The tallest lady in our picture today is Naomi. Her name means “Pleasant”, but she does not feel pleasant at all, because she has been ten years away from the Lord’s people, no wonder she is feeling very sad and lonely. Her husband and her two sons have died while the family was in a far country. And, little reader, if you choose as Naomi did, to stay away from the Lord’s people, you will have sadness and sorrow too.
But who are the two younger ladies in the picture? They are not in a very pleasant place, for we can see little else but stones and hare paths and cactus plants, but it is a very important place, because it is a place of decision. That means that these two ladies must choose whether they will go with Naomi to the land of Israel, or go home to their own people in the land of Moab. Israel was the chosen people of God, and Moab was the land of God’s enemies. What do you think they should do? Suppose you had stood there on the stony path, what would you have done?
You know, little reader, when you hear this story, you must make a decision too, and it is a very important one. Will you obey the Word of God, or will you go on in your own way without Him?
Orpah has already decided what to do. She is standing away front the others, ready to go back to the land of Moab, the land of God’s enemies, where she will not hear the Word of God and she can go her own way until she dies—but after death the judgment.
Ruth has decided too. She is going to the land of Israel, to God’s chosen people, to the land of the true God, and nothing can turn her aside. See how she holds Naomi with both hands! Ruth has never been in the land of Israel before. She will be a stranger there, but she is not afraid.
Do you not think that Ruth made a very wise decision? Will you not make that wise decision today, little reader? God wants you to come where you will learn more about Him, for His kindness and love are much too great for us to tell you until you know Him for yourself. His Word is full of kind messages for you, even though you are a stranger to God, yes, and an enemy of God. You are a sinner, but He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die, so that you could be near Him forever.
Will you go away, as Orpah did, or will you come to Him as Ruth did?
Next week, Lord willing we shall tell you the happy ending of Ruth’s story.
ML 11/09/1947