Why do people have to die?
Shouldn't there be some way to prevent it from occurring? What about
our own death? Are their ways that we may live that prolong it,
advance it or inhibit it? And what about the survivors? What are they
supposed to do when someone very close to them dies? Well, we may not
answer any or all of those questions today in our study of the book
of Ruth but immediately after discovering who the main characters of
the first two verses are, one of them dies. We read in Ruth chapter
one and verse three:
And Elimelech Naomi's
husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
So often
when we read the Bible we do so with speed and without much
consideration. However, let's slow down for a moment today and
consider, “And Elimelech Naomi's husband died.” We know
this much, Elimelech's name means “God is My King”, and we know
that he moved his family to Moab when the famine began in
Bethlehemjudah. Now, while the family is in a strange country and
away from their people back home, Elimelech died. What was that like
for Naomi? Here was the loss of her closest adult, and now in the
midst of the trial of famine, she had no husband to lean on. It's as
if one difficulty is piling upon another, and Naomi is left to manage
this with only two sons.
Notice
too that the verse continues, “and she was left, and her two
sons.” Compiled upon the death of her husband, Naomi now faces
being left in this strange place with her two sons. The home is
different after a person like dad dies. Elimelech's ability to make a
decision to move when the famine occurred will no longer be with
them. Elimelech's position as leader will be felt, and now the
decisions for living will be left to Naomi and her two sons. The
impact was certainly felt, and the words, “and she was left”
are as ominous as they may be for describing her devastation.
Although
the Bible is very clear that “it is appointed unto man once to die
and then the judgment” it doesn't make death any easier. As long as
we live there will be death, and until the day it is finally our turn
we will watch as those we know and do not know exit the stage of
life. Sometimes these people will be as close to us as a spouse,
father or mother, and sometimes it may even be a child. We will feel
“left” as was Naomi and her two sons, and perhaps that is part of
the reason this blog is necessary. We see through the Bible's words
that God is impartial when it comes to death. Everyone who lives,
dies, and even if there are others who are “left” who are very
close to them, passing still comes.
The
question becomes, “what then?” What happens to people after they
die not only for those who are the deceased, but also for the
survivors? As we continue our story perhaps we will find some
answers, and in our answers find that there is a loving God and His
Son Jesus who preside over the whole affair, so read ahead for more
of the story, and we shall join together at another time.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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