Orpah, The One who Returned
You know, sometimes I think about how we don’t realise that of all the people in the Bible, all the patriarchs from Moses to Elisha, not a single one of them thought about how, centuries to come, their existence was going to be dissected by people who could never even imagine the realities they existed in. They were just living life, living the lives they were born into. Literally, a day in the life of Moses involved turning water to blood, and causing the destruction of harvests throughout Egypt. John the Baptist’s GRWM was in the actual wilderness, and his fine dining was not fine at all, but he was so focused on his errand, on fulfilling the prophecies that had gone before him, that I doubt he was existing day to day, worried about what we’d think when we read about his life. But then again, that’s the point. To bring us to the place where we understand tgat these characters we read about were actually people, flesh and blood like you and me. Today, we’d be dwelling on one such person, a young widow, someone who could never have imagined that her tale would be told centuries after she had lived and died.
One of the wonderful things about the Bible is that there is absolutely no story, no depicted life or situation, that doesn’t teach a lesson. Every single record that was kept and compiled has a purpose, a knowledge to be impacted, an understanding that ties into the overall supreme plan of Yahweh to redeem man. Anyways, let’s get into it, shall we?
Recently, we talked about that wonderful spec of a man, Boaz, and how he ended up with a new wife without stress. We discussed how his mother-in-law, Naomi, and new babe, Ruth, strategized with military precision and executed one of the best matchmaking schemes ever. But in the background of that story, there’s someone whose life is usually overlooked, like a lot of others. She was also Naomi’s daughter-in-law (Ruth 1:4). She was also married to one of her sons who died while they all lived in the country of Moab. So what happened? Why don’t we know her, and how come most people have never even heard her name? I’ll tell you why. You know the saying, “Go big or go home?” Well, this baby girl went home. No time to waste time, as Nigerians would say.
Her name was Orpah, and she was the moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi and Elimelech, sister-in-law to Ruth (Ruth 1:4). When her father-in-law died, she was with Naomi, who had lost her husband in a foreign land, and as horrible as that might have been, she at least had her own husband and her people. But then something even worse happened. Her husband and his brother both died suddenly (vs 5). Out of nowhere, she too became a widow. She, too, lost the security and provision that came with having a husband, a lord over her life. She intimately experienced the difference between mourning someone on another person’s behalf and mourning for herself. And to add insult to injury, she wasn’t alone in her misery because both her sister-in-law and mother-in-law were shattered.
Imagine being in such a position, hurting so badly, and maybe not being able to truly express the depth of your pain because you’re not alone in it, and the people around you are also in pain. Think about Naomi, who had lost husband and sons, and then consider Orpah, lost and not even knowing where to start from. Have you ever been in a situation where things are bad for you but significantly worse for someone you love? You’re more likely to put aside your own situation to help them get through theirs, but it doesn’t mean you’re not still hurting and bleeding inside.
Somewhere in the midst of all this sorrow and mourning, Naomi decided to pack her load and return home (vs 6). Mind you, home for Naomi was Judah, but Ruth and Orpah went from Moab, so going to Judah was going to cost them their own home.
First, they lost their father-in-law, then their husbands, and now Naomi was going to take them away from everything they had ever known, to a place they knew nothing about? That was enough to drive anyone crazy, if we’re being honest. But both Orpah and Ruth decided to go with Naomi (Ruth 1: 6-7). Both of them even started out on the journey with her, because both of them had resolved to go. Not just Ruth, but Orpah was also willing sacrifice the familiar for the unknown, all for her mother-in-law. Just imagine giving up the comfort of home, especially when you’re already in pain, to embrace the uncertainty of the unknown, all because you’re devoted to one person? How many of us can honestly claim to have such a sense of honor and loyalty? How many people would do it? Truly? But these 2 women, who had no idea who God was, aside from what their husbands must have introduced to them. They had no morality law since the Moabites worshipped strange gods who were quite brutal in the sacrifices they demanded. And yet, they were willing to do that for Naomi. And yet, we know for a fact that only Ruth arrived in Judah with Naomi. So what changed?
Well, while they were on their journey, the enormity of what these girls had sacrificed must have hit Naomi afresh because she began to cajole and convince them to go back to Moab (Ruth 1:7-13). And in all seriousness, Naomi made really valid points in her effort to get them to return. She was already old as they all knew, so how exactly was she going to be of help to them? Most of the men of Judah would hesitate to even look twice at a foreigner, much less marry her, never mind that she had already been married into an Isrealite family. And truly, even if Naomi herself married again and gave birth to boys, were they really going to wait until they grew up? Was there really a viable plan in place here? Logically, Naomi’s reasoning was sound, and they all knew it. A foreign woman without a husband was just asking for trouble, and even Ruth had to be divinely attached to Boaz’s harvesters later to avoid stories that touch. Naomi presented with the facts, and both women had to make their own decisions. And while Ruth chose to stay her course, Orpah gathered herself and kissed her mother-in-law goodbye (Vs 14).
Now, some people might think that this was an easy decision for Orpah to make, but even the Bible records that their voices were lifted in weeping during this debate. They were in tears, on pain, crying for all they had lost all they were still losing, and everything they could never have again. Imagine that hurt. Going from having a full family of your own, to returning empty-handed to your origin. That’s what Orpah chose, and I think it was one of the bravest decisions ever recorded in Scripture. And guess what? That’s exactly what Naomi was doing too, except that she still had Ruth.
Think about it. Really think about it.
Naomi still had Ruth, Orpah had no one, and yet she returned. She had no clue what she was going to do, what her life was going to be like, and yet, she returned. Alone, downtrodden, most likely bitter at the hand life had dealt her like Naomi was, and yet, she returned. She wasn’t just returning to a place she knew, she was going home, the exact same thing her mother-in-law had decided to do. She chose to go to the one place she knew she would find acceptance, the place where she was safe and secure. She chose to return because she knew what home meant to her, and firmly believed that she was making the best decision for herself.
Was she wrong? I can’t say, and we’ll probably never know. But has it ever crossed your mind that if she had gone with Naomi and Ruth, there’s a chance that Boaz would have married Orpah? Lol, crazy things.
Coming back to the issue at hand though, what does home mean to you? Is home a place, or is it a person. Where’s the one place you never have to worry, because you’ll always be loved, sheltered, and provided for? For some, it’s their parents, for others, it’s a spouse. But has it occurred to you that there’s Someone who loves you so much more than these people or places ever can? Someone who provides for you before the need even arises, who gave you the opportunity to be saved before you even realised you were in sin? Someone who ensured that this opportunity would always, always be available to you regardless of whatever you might have been through or done, by sacrificing Himself to guarantee it?
This Someone is Jesus, and in John chapter 14 verse 6a, He assures us,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
The way where you might ask, and you would be right to. Faith in Jesus, in what He has done for us, is the only way to salvation.
Naturally, the next question would be, “what truth?” Here’s the answer: understanding the finished work of Christ and accepting this new reality that guarantees you victory over sin shows you the truth of God’s grace and His great love for you, and all men.
And life? That’s easy. In Christ, live doesn’t end here on earth. You get to live forever with God, spend forever in His presence, and experience the true fellowship that He intended for man to have from the very beginning.
I’d say that’s a pretty great idea of home. One that’s always there, everywhere you go, whenever you’re in need and even when you’re not. A Home that lasts forever, never changes, never fails. A steady, faithful, undying love.
That’s God.
And guess what? He’s already home to you. All you need to do, is like Orpah, be brave enough to make the best choice for yourself, and go home.
Greetings from the Foot of the Cross,
Gabrielle…
