NAOMI, RUTH AND ORPAH (RUTH 1:6-18)

REFLECTION Naomi, Ruth and Orpah is theme for our reflection. Ruth and Orpah are the daughters-in- laws of Naomi. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah found themselves in a mutual situation, they all became widows but the most bereaved among them was Noami. Naomi lost her husband and her two sons who were husbands to Ruth and…

Jean-Paul Agidi

Feb 15, 2022

2–3 minutes

REFLECTION

Naomi, Ruth and Orpah is theme for our reflection. Ruth and Orpah are the daughters-in- laws of Naomi. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah found themselves in a mutual situation, they all became widows but the most bereaved among them was Noami. Naomi lost her husband and her two sons who were husbands to Ruth and Orpah respectively. After the death of Naomi’s two sons, she insisted that Ruth and Orpah return to their families so that they find for themselves suitors to marry. Orpah reluctantly returned but Ruth refused to go and said to her mother-in-law, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” (Ruth 1:16-18)

Beloved in the Lord, imagine Naomi had maltreated her two daughters-in-law when the sons were alive, she would have felt sorry for herself because Ruth and Orpah will not hesitate to leave soon after the demise of their husbands. It is evident that Naomi loved and cared dearly for her daughters-in-law just as she loved her own sons. Orpah eventually left, although she was hesitant but Ruth’s love and commitment to her mother-in-law law was beyond comprehension. Let us learn to love the spouses of our children as if they are our very own for tomorrow they may become our very own when our biological children are no more alive to love and support us in our old age. One good turn certainly deserves another. The grace of God was with Naomi in that she found the daughter that she never had in Ruth. God continues to work in miraculous ways in our lives, let us continue to trust in Him even when we are saddled with challenges and uncertainties of life, He makes a way where there is none. Shalom.

PRAYER

Gracious Lord, strengthen us to accept and love others unconditionally and may we receive same from them and be comforted in our most challenging moments. Amen

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)