“She said she doesn’t want us.”
“But that’s not what she
meant.”
“Oh, and what did she mean? She found us packing our things, preparing food for the journey. She demanded of us ‘What do you think you’re doing?’ We ran to her expecting her to be relieved, grateful. She pushed us away, for goodness’ sake!... What do you think she meant?”
“I think she is beside herself with grief.”
“And what about us? All three of us has lost a husband, not just her. Are we not grieving too? I loved, I still love my husband, cannot believe he’s gone. I want to cling to her. She’s all I have left of him. But she doesn’t want me, or you. When she spoke to us, yelled at us, she had a wild look in her eyes. She threw up her hands in exasperation and she said we remind her of all she’s lost. She said she has nothing left for us. And that we really only have a chance of finding other husbands now with our own people.”
“She is ‘my people’ now. I married her son. I became one with him. I will continue to love his mother. She is my mother now and I will not let her be alone.”
“You and she will both be alone! Who among the Hebrews is going to marry you? Who will give you a son to take care of you into your old age? We'd be wise to honor her wishes. Maybe you believe that she’s ‘your people’ now but she knows what and whom she’s returning to. Will those people welcome you, a Moabitess? Be realistic.”
“I hear what you’re saying, and I think you’re making a mindful decision. I respect you, Orpah, I always have. But I cannot get past what my heart is saying to me. I could not live a day in peace if I let her go on alone. All that way. And she’s not a young woman.”
“No, she’s not young. She’s old and she’s bitter. She said so herself. She’ll make it hard for you, Ruth. She’ll resent you.”
“She wasn’t always bitter. She was happy, Orpah, even lighthearted and fun when she thought that one day soon, she’d have grandchildren. She could be a wonderful grandmother. You say we’ve each lost a husband. But she’s lost so much more. I have to go with her if only as a final and lasting bit of charity toward my husband and to God. I believe God Himself wills this.”
“God? The Hebrew God? What charity has he shown us?” Orpah shook her head.
“It is He who created all things. Did not your husband, Chilion, tell you of all He did in creation? Did he not tell you about His charity toward the Hebrew nation? How He delivered them from the terrible enslavement by the Egyptians? Truly, He is a loving God, and I believe that if I will commit to Him, He will in some way provide for me. He will bless me and love me with an everlasting love. And I want the chance to experience that, and I hope and pray that I might in some small way give back to the Hebrew people the blessing I might receive – though I am unworthy.”
“I don’t know about your being unworthy, but you, Ruth, are a hopeless dreamer! What could you ever give back to the Hebrew people? As I’ve said before, they will not want you and she doesn’t want you. You are risking everything on this so-called charitable God. I fear for you. Can’t I talk some sense into your head?”
“I am a dreamer! I still dream of children, children who will know and understand love - for generations to come! I don’t believe I am beyond or without hope. My hope is in Him. He never fails. I would be a fool to deny this dream and the existence of such charity as is His. I must go with Naomi. I love you, Orpah, I will not forget you and I will pray for you.”
“Your prayers will be better said for someone else.” Orpah turned away.
'And now, my daughter, do not fear, I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.' Ruth 3:11 ESV