Three Widows in Moab (Ruth 1:8-18)

        In our last study we saw the graves of three husbands. Now we see the grief of three widows. J. Vernon McGee calls this scene, “The meeting of the handkerchief brigade." Each has a buried husband and a broken heart. It is the story of a mother-in-law and her two daughters-in-law, each with an empty home and an empty heart.

         [Ruth 1:8-18]

     8     And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
     9     “May the Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
     10     And they said to her, “No, but we will surely return with you to your people.”
     11     But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
     12     “Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons,
     13     would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me.”
     14     And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
     15     Then she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”
     16     But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back 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.
17    “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”
18        When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.


In each widow there are lessons to learn. In one we have a troubling example, in one a tragic example, and finally in one a thrilling example. These three widows illustrate three classes of people. Let’s glean three lessons from these three widows.
First, we see in Naomi:

1. A DISCOURAGING WIDOW
The first widow that I want you notice is Naomi. We have seen her disobedient walk. Now I want you to notice her discouraging words.  Naomi is an example of a believer who is a hindrance to the work of God. Steps had been made to return, but at this moment she was still in Moab. Naomi illustrates how the life of a believer who is not living for God, is often a discouragement from others knowing God.

As we view this scene we see that:

A. Naomi Was Being Observed
Orpah and Ruth were from Moab. They had grown up in a land of idolatry. They had been reared in a place that did not know the true and living God. Their life had been one of spiritual desolation and darkness. However, Naomi was from Bethlehem-Judah. She knew the One True and Living God. We would say that Naomi was saved, whereas Ruth and Orpah were unsaved.

        We read in verses 6-7, “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. 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.”  There had been a departure from the land of God and a discipline by the hand of God. Naomi is taking steps to return to Bethlehem-Judah. When she started back her daughters-in-law followed her.

It would appear that Ruth and Orpah in their hour of despair were looking to Naomi for direction. In their hour of grief they looked to her for guidance. They were watching to see what Naomi would do. Whatever she did, they would do. Every action and step of Naomi was being observed.

We as believers need to be constantly reminded that we are being watched by the unsaved. Whether we admit it or not, accept it or not, or acknowledge it or not; we are being watched by those around us. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:9,  “For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.”

The word “spectacle” speaks of a theater. We are on the stage of this world, and our performance is being watched by those who are unsaved.

As we continue looking at this scene, we also see that:

B. Naomi Was Being Obstructive
The chief occupation of a believer is to try and lead unbelievers to the Lord. We are to seek to “turn many to righteousness” (Dan.12:3). A person going to heaven is to work to take people to heaven. It is both astounding and alarming that Naomi, instead of seeking to turn her daughter-in-laws to God, she sought to turn them from God. Notice what she said to them: “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house” (Vs.8).  She encouraged them to stay in Moab and discouraged them from going to Judah.

        We see how thankful she was for their care. She said to them, “May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. ‘May the Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.’ Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept”  (Vs.8-9).

        They had been good wives and good daughter-in-laws. She expressed her desire that they have a good life and one favored by God.

        We also see the obstruction she was to their conversion. And they said to her, “No, but we will surely return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?  “Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone forth against me” (Vs.10-13). 

Naomi was speaking of what was known as a levirate marriage. If a man died without any children, his brother had to marry the widow to continue the family line. The first-born of such a marriage would be considered the dead brothers child and heir. Naomi was saying to them, “I don’t have any more children and I am too old to have more. Go back to your people and start over with your life. Find you a husband among your own people.”
Naomi was only thinking of their material circumstances rather than their spiritual condition. She was only thinking of their physical needs and not their spiritual needs. Naomi reminds us of those who are professing Christians but are not practicing Christians. She knew the Lord, but was being obstructive in others coming to know her God.

Mohandas Ghandi, the famed leader of India and the Indian Independence Movement, began with a handful of people and he led it into a mass movement of millions. He once made the statement, “I would be a Christian if it were not for other Christians.”

Robert Ingersoll, notorious for his attacks on the Bible, had a godly aunt. He sent her a copy of one of his books against the Bible. In the flyleaf he wrote: “If all Christians had lived like Aunt Sarah, perhaps this book would have never been written.”

There are many people going to hell because of people who are going to heaven. Many believers live a life that is appalling rather than appealing. They are a blight to the name of Christ rather than a light for the cause of Christ. Dick Sheppard said, “The greatest handicap the Church has is the unsatisfactory lives of professing Christians.”

Naomi, even though a believer, discouraged Ruth and Orpah from following her. How sad when those who know God become an obstacle keeping others from knowing God.

The second widow in our story that I want us to consider is Orpah. In her we see:

2. A DEPARTING WIDOW
Orpah illustrates those who turn away from God and reject Him as their Lord and Savior. As we look at Orpah, we first see her:

A. Returning To Moab
We read in verse 14, “And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.”

We see the tears and hear the sobs of separation. Orpah decides to go back to Moab. She puts her arms around Naomi, kisses her, and starts back.
It is true that Naomi had discouraged her from going to Judah, but ultimately the decision was hers. She was the one who made the final decision to go back.

Orpah chose to stay in a cursed land. She chose to live in a place of spiritual darkness and desolation. She chose to go back to her false gods. She chose to continue to live the way she had always lived. She could have chosen to go to Judah in spite of Naomi, but she chose to stay in Moab.

Orpah reminds us of those who are given the opportunity to be saved, yet they reject that offer and choose to live a life without God. As a preacher of God’s Word, there is nothing any more disturbing and heart-breaking, than to see people reject Christ and spurn the opportunity to be saved.

We not only see Orpah returning to Moab, but we also see her:

B. Remaining In Moab
This is the last time that we ever see or hear of Orpah. The rest of the story is not given, but it would appear that Orpah returned to Moab and remained there the rest of her life. In all probability she lived the rest of her life in a cursed land and died in the same condition.

How tragic it is for someone to have heard the Gospel; have been given the opportunity to be saved; say no, and then die lost without God. The great tragedy is that not one person in hell had to go there. All could have been saved, but they, like Orpah, rejected the opportunity to be saved. Untold numbers die each day and go to hell that had the opportunity to be saved. Yet, they rejected the God Who could save them.

The third widow in this story is Ruth. In her we see:

3. A DECIDING WIDOW
        We see Ruth making a decision that changed her life. We read that instead of leaving Naomi, “Ruth clung to her” (vs.14). Ruth illustrates for us the person that says "yes" to Jesus and the opportunity to be saved. Ruth’s decision is described in words that have been immortalized in music and enshrined in poetry and prose. Her resolve is a classic in literature and has been used in the vows of a many a wedding ceremony.

        She said in verses 16-17,  “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back 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 I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”

A.    Ruth’s Decision Gave Her a New Life
Ruth said, “for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge” (Vs.16). She was leaving a cursed land for a blessed land. She was leaving a place of spiritual darkness for a place of spiritual light. She was leaving a land and life of idolatry for a land and life where the One True and Living God could be worshipped. Her decision brought her into a new life.

Salvation gives a person a new life. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”  Salvation makes us a new person and gives us a new life.

A man was speaking on a street corner and said, “Socialism will give you a new job. Socialism will give you a new house. Socialism will give you a new coat to wear. Can anyone tell me anything that is better than that?” An old man stepped forward and said, “Yes, I can! Salvation in Jesus Christ! Salvation will put a new man on the job; salvation will put a new man in the house and a new man in the coat.”


B.    Ruth’s Decision Gave Her a New Lord
Ruth said,  “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God”  (Vs.16). No doubt she had worshipped the false idols and false gods of Moab. She had known nothing but paganism. Now she has a new Lord in her life. Her life is now centered around Him and His people.

Before God saved us, our gods were riches, recreation, and reputations. But salvation gave us a new Lord and master. We are now drawn to His interests. We no longer bow to the gods of this world, but we bow at the feet of our blessed Redeemer.

C. Ruth’s Decision Gave Her a New Loyalty
Ruth said in verse 17, “Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”

Ruth was saying, “This decision is for the rest of my life.” She had no desires to go back nor plans to return. Her decision was for time and eternity. I ask, what did she have to go back to in Moab? What do we have to go back to in the world? There would be nothing but a life of hopelessness and emptiness. Go back? Ten thousand times no! There is nothing behind us and everything before us.

Each of us can find ourselves in one of these three widows. In which one do you find yourself?