Three Washpots
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
(v 5) Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse.
Matthew 1 : 1 & v 5
The book of Ruth opens with a tragedy and ends with a victory. It is the story of how God took a Moabite girl by the name of Ruth, brought her out of death and darkness, and made her part of the covenant people of Israel. It is the story of how this woman was transformed from a lost sinner to an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the story of a sinner being pursued by grace.
This passage opens with three widows, Naomi and her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. These three widows have just lost their husbands. Now, they are left destitute in the country of Moab with little or no hope for the future. Ruth and Orpah were natives of Moab, but Naomi was a native of Judah. She was a Jew and she knew the Lord. And she had no business being in the land of Moab, a place called "God's washpot." (Psa. 60:8. In biblical times, a "washpot" is a term of utter contempt! By calling Moab this, God says they are lower than the lowest slave, but are like the pot the slaves used to wash the feet of superiors. Now, after the death of her husband, v 6-7, she is determined to return to the place where the Lord was blessing His people.
In Ruth 1, the Bible presents to us three women, three women who are in a terrible situation and are widows because they are paying the price for sin. All Naomi has to show for her time in Moab is three tombstones in a washpot called Moab.
Are you like Naomi, a person who knows the Lord but needs to return to the place of blessing? Could you be an Orpah, you have looked into the things of the Lord and have decided not to follow Him, but have chosen your life and your sin over the will of God? Or, would you be like Ruth, you have made your decision to follow the Lord, come what may, until He takes you home? Which of these women best represents the life you are living today?
Bible Reading
Ruth 1:6-18.
Prayer
It is absolutely wonderful Father God, that You welcome all who come to You with a repentant heart. Amen.
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