Ruth and Orpah were sisters-in-law, both married to sons of Elimelech and Naomi of Bethlehem. When Elimelech and his two sons died, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem and urged her daughters-in-law to go back to their families. Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye and went back to her family and gods. Ruth clung to Naomi and said “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth left her homeland of Moab to care for Naomi in Bethlehem.
Why did these two women, who seemingly started in the same place, make such different decisions? The Bible does not explicitly tell us their motivations, but by looking at the context, we can gain some insights.
Different Backgrounds
Ruth was from Moab while Orpah was born in Bethlehem like Naomi. Ruth was used to the gods of Moab while Naomi and Orpah worshipped the one true God. When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, it made sense for Orpah to remain with her people. The trip would require Ruth to leave behind everything familiar – her land, her family, her people, and her gods.
Orpah’s decision to stay may have been influenced by a desire to remain in her homeland close to her family. Since she was from Bethlehem, she had existing relationships and a community to return to. Ruth, on the other hand, was leaving behind her family and native land. Both women had to choose between their present family (Naomi) and their families of origin. Orpah valued her Moabite relationships while Ruth prioritized commitment to Naomi.
Different Levels of Commitment
Ruth and Orpah apparently started on equal footing – they were both married to Naomi’s sons. However, their levels of commitment differed. Ruth was steadfastly devoted to Naomi, even after her husband’s death. Orpah was affectionate toward Naomi but not enough to leave her homeland.
When Naomi urged Orpah and Ruth to remain in Moab, Orpah consented readily. She kissed Naomi goodbye and left for good. Ruth, however, clung to Naomi. She made an impassioned speech refusing to abandon her. Ruth committed wholeheartedly to Naomi’s people and God. Orpah’s commitment had clear limits. Her affection for Naomi extended only as far as what was convenient.
Different Responses to Adversity
Another insight into Ruth and Orpah’s choices is how they responded to adversity. Naomi’s family encountered the tragedy of losing her husband and two sons. In this crisis, people’s true priorities emerge.
Orpah chose the comfortable and familiar. She returned to her mother’s home and former way of life. Ruth, on the other hand, courageously chose the road of sacrifice by sticking with Naomi in her time of need. Ruth was willing to leave everything comfortable to show compassion to her suffering mother-in-law. Orpah took the easier road while Ruth’s loyalty remained rock-solid.
Different Degrees of Faith
Not only did Ruth and Orpah demonstrate different commitments to family, they also showed differing degrees of faith. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem because she had heard “the Lord had come to the aid of his people” (Ruth 1:6). This news of God’s blessing seems to have sparked Naomi’s hope.
However, Orpah must not have shared this faith in God’s provision because she willingly left Naomi and Bethlehem. Ruth, conversely, clung fervently to Naomi and expressed her commitment to follow Naomi’s God. While Orpah took the apparently safer road of returning home, Ruth courageously followed Naomi and God in faith.
Ruth did not share Naomi’s history with the God of Israel. Still, she expressed steadfast trust and a willingness to take risks based on Naomi’s confidence in God’s goodness. Orpah’s choice suggests a lesser degree of trust and faith.
Different Measures of Love
At their core, Ruth and Orpah differed in their depth of love for Naomi. Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye, showing some level of affection. But Ruth absolutely refused to leave Naomi’s side. She left her own family behind to support Naomi, expressing deep love.
Ruth sacrificed her own comfort and security to embrace hardship alongside her grieving mother-in-law. Orpah prioritized her own interests by returning to family who could support her needs. Ruth’s decision reflected extraordinary love and devotion to Naomi. Orpah’s choice revealed weaker love and unwillingness to sacrifice for Naomi’s good.
Different Upbringings
Scripture does not tell us directly about Ruth and Orpah’s upbringings. But their choices may reflect differing cultural influences and values. Ruth grew up in pagan Moab which means she had exposure to various gods and belief systems. Perhaps this made her more open to embracing Naomi’s God in Bethlehem.
Conversely, Orpah likely grew up with more monotheistic belief given that her family was from Bethlehem. So she may have been less flexible in leaving behind her familiar faith for a foreign God. Their choices align with the differing cultural norms and beliefs they grew up with. Ruth displayed more openness while Orpah showed more cultural rigidity.
Different Risk Tolerance
Ruth and Orpah clearly differed in their willingness to take risks. By returning to Moab alone, Orpah chose the culturally expected path for a widow. She opted for the known and secure option among her people. Ruth, on the other hand, courageously ventured into foreign territory to accompany Naomi. She favored faithfulness over safety and comfort.
Orpah played it safe by returning home instead of journeying onward with Naomi. Ruth boldly embraced the risks of leaving home for an uncertain future. Orpah sought security while Ruth was willing to hazard the unknown to show loyalty to family. Their choices reflected opposing levels of risk tolerance.
Different Providential Guidance
From a divine perspective, Ruth and Orpah’s differing choices may also reflect God’s invisible hand of providence. God clearly had significant plans for Ruth as part of the lineage of the future messiah, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5). The Lord provided special grace and guidance to prompt Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi.
God allowed Orpah to follow a good and natural inclination to remain in her homeland. But in Ruth’s case, He provided special conviction and promptings to embrace a more radical path. Without discounting human free will, Ruth’s steadfast loyalty reflects strong divine providence at work. Her choice was influenced by the Lord’s guidance to fulfill His redemptive purposes.
Praise for Ruth’s Choice
While we tend to look negatively at Orpah for her choice, Scripture does not explicitly condemn her for returning to Moab. However, Ruth is praised for her extraordinary lovingkindness and willingness to cling to Naomi. Ruth modeled remarkable faith, courage, and sacrifice. Her devotion went far beyond reasonable expectations.
Ruth exhibited the commands to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) and to “look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). She chose to honor the spirit, not just the letter, of the law in her treatment of Naomi. Ruth inspires us still today by her humility, loyalty, and selfless service.
God Redeems Life’s Messes
Naomi’s family experienced terrible tragedy – death, grief, and widowhood. Orpah took the culturally prudent path home and faded into obscurity. Ruth courageously stuck by Naomi’s side in her time of anguish. God providentially worked through Ruth’s sacrificial choice to bring blessing.
In Bethlehem, Ruth “just happened” to glean in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech. She married Boaz, giving birth to Obed who fathered Jesse, the father of King David (Ruth 4:13-17). Generations later, Jesus was born of David’s line. Despite the pain Naomi endured, God redeemed her story, displaying His amazing grace.
Ruth’s courageous decision blessed Naomi, giving her a daughter-in-law’s loving companionship. It preserved Elimelech’s family line. And it participated in God’s overarching plan of redemption through Jesus. Ruth’s brave and loyal choice reveals how God sovereignty works even through human tragedy and weakness.
Takeaway Lessons
Ruth and Orpah’s differing decisions reveal important truths:
1. Our choices reflect our priorities and commitments. Ruth prioritized commitment to family and God over comfort or convenience.
2. It takes courage and sacrifice to serve others amid difficulty. Ruth modeled remarkable devotion by sticking with Naomi despite the cost.
3. God providentially guides the choices of those who trust in Him. Ruth’s faithfulness allowed her to participate in God’s redemptive plans.
4. God takes even life’s bitterest losses and weaves them into His story of grace. Ruth’s loyalty led to her becoming an ancestor of Christ.
5. Ruth’s lovingkindness still serves as a model for us today. She calls us to boldly follow God and serve others in times of affliction.
Ruth’s brave decision continues to inspire. It reminds us that our choices, guided by God’s grace, can faithfully serve His purposes even amid life’s deepest losses. What seeming tragedies might God want to redeem through you?
