The Spreading Effect of Sin

“…for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.” (Ruth 1:13)

Naomi is facing her daughter-in-laws, Orpah and Ruth. They are the two Moabite wives of Mahlon and Chilion, the now dead sons of Naomi. Naomi has suffered the loss of her husband and her two sons. She had heard that the famine in Bethlehem-Judah was now over, and God had provided food again in the land. Yet, she was still in Moab.

The choice to move to Moab had not proven to be a good choice. Elimelech had left Bethlehem-Judah when a famine overtook the land. Like Abraham of old (Gen. 12:10), he believed that the best for his family was somewhere other than God’s place of calling. Abrahams descent into Egypt proved to be a grievous error and, likewise, so would Elimelech’s move to Moab. It is sad when God’s people doubt God’s provision. The name, Bethlehem-Judah, means the House of Bread & Praise. Bethlehem was to have an eternal place in the history of God’s people. It would one day become world-renowned, and many songs would be written about the small place called Bethlehem. Yet, Elimelech felt it better to remove his family from the place of God’s calling.

No doubt he reasoned, “A man has to provide for his family.” Many families have be brought to ruin because of such faulty reasoning and decisions. Elimelech’s family would soon be destroyed. His intent was simply to “sojourn,” or be a temporary stay. Just long enough to “get back on his feet,” and then they could go home. However, he was to learn a truth that all would do well to heed…God’s people should never feed at the world’s washpot. Twice, the Scriptures call Moab God’s “washpot” (Psa. 60:8; 108:9). There was nothing there that could benefit God’s people. Likewise, the world of our day is certainly no friend of grace, to help me on to God. It offers nothing of eternal value to the child of God. Yet, families are being wrecked by the thousands, due to trying to feed at the world’s washpot.

Now, the only survivors are Naomi and her two daughter-in-laws. When she begins her move back to Bethlehem-Judah, they attempt to follow her. As she speaks to them, Naomi’s bitterness is revealed. She blames God for her adversity (“…the hand of the LORD is gone out against me” v.13). This charge against God is repeated in verse 20, “…the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me,” and in verse 21, “I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty…” Thus, when she speaks to Orpah and Ruth, she is apologizing for God’s actions, which have also hurt them.

This scene is another biblical proof that sin’s consequences are never localized. The sin of Elimelech and Naomi had brought adversity to those around them. Oh, that we might think more clearly about the effects on others that our sin will have. Then, we may chose to avoid that sin more easily.