Ruth and Orpah
M&M’s or Skittles
Ruth 1
This book occurs during the period of the judges, near the beginning or middle of the period. When people follow their own mind, they lead themselves into disaster.
Elimelech moved his family to Moab, during a famine. While there, his sons married Moabite women. Then he died. Then the two sons died. The famine ended in Judah, so Naomi decided to move back.
On that journey, the two daughters-in-law followed.
At the crossroads of decision, both initially wanted to follow, but Naomi encouraged them to go back.
Orpah – “Double Minded”
The problem with Orpah doesn’t make the wrong choice, she doesn’t make the right choice, the problem is that
Orpah let someone make the decision for her, after urging Orpah went back.
Orpah disappears from history like most people who don’t make decisions.
Ruth
Ruth made a specific decision to follow the Lord.
Ruth goes to the field and glen corn for food. It just so happens to land on the field of the most eligible bachelor and a near relative.
She gets married and later becomes the great grandmother of David. She also becomes the descendent of Jesus.
If you could have gone back to the crossroads and show them a glimpse of the future, they would have fought to go to Bethlehem.