Widowed.
Grieving.
She had nothing.
Her mother in law, from a different land, was leaving to go home.
It was her duty to follow her.
Leave her home, her family, the grave of her husband, and follow Naomi.
Maybe she stopped one last time to touch the dirt that covered her husband’s body.
Her heart had to break to leave him, to leave all that was familiar, to leave all that was safe.
The people of Bethlehem wouldn’t accept her.
She knew that.
But it was her duty to go.
But the moment Naomi said the words “Turn again.” (Ruth 1:12)
Orpah felt as though she had been set free.
She could stay home.
She could grieve amongst what was familiar.
She didn’t have to go and be among people who wouldn’t accept her.
She could stay home where there were no whispers, where she knew she was loved.
She kissed Naomi and ran home.
But she didn’t stay there.
Some historians say she is the mother of Goliath, the God- hating giant of Gath.
If she would’ve chosen what was hard, what was uncomfortable, what was new and unknown, as Ruth did, would she have still raised a God hating giant? Or would she have seen the power of God’s forgiveness and grace face to face?
Ruth chose to leave everything she knew.
She chose service.
She chose to deny herself.
She chose to be unaccepted.
And because of her, there was a giant slayer, and she is part of the lineage of Christ.
A nobody from Moab made a choice, and that choice still affects us today.
Orpah also made a choice, and her choice plagued Ruth’s grandchildren.
Your choices will affect your children.
Your choices will affect the future.
You can either raise the problem, or the solution.
I choose to raise giant slayers, even if that means that I must choose discomfort and rejection for myself.
Had Orpah chosen to brave the unfamiliar, she too, could’ve had a miraculous story like Ruth.
But because she chose what was known, and comfortable, her lineage warred against God’s people.
Ruth bore the solution.
All because of one choice.
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