Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Elimelech Naomi's Husband Died Ruth 1:3 - Equipped for Battle

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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