THE WORLD AND THE VOID
Elimelech, together with his wife Naomi and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, departed from Bethlehem because of the famine that dwelt over Judah, and set forth to Moab; as though like someone, who, thinking of the church (Bethlehem) as a deprivation, and of Christ as a loss, would set forth to the world by his wife (his body), and his two sons (his spiritual and physical talents and energies), with the hope that the world would satisfy his needs, water his body, and increase his talents; to end up losing everything, even himself.
1. The migration of Elimelech and his family 1 ‐ 5
2. The return to the land of Judah 6 ‐ 7
3. Naomi shows compassion toward her two daughters‐ in‐law 8 ‐ 14
4. Ruth insists on returning to Bethlehem with her mother‐in‐law 15 ‐ 18
5. Naomi and Ruth in Bethlehem 19 – 22
1. THE MIGRATION OF ELIMELECH AND HIS FAMILY:
“Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land; and a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons” (1)
The era of judges was characterized by a bitter spiritual collapse. After the departure of Joshua, came a generation that did not know the Lord, nor the work which He had done for Israel (Judges 2: 10); and worshipped foreign gods. The Holy Book summarizes that period of time which extended 450 years by saying: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17: 6). The Israelites, having sold themselves as slaves to foreign gods, God often allowed for them to be enslaved by the Gentiles; to perceive their inner humiliation through delivering their hearts and minds to pagan gods. I may say that what the Lord allowed for them of sufferings, were actually a mirror of what happened to them internally by their own will through their perversion away from the true faith.
In this period, appeared Elimelech in Bethlehem, Ephrathah, together with his wife Naomi, and his two sons: Mahlon and Chilion, who migrated from Bethlehem to the land of Moab seeking satisfaction.
The man was called ‘Elimelech’ meaning (My God is a King); yet, unfortunately he carried that name formally, while, with his heart not trusting in his King, he went to Moab to live under the shade of her king. He departed from ‘Bethlehem’ meaning (the house of bread), five miles south of Jerusalem, known for the tomb of Rachel (Genesis 35: 19); set forth hungry from the house of true bread, not perceiving that in that location the Lord Christ “the Heavenly Bread” will be born. And although he belonged to ‘Ephrathah’, meaning (fruits), yet he was barren in his inner life. And even though he begat two sons they did not take away his barrenness, but rather confirmed it. The first was called ‘Mahlon’ meaning (wilderness or sickness), and the other was called ‘Chilion’ meaning (desolation). Elimelech’s migration was therefore, not by chance, nor the result of quick thinking, but because of the barren kind of life he lived for long years, even in Bethlehem.
As for his wife ‘Naomi’ meaning (the body seeking pleasure); when she returned home, and intended to bear a contrary name, she chose to be called ‘Mara’, because she was bitter in her soul. The name ‘Naomi’ is the feminine version of ‘Naaman’ (Genesis 46: 21;Numbers 26: 40; 2 Kings 5: 1); a name of the god of fertility in the Canaanite literature.
‘Elimelech’ therefore set forth, to seek a king to satisfy him, other than God; and took with him his wife ‘Naomi’, representing (the body seeking pleasures); and his two sons, his spiritual fruition, thye (sickness and desolation); Namely he represented someone who bears the name, and not the life of Christ; who set forth from Bethlehem of Judah, to live by his body an enjoyable life, with the fruition of corruption, instead of the living spiritual fruition.
2. THE RETURN TO THE LAND OF JUDAH:
If Elimelech and his family have forsaken the land of their inheritance, to take refuge in a foreign land, despite the warning of God against mixing with the pagan peoples, lest they may divert from the truth (Deuteronomy 6); his wrong decision ended up by Naomi losing her man, her sons got married to Moabite women to settle down there, contrary to the statutes of the law (Deuteronomy7: 3, 4; Exodus 34: 15, 16); and the two sons eventually died without a heir.
Naomi, therefore, whose name means (the body seeking pleasure), lost everything: her man, her talents, and her spiritual and physical energies; and her name was to be changed from ‘Naomi’ to ‘Mara’. Completely helpless, and perceiving her need to return to the land of Judah, as though to the church where the true satisfaction, and the enjoyment of God’s care for humanity are; “She arose with her daughters‐in‐law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread” (6)
3. NAOMI SHOWS COMPASSION TOWARD HER DAUGHTERS‐IN‐LAW:
Even though Naomi, by her name, represented (the body seeking pleasure), yet, on another aspect, she bore compassion and gentility of dealing with others, particularly with her two daughters‐in‐law; for which they held fast to her, and had it in their hearts to forsake their people, gods, and families, and to go with her to where she intends to go, seeking nothing in return; other than paying her love back with love.
She asked them to go back to their homeland, proclaiming that she seeks for them more than she does for herself. And with love for them she said:
“Turn back my daughters, why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn back my daughters, go – for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, If I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me” (11 – 13).
Here, Naomi did not refer to the possibility of them to get married to the next close relatives; probably because, having left her family for so many years, she does not know how would be the attitude of those two next close relatives toward those foreign two daughters‐in‐law.
Anyway, the first daughter‐in‐law ‘Oprah’, even though she behaved honorably; with the spirit of true love she kept company with her mother‐in‐law along the way back, with the intention to do that until the end; but under the insistence of the latter, she tearfully kissed her and bid farewell from her. She was a human example, even though bearing true loyalty, she eventually gave her the back and returned to Moab. Her name probably explained her behavior, for ‘Oprah’ means (behind the neck).
As to ‘Ruth’, the second daughter‐in‐law, she not only presented a magnificent human example, but, by faith what surpassed the human limits, and what was beyond the human thought. Bearing the faith of Abraham who crossed over from Haran to Canaan to follow God, to enjoy fatherhood to the holy nation of Israel. by faith, Ruth set forth from Moab to Canaan to worship the living God, to provide this nation with the line of kings …. And from her descendants the King of kings will come incarnate.
While ‘Naomi’ presented what she has got: her old age, barrenness, and helplessness; representing the law of Moses, which became old, and proclaimed its inability to produce children who would bring gladness to the hearts ……. The faith of Ruth, on the other hand, was greater! What the law could not provide, we, who were before among the Gentiles, have got through faith in the Lord Christ. And as Ruth did not remain a widow for long; nor had children from the womb of Naomi, but accepted ‘Boaz’ a groom; So it is with us; God did not leave us long in our widowhood, nor granted us a groom through the womb of the law, but, by faith, we accepted the Lord Christ – the true Boaz – as our Groom.
4. RUTH INSISTS ON RETURNING TO BETHLEHEM TOGETHER WITH HER MOTHER‐IN‐LAW:
Naomi bore love toward her two daughters‐in‐law; and has been a living example of a role model of a mother‐in-law to them. But, representing the literality of the law, she, having closed the door of hope before them, ‘Oprah’ returned to her homeland, whereas ‘Ruth’ by faith, opened the door that the letter of the law has closed, and insisted on going all the way, saying to her mother‐in‐law: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (16, 17).
As love soars above the letter, and brings the soul beyond every limit, even to death, Ruth insisted to die together with her mother‐in‐law, and there to be buried.
Anyway, according to St. Jerome, Ruth’s behavior has been a lesson to Naomi, who, when her husband and her two sons died, and had no one to sustain her, lost hope in everyone and everything. But now, the Lord provides her with this young widow of a foreign race to be her support. And according to St. Ambrose, Ruth’s behavior was a divine reward to Naomi’s pious life; the love she sowed, she reaped in her last days; as comfort in her sorrow, and help in her need.
We, as believers, stand in awe before both Naomi and Ruth. For Naomi, a mother‐in‐law, by love, could draw her daughter‐in‐law away from her people and pagan gods, to bind with her, with her people, and her God, for no apparent hope for anything in return………. It so seems that Ruth saw in Naomi’s life a testimony of true love and an exalted godly life, that drew her heart, mind, and all her energies away from the corrupt Moabite life! What she said to her mother‐in‐law (16, 17) will remain eternally alive, revealing a loving heart even to death ……… I wonder if we love our Christ, and if we long to die and be buried with Him, the way Ruth did toward her mother‐in-law?!
5. NAOMI AND RUTH IN BETHLEHEM:
“Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” (19).
The entrance of Naomi and Ruth into Bethlehem caused the whole city to be excited. All expected to see Naomi, together with her husband, children, and grandchildren, with sheep and an abundance of goods …….. but were astonished to see her coming back completely empty, except for her daughter‐in‐law, who, in their eyes, represented a burden and a responsibility, rather than help.
Whoever gets attached to God to transfigure in him, will have the divine splendor reflect even on his outer features; whereas whoever forsakes God to seek the satisfaction of the world, will lose even his natural peace, the tranquility of his heart, and his apparent cheerfulness.
As Naomi and Ruth entered into Bethlehem after such a long absence, “She said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi, call me ‘Mara’, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me ‘Naomi’, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?!” (20, 21).
Naomi counted what happened to her, not only a sign of God’s anger on her, but a proclamation of her sins, ……. not just by chance, nor merely a natural calamity; but the hand of the Almighty extended to break her and to expose her weakness …… for the sake of her edification.
Beside what Naomi’s words bore of bitterness, for falling under the divine chastisement; they also presented thanksgiving to God who brought her back home, however empty.
Naomi returned during the time of harvest (22) to find the fields of Bethlehem full of fruits …………. Even though God brought her empty, but He will satisfy her from the harvest of Bethlehem (the church). If she became ‘Mara’, it will eventually be that the divine newborn of Bethlehem, alone, will be able to take away her bitterness, to grant her His peace and joy. According to father John of Kronstadt: [As Christ dwells in the heart by faith, peace and joy will dwell in it; for it is not for a lack of reason to call God is Holy, and feels comfort in His saints]; and he says: [By the eyes of my heart I can mentally see how Christ enters into it to grant it peace and joy. ………. Do not let me, I pray, dwell alone without You, O Grantor of life, my peace, and my joy].