But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
The first five verses of this divinely inspired account paints a worsening picture of what was happening in Naomi’s situation, each statement moving from bad to worse. She lives in a place and time of extreme unrest with economic crisis and food shortages. With her husband and two sons, she leaves the family, culture, customs and land that God had given her people to settle in the land of their traditional enemies. There her husband dies and is buried in this foreign land, which was considered a terrible curse from God as a result of covenant disobedience. Naomi is left with her two sons, which can refer to “those who have survived the wrath or judgement of God” as a remnant. Her sons “took” Moabite wives, which is forbidden to God’s people (Deut. 7:3-4) and is an unusual expression which usually describes marriage by abduction (cf. Judges 21:23). The author probably means to point out that this was not the right kind of marriage that Elimelech and Naomi would have been raised to ensure.
Did you notice the progression initially from “sojourn”, like a resident alien, to “remained” and by verse four, “lived there about ten years”? This family was so immersed in pagan society that Naomi’s children are given pagan names! And after almost ten years, neither has any children by their Moabite wife, and then dies in their youth. Now the woman is left without her sons or her husband!
The original audience clearly understood that Naomi was suffering the covenant consequences for personal and national sin, and she is now in one of the worst possible situations as an older woman without property or land, inheritance or status, or family to support her, but she is in a foreign land and is responsible for herself and two daughters-in-law. Even worse, she is “left without” any child to carry on her husband’s name! In 2 Samuel 14:7, the woman before the king cries out “Thus they would quench my coal this is left and leave to my husband neither name or remnant on the face of the earth.” Naomi’s “coal” has been “quenched” and she is left without name or remnant, with no hope of salvation and no hope of inheritance, as that is all linked to having a child (cf. Gen. 38; Deut. 25:5-10; 1 Tim. 5:4-5).
I am reminded of who and what I am without God, before He started to reveal himself to me. The decisions I was making were “right in my own eyes.” I was totally immersed in the society around me and I had quickly and easily gone from sojourning to settling right in. Like Naomi, but through very different circumstances, God allowed me to start to suffer the consequences of my sin, brought me to the end of myself and stated to reveal Himself and bring me to repentance. Like we will see as we continue in Ruth, God in his mercy remains faithful when we are not. He keeps his covenant when we don’t and shows his loving-kindness to those who are undeserving. We will see God’s character and that His plan comes to pass despite sin and hard hearts, despite the chaos, and despite any and every circumstance!
Let’s pray:
God, there is none like you! You have created us, set us each in very difference situations and circumstances and yet know us, our days and every detail of our lives. Despite our grave sin and rebellion towards you in our hearts and actions, you have brought us to a place of acknowledging our depravity and shame before you, and have brought us to a place of repentance having started this good work in us. We are so grateful for your mercy and grace towards us that when we were still sinners, still your enemies, still in our rebellion and shame, you loved us, called us and started this work in us. You truly have showed your kindness to us who are so undeserving. Thank you for the situations and circumstances you used to bring me to repentance, to acknowledge you and thank you for the great work you continue to do today to cause me to walk in a manner worthy of you and to bring about my sanctification! Amen