Three Graves in Moab (Ruth 1:1-7)

        W.G. Heslop writes, “The book of Ruth consists of less than 100 verses, and yet it would be impossible to exhaust it during the lifetime of a minister preaching from it every Sunday. . .It is a garden enclosed, a mine filled with the rarest and richest gems and rubies, a treasury of illuminating truths."

In the book of Ruth, there are scenes that are tragic, domestic, romantic, dramatic, historic, and prophetic. Yet each scene is a mine filled with precious gems. It is one of two books in the Bible that is named after a woman. There is Esther, a Jew who married a Gentile husband; and Ruth, a Gentile who married a Hebrew husband.

A fitting title for the book would be The Love Story of Redemption. The Book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of Christ’s great love for us and the redemption He purchased for us. The key word and thought in the book is that of a “close relative” (NASB) or  “Kinsman” (KJV) (Note 2:20). As we go through the book we will see this love story of redemption unfold and be reminded that Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer.

[2-Ruth 1:1-7]

The opening scene of the book is tragic, for we find three graves in Moab.

     1     Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.
     2     The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.
     3     Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.
     4     They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.
     5     Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.
6       Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited His people in giving them food
7       So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.

Let’s notice the story behind these 3 graves. First, lets notice:

1. THE DEPARTURE FROM THE LORD
We read, “Now it came about in the days when the judges governed” (Vs.1). The word “now” connects us to the former book of Judges.

Judges closes with the words, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Jud. 21:25). There was the absence of a ruler over the land and the absence of righteousness in the life.

When the King of Kings is not ruling, there will be no righteousness. When one has made Jesus Lord and King of their life, they will no longer do what is right in their own eyes, but do that which is right in God’s eyes. Many a believer is doing their own thing instead of God’s thing. They sit upon the throne of their heart instead of Christ ruling and reigning over their life.

The result of this tragic condition was a “famine in the land” (Vs.1). Famines in the Bible were often a sign of God’s displeasure and chastisement upon the nation of Israel. God had said, “Or the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not  yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the Lord is giving you” (Deut. 11:17). The famine revealed that there had been a national departure from God. Israel as a nation was suffering the consequences of doing what was right in their own eyes. The famine in the land revealed the folly of their life.


In the opening verses of Ruth, we also see a personal departure from the Lord. We see a husband and a wife by the name of Elimelech and Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. At the beginning, we learn of their tragic departure from God.

The name “Elimelech” means, “My God is King.” Elimelech reminds us of a Christian who has served God and lived for God because God is King in their life. He is called an “Ephrathite” (Vs.2), which means “fruitful.” He reminds us of one who had lived a godly and fruitful life. We also sadly see that he illustrates the Christian that is out of the will of God, living away from God and disobedient to God.

The name “Naomi” means, “pleasant.” She reminds us of the contentment and happiness one finds as they live for God and serve Him. But she, like her husband, reminds us of how that joy and happiness is lost when one is out of fellowship with God.

As we look at this departure from the Lord we see:

A. The Land They Were Leaving
The place they left was “Bethlehem in Judah” (Vs.1). Their home was the town of Bethlehem in the country of Judah. The name “Bethlehem” means, “House of bread.” “Judah” means “praise.” They were leaving the house of bread and the land of praise. It reminds us of a believer leaving the will of God and getting out of the House of God.

There is not a greater place to abide than in the will of God. There is no greater place to attend than the House of God. To abide in the will of God fills the heart with heavenly praise. To attend the House of God feeds the soul with heavenly bread. The will of God is a place of spiritual rejoicing, and the House of God is a place of spiritual resources.

This is the place we see Elimelech and his family leaving. They first left the city limits of Bethlehem, and then left the borders of Judah. They first got out of the House of God, and then out of the will of God.

We also see:

B. The Land They Were Living
We read that they “went to sojourn in the land of Moab” (Vs.1).  In Psalm 108:9, we find an interesting description of Moab. We read where God says, “Moab is My washbowl.” J. Vernon McGee says that one way to paraphrase what God was saying about Moab would be, “Moab is My garbage can." (2) They were leaving the House of bread for the garbage can. They were leaving the land of praise for the washbowl.  Moab was a place that God frowned upon. Its people were an outcast people. Moab in the Bible is a type of the old man and the fleshly desires of the old life. Elimelech’s journey is illustrative of a Christian leaving God and going back to the old life.

Moab was only a short distance from Bethlehem. Yet the river Jordan stood between the two places. We often think of Jordan as a type of death. But actually Jordan is a type of the death, burial, and resurrection of the believer into the power of a new life. The Bethlehem side of Jordan represents the spiritual man. The Moab side of Jordan represents the natural man. Elimelech and Naomi remind us of a believer who, at one time, had God as King in their life. They were in the will of God and the house of God, living a fruitful life. Yet now, they are living in the world, seeking the things of the world and the flesh.

We read that Elimelech and Naomi “went to sojourn” (Vs.1) in Moab. Yet we read, “They entered the land of Moab, and remained there” (Vs.2). Their original plans were to be in Moab for a short time, but they ended up making their home there. There are many out of God’s house and God’s will that never planned on being where they are. In fact, they never dreamed that one day they would be out of God’s house and God’s will.

They began missing on Wednesday night. After all, they were so tired and it was so hard to get ready and get to Church on time. It was not long before they began to miss a Sunday here and there. Things came up, you know, but there were no plans on getting out of Church and getting away from God. They allowed this and that to keep them out of Church. In time, they found themselves completely out of Church. They eventually found themselves doing things, going places, and living a lifestyle they never thought they would ever live again. They found themselves away from God.

We see that not only did they settle down in Moab, but their children took to themselves wives of the Moabites. We read,  “They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.” (Vs.4). Marriage among the pagan nations was strictly forbidden by God. The parents' departure only led to a further departure in the children.  Many a child is out in sin and has no room for God in his life because of parents who drifted from God.

The story of Elimelech and his family can be told by many. We see a departure from the Lord. As we continue looking at this story, we also see the results of leaving God. Secondly, notice:

2. THE DISCIPLINE BY THE LORD
Just as an earthly father will discipline a disobedient child, God will discipline His disobedient and straying children.

                 Hebrews 12:6 says,  “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines,
    And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

   The writer of Hebrews describes both a process and a procedure of God’s discipline.

First he tells us that God disciplines His children. The word speaks of child training. It is like a parent teaching a child what is right and wrong. Second,  we read that God scourges his children. The word “scourges” speaks of punishment and is descriptive of giving a child a spanking.

When our children were small, at times they would do things and we would say, “That’s a no-no, don’t touch that again. Don’t you do that again.” Sometimes we would smack their little hands. We were “disciplining” or “chastening” or training the child concerning what he should not do. But if after several times of saying, “No-no,” if they kept on, things became a little more intense, if you know what I mean.

At times God says, “That’s a no-no, that’s wrong.” At times He may “spank our bottoms.” But if we continue on in our sin, God takes more drastic measures. He may have to take us out behind the barn. When we look at Elimelech and his family we see this process and procedure of discipline.

Notice with me:

A. The First Acts of Discipline
In verse 2, we find the names of their two sons. Mahlon means “sickly, ill, unhealthy.” Chilion means “pining, wasting away, puny.” It would appear that Elimelech and Naomi had begun to drift from God in their hearts before they ever left Bethlehem-judah. A departure from God always begins on the inside long before it is seen on the outside. The names of their children would seem to suggest that God had already begun a work of discipline to get their attention. These boys seem to be the first acts of discipline in their life. A sick child doesn’t mean that the parents are sinning, but in this instance, such was the case.

One day God gave them a little boy. Yet the child was not healthy. He was sick and ill. In the Bible, parents often named their children after certain characteristics of the child or a message received from God. They held that little sickly baby in their arms and named him Mahlon. It was as if God was saying to them in that sickly child, “Your heart is getting cold toward Me. You are drifting away from Me.”

Then another son was born into the family. This child was small, puny, and pining. No doubt with a saddened heart they named him Chilion. Again, God was speaking to their hearts. It was as if God was smacking their hands and saying, “That’s a no-no, you need to get right and once again walk with Me.” Both of their children would seem to suggest that God was trying to get their attention.

Also notice:

B. The Fatal Acts of Discipline
First God disciplines (or chastens) us, and if that does not get our attention, He scourges us. The first warnings were ignored and finally God’s discipline was drastic and fatal. We read, “And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died” (Vs.3). “Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died” (Vs.5). 

Paul writing to the Church at Corinth said, “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep” (I Cor.11:30). Paul was saying that because of certain sins, many had been disciplined by God. Some were weak and others were sick. Some were even dead (sleep) as a result of God’s discipline. There are times when God has to deal with His children in firm ways. He even declares that at times He has to deal in fatal ways.

Whenever a Christian gets out of the house of God, and the will of God, God will discipline. He will deal with them patiently and lovingly. But in time, if there is no repentance and a return to God, He will deal in a more drastic measure. A departure from the Lord will always bring the discipline of the Lord.

God has his ways of bringing His children back home. We have seen the departure from the Lord and the discipline by the Lord. Thirdly, think with me of:

3. THE DESIRE FOR THE LORD
There was left in Moab three lonely and grieving widows. No doubt as Naomi walked to the cemetery she asked herself, “Why did we ever leave Bethlehem-Judah? Why did we ever get out of God’s house and will?” She no doubt recalled the days when God was King and the days of happiness they had enjoyed. Life had been so pleasant.

We read, “Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited His people in giving them food” (Vs.6). She heard of how God was blessing His people again. The famine was over at last. The people had come back to God. It was this news, coupled with all that had happened, that created in her heart a desire to return to God.

In her desire we see:

A. Her Repentance
It is interesting how her actions are described. It was not just that she returned to Bethlehem-Judah, but we read that she returned, “from the land of Moab” (Vs.6). She was turning her back on Moab. She was leaving Moab. That is repentance.

When a person gets right with God, there must be repentance. The sin and failures of life must be dealt with. Moab must be left and put behind us. Sin must be confessed and forsaken. Before she could ever return home, she had to leave Moab.

In her desire we also see:

B. Her Return
We read,  “So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah”  (Vs.7).

She returned to the place of blessing. She came back to the will of God. She leaves Moab and she returns to Judah. She is leaving the place of sin for the place of blessing.


I think of William Kirkpatrick’s familiar hymn:

I’ve wandered far away from God
Now I’m coming home.
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod
Lord, I’m coming home.

It could be that some who are hearing these words need to come home. Paul said, “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged” (1 Cor.11:31).  There does not have to be a story of three graves in Moab in your life. God wants you to come home.