Orpah's Opportunity

by Tiffany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, February 2015~Volume 14, Number 11

“And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; but Ruth clave unto her. And she [Naomi] said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister-in-law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me. When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.”~from Ruth 1
 
Most of us have heard that Boaz, Ruth’s kinsman redeemer, is a picture of Christ, our Redeemer. Yet have you ever studied the life of Orpah, Ruth’s sister-in-law? Although Orpah’s heart appears to have been touched, it was not truly transformed. She seemed challenged, but she was not changed. She would rather go back to Moab, the place of death, than follow Naomi to the place of God’s presence. (See Matthew 13:5-6.) Ruth knew that by going to Israel, she was forfeiting any opportunity for marriage, but she was willing to follow the Lord regardless of the cost, which is the mark of a true believer.

It is interesting to note the extent of Boaz’s purchase: “And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s, and all that was Chilion’s and Mahlon’s, of the hand of Naomi.” (Ruth 4:9) He paid for Orpah too! She also could have been redeemed—she could have received the provision and richness of which Naomi and Ruth partook. However, because she rejected the Lord, she would not share in these blessings. Boaz did pay for her, but she chose the place of death. Orpah and Ruth, with the same opportunity before them, made opposite decisions and received vastly different consequences. Ruth exercised faith, while Orpah settled for what she could see. If only she would have trusted in Almighty God as well!
 
This is a vivid picture of those who reject Christ. He has already paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2, John 3:16). He desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9)! However, those who refuse the gift of eternal life will not receive it.
 
1 John 5:12 explains: “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” Anything accomplished in ourselves—a “righteous” life, Christian family, baptism, communion—cannot produce salvation. You must be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ and place your faith in Him alone; you must claim His righteousness.
 
Jesus Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer, has paid for the sins of the whole world—anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Will you claim this gift and receive the blessing of eternal life? Or will you reject His love and continue in a place of death, to one day face eternal death? The gift is His—the choice is yours.
 
Your sins have already been paid for, and God is willing and eager to grant to you the gift of eternal life. May you place your faith in His finished work today.
 
Romans 10 promises that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. To be redeemed was available to Orpah just as much as to Ruth—and God had already provided a way. But she chose death. She chose “the way that seems right to a man” (Proverbs 16:25). If you have not already done so, please choose eternal life in Jesus Christ! In His infinite love and mercy, God has already made a way. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”—John 14:6

[Note: With gratefulness to my pastor, for his excellent sermon series on the book of Ruth and for pointing out the amazing truth of Orpah’s opportunity.]