they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.) Notify me of follow-up comments by email. How could Naomi point them in the wrong direction? As I was studying our text for this message, it occurred to me that the text which describes the origin of the Moabites in Genesis 19 is a key to understanding the story of Ruth, and especially Naomis role in this account. As a relative of Boaz ( ib. To him be glory forever! Likewise, the foolish person who decides to live like this soon discovers the deadly character of such a decision. When they turned away from God, He turned away from them. What was the reason that Elimelech moved his family to Moab in the first chapter of Ruth? How do you know when to leave and when to stay? She was married first to has Naomi sold. And she was honored to be a part of the messianic line.34. The barley harvest will play a significant role in moving this story forward in the next two chapters. The Moabites had resorted to more than one way to curse and to destroy the Israelites. And Naomi was now ready to arrange for a marriage and offspring in an unconventional way, just as Tamar, the mother of Moab, and the Israelites (more recently) did. It was a good number of years ago that I sat in on an excellent elective class taught by my friend, Tom Wright. This takes risk, obedience, and movement in a totally different direction. If the reader knows redemptive history, then there isn't a place on earth worse than Moab for an Israelite to turn for bread. Moab was the nation that actually hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. He deliberately sought blessings outside of the land and thus outside of the covenant. Classis EastThis email address is being protected from spambots. And there is another difficult part of leaving Moab. Ruth opens with a startling statement of famine. Maybe you remember this from the story of Naomi and Ruththere was a third woman standing at the crossroads when they had to decide between staying in Moab or returning to Judah. daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Ruth 2:20 "The LORD bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Is God judging here? There was a shortage of bread in Bethlehem, which towns name means house of bread. So what did Elimelech and his family do? Ruth, a Moabitess, became Naomi's daughter-in-law. All rights reserved. In an effort to escape the famine, a man named Elimelech took his family to Moab, where he intended for his family to sojourn until the famine ended.10 How could he have imagined how long his family would stay? and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile, 9 He makes the barren woman of the family. In Esther, the people of God were supposed to return to the Promised Land, but they chose instead to dwell in the apparent peace and safety of Persia. Ruth 1:1-5. The best thing for Orpah and Ruth to do was to return to their people and their gods, Naomi concluded. Continue Learning about Religious Studies. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their standing stones to pieces (Exodus 23:24). You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. In spite of the fact that Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his two sons (Mahlon and Kilion) are living according to the spirit of their day (doing what is right in their own eyes), two people (Ruth and Boaz) stand out as examples of those who live by faith in the God of Israel, and whose lives exemplify living in accordance with Gods Word. TheMoabites had been horrible to the Israelites, refusing to give them water or feed them during their exodus from Egypt. Take note of the fact that Ruths covenant is not a short-term commitment; it is a lifetime commitment. To her, Gods blessings should appear now, in the form of bread, an eligible bachelor (marriage), and babies. They attempted to destroy Israel by getting them to marry their daughters. Famine drove them to leave their homeland and travel to Moab to make a new life. What Naomi does mention pertains to marriage and child bearing. The contrast between Ruth and Orpah. In the midst of her affliction and hopeless despair, God is at work preparing for the gracious things He is about to reveal to her and to the reader. Why There is a vital spiritual lesson to be gleaned from Ruth 1:1-5 (we covered its history in the last issue of the News). People who have chosen different paths. Do you have pictures of Gracie Thompson from the movie Gracie's choice. 21I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. This would have been One may rightly ask why we would criticize this poor fellow for trying to get his family some food. Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? The scene requires Elimelech to make choices about his family's future. Ruth Chapter 1 The story of Ruth and Boaz (yes, and even Naomi) should encourage us to live godly lives in dark days, days of unbelief, disobedience, and disregard for the Word of God. In Numbers 25:1-3 we read. WebThe 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. What a difference it makes to believe in a God who is in absolute control and who is also merciful and gracious, causing all things to work together for our good and for His glory, if we believe in Him. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; God had given the Israelite a way of understanding the world and life in the land. Then Elimelech, Naomis husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Bearing children was to be done Gods way. Elimelech faces the same kind of choice that Abraham faced. the portion of land, which belonged to our brother Elimelech. But she concluded that God was using His power against her, rather than for her. Surely this poor fellow doesn't understand the covenant". In her third attempt, she orders Ruth to follow her sister-in-law back home. For some who emigrated, it worked out well, but for others it did not. The inference is clear: to remain with Naomi has no promise of blessing and every reason to expect that they will share in her divinely-imposed affliction. In our text, Naomis conversation with her daughters-in-law is couched in language that gives the appearance that she is encouraging them to return to their families and their land because this would be in their best interest. 3, 4). The chapter begins, In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a man from Bethlehem in Judah left the country because of a severe famine. No wonder Naomi finally ceased trying to convince her to turn back (verse 18). In the dark shadows of the days of the judges, we find two individuals whose lives are truly lights in the darkness. Read More. 4 The LORD said to Moses, Arrest all the leaders of the people, and hang them up before the LORD in broad daylight, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, Each of you must execute those of his men who were joined to Baal-peor (Numbers 25:1-5). Tragedy Strikes the Family of Ruth He can respond out of a sense of fear and desire for food or out of a sense of faith. Others fail to see this teaching on church membership in Ruth because they have not fully grasped the robust biblical and Reformed doctrine of the church, as summarized, for example, inBelgic Confession28: We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and out of it there is no salvation, that no person, of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw himself to live in a separate state from it; but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it, maintaining the unity of the church; submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof; bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ; and as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them. The scriptures don't mention Naomi's parents, just the fact that The oldest daughter (who will become the mother of Moab) saw their situation as impossible. Design by Social Village. I am now inclined to believe that Ruth is an example of Romans 2:12-16. A Bethlehem forsaken for Moab - STEM Publishing You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = addy79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c + 'gmail' + '.' + 'com'; In her second effort, Naomi insists that her daughters-in-law must not return with her because it would only cause them to endure some of her affliction (verse 13). Your Moab. Ruth 1:2b. And then, within 10 years, both Naomis sons died. WebSee Page 1. His oldest daughter concluded that their father would die without an heir. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) var addy_text79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c = 'Stated Clerk';document.getElementById('cloak79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c').innerHTML += ''+addy_text79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c+'<\/a>'; 2014 Protestant Reformed Churches in America. Can this be Naomi? they asked (verse 19). Reformed Witness Hour Newsletter - January 2023, The Punishment of Rebellious Children (2). I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.'. addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = addy4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 + 'prca' + '.' + 'org'; She would have been very much at home in our Postmodern world. The term Ephrathites identifies the men with Ephrath. She returned to Moab. The famine in Ruth 1:1 was itself a judgment of God upon Israel for its sins (Deut. The final chapters of the Book of Judges are certainly the worst of times, and yet the Book of Ruth describes the best of times. This suggests to me that godly character is not only evident in the good times, but even more dramatically in the bad times. Rabbi Ginsburg argues that Elimelech is really not the problem; his sons are the problem. Sadly, many professing Christians today will accept a job in another part of the country or world, before even asking themselves if there is a good Reformed church there and without doing the requisite research. In the book of Ruth 1:1 we are told that there was famine in the She went on to become so righteous that God made her the ancestress of King David. Elimelech responds with fear and flight. It is as though she has forgotten Gods description of Himself in Exodus 34: 6 The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed: The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, 7 keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. And so they did. 3Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. WebWhy did Elimelech go to Moab? The stage is set, and the setting is loaded with redemptive meaning. Fifth, what about remembering Gods day and keeping the fourth commandment in Moab? He is faithful and always right on time! She was willing to sacrifice family ties, marriage, and a family to do so. Rev. var addy_text4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140 = 'Classical Committee';document.getElementById('cloak4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140').innerHTML += ''+addy_text4e942a4423f495800f38cd74f5bbd140+'<\/a>'; Lots daughters, the Israelites (on behalf of the Benjamites), and Naomi are inclined to resort to a pragmatic solution, rather than one that is faith-based and rooted in principle. moved to Bethlehem with her mother in law, Naomi, she met and And with Gods help and the support of others who love you and are moving in the same direction, make the decision to get out of Moab today. Shouldnt Ruth follow her lead? during the time of the judges in Israel. Were Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion all Israelites? There is no doubt that this is a great honor and privilege for a woman. Mahlon, the older son, died. Therefore all those who separate themselves from the same, or do not join themselves to it, act contrary to the ordinance of God.Rev. 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her. It certainly would be safer for the two women to travel together, but it is Orpah who will travel alone, not Ruth. But he was not aware that she had sexual relations with him and then got up. They would be a reminder that Elimelech and Naomi had left Bethlehem when the going got tough. For example, one might wonder, "Who is this guy anyway? A godly Israelite would not only trust in the one true God, Yahweh, they would also know that there are no other gods. Therefore, when we read of the times of the Judges and we also see that there is a famine in the land, we are confronted with a setting that is charged with theological/redemptive meaning. Access 50+ premium resources. When I realized this, I blurted out, What a witch!, much to the surprise of the rest of the class. she was the wife of Elimelech and the mother of Mahlon and Chilion I am reminded of Satans strategy in the Garden of Eden. WebElimelech Moves His Family to Moab 1 In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. We should never have taken that one step in the direction of sin. I also think it is something for us to seriously ponder. The two women, now forever bound together by Ruths covenant, continued on their way until they reached Bethlehem. The lot of widows was especially hard in those days, but for a widow in a foreign land, like Naomi, it was even more difficult.We are not altogether unfamiliar with stories like this. WebWhy did Elimelech and his family go to Moab? As well as the five indicators in Ruth 1, we should think about other, relevant, biblical teaching. I want you to think about Moab. The Lord continue to prosper your ministry. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. He took his family away from the covenant and proved to be an unfaithful husband. Subscribe today for access to my Free Faith Resource Library! Ruth is very significant as regards church membership, departing from the church and joining the church. For the children of the desolate one are more numerous. The crises of life are Gods pop quizzes, times when He puts our faith to the test, times when He gives us an opportunity to put our faith on display. The Story of Ruth Her God is all powerful, but not merciful and gracious. We read in Deuteronomy 23:3-4. First, she insisted that Naomi must cease urging her to turn back. And they will do this because they believe they are doing their friend a favor. And so they, like Lots daughters (the oldest one in particular), devised a scheme whereby the line would be preserved, albeit apart from faith and obedience to Gods Word. It is available on the Internet at: www.netbible.org. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' Blessings to you and your ministry as well. As the story of Esther unfolds, it looks as though every Jew is doomed to annihilation, but for the providence of God, whereby Gods enemies are destroyed and His people are spared. The sons married Moabite women and later died, and Elimelech also died.Naomi decided to return to Israel, and her daughter-in-law, Ruth the Moabitess, accompanied her with the intention of converting to Judaism. Serving the god(s) of Moab (or any others) was an abomination to God: You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). His name was Nate Mirza. Who was Elimelech in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Ruth became acquainted with the Jewish family and with their religion. Now Israel remained in Acacia Grove, and the people began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. 19So the two of them continued on their journey. Orpah chose differently than Ruth and Naomi. But Ruth refuses to abandon Naomi and clings to her tightly. Naomi also made it clear that this was because (in her mind) God had dealt harshly with her.16 Naomi measured Gods blessing only in terms of food and of family. Ruth does not cling to Naomi as a kindred spirit, but as a very needy person. This was the place that was characterized as the place of famine for Israel; Moab was known for withholding bread from Israel. In such a declared emergency, she reasoned, they must take extraordinary measures. ii. i. We should learn from Naomi that if barrenness is ones earthly fate, our heavenly fate is vastly different. This should not come as news to us, but it is a truth that has not come easily to Jews, even some Jewish Christians.33 It is Naomi who fails to live up to the faith of her fathers, while Ruth is an example for all to follow, Jew or Gentile. You may not even notice this at first, but the very first man in the story remains unnamed. She believes in a God who is all powerful, but who is not merciful and compassionate. Her name was Orpah. As Orpah kisses Naomi goodbye and turns back toward home, Ruth clings all the more tightly to her mother-in-law. (Ruth 1:1+2). 37 The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. Naomi But it is not the essence of what our life in Christ is about. Naomi advised Ruth to glean in the field of Boaz, since he was a relative of Elimelech. A famine plagued Israel in the days of the judges. Sometimes we have to leave people too. So a man named Elimelech, who belonged to the clan of Ephrath and who lived in Bethlehem in Judah, went with his wife Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion to live for a while in the country of Moab. Judging for sin? var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; If Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon, and Kilion suffered because of their sins, they deserved it. The reader is required to peel back these layers of irony so as to deepen his appreciation of God's grace and mercy to the needy. document.getElementById('cloak79beab5da96ef5c7e556d8524343f19c').innerHTML = ''; Bible quiz - Ruth Flashcards | Quizlet And in good covenant form, she pronounced a curse upon herself if she did otherwise. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law had already set out for Israel11 when Naomi began to have second thoughts not about her return, but about having two Moabite daughters-in-law in tow when she arrived at her home town of Bethlehem. In Ruth, this element of the curse of the Moabites is also mentioned. Did Billy Graham speak to Marilyn Monroe about Jesus? In addition, anyone who wants to share the Bible with others can print unlimited copies and give them away free to others. 12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. has Naomi sold. 1 Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! The next thing we know, we find ourselves sitting in the seat of the fool. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. This is the first Bible study on Ruth 1:1-6. What was the reason that elimelech moved his family - Course Hero This seems to be designed to provoke some questions in the mind of the reader. Moab was a place of cursing for the people of God. 34 So in the morning the older daughter said to the younger, Since I had sexual relations with my father last night, lets make him drunk again tonight. Samuel immediately requires the reader to wrestle with the dire need of a faithful husband. As they entered Bethlehem, they became the talk of the town. Naomi was now left without a husband, without sons, and without grandchildren. No wonder God forbade Moabites from entering the assembly to the tenth generation.7. In this emergency, she was proposing an unconventional solution to their problem. Wouldnt it be better for the two of them to travel together? It would do us well to review where the Moabites came from and how they related to Israel in the past. Those who place too much emphasis on marriage and child bearing should listen well to these words of Scripture: 6 He bends down to look at the sky and the earth. Follow your sister-in-law back home! 16 But Ruth replied. Q. A Jew who knows the law and doesnt live by it is not really a true Jew. To an ancient Israelite, the idea of famine in the land should have confronted them with a theological challenge. I am always seeking fellow travelers on the journey, so I hope you stay awhile, check out my free resources, and find encouragement for your soul. I hate to say this, but after being involved in ministry for many years, I would have to say that some of the worst counsel I have ever heard has come from well-meaning Christians. The Messianic seed was often put at risk in the Old Testament. So God says in Deuteronomy 4:1.