RATIONALISM

She said I should go back home to my mother. It seemed like the logical thing to do. I mean why travel to a place I’ve never been to live with people I don’t know? My husband, Kilion died. Life was tough. It was like all my dreams just disintegrated into tiny, bitter ashes. I wanted to do the right thing but what was the right thing to do?

You know she complimented me for my kindness to Kilion and to her. It felt good. I knew she loved me—what a sweet, wonderful woman. She even asked God to give me another husband—one in whom I would find the answer to my anxiety and worry.

When she kissed me I just balled. I told her I would stay with her but again she said I should go home. She asked why I would live with her when it was not like she was going to have another son for me to marry or that I would even want to wait. I couldn’t see any fault in her logic.

She said it was bitterer for her even than for me. That was probably true because not only had she lost her husband and both her sons but it seemed like God had deserted her. That thought really got me to thinking. If God abandoned her what was the point of me worshiping Him. He pretty much abandoned me as well. So, I said my tearful goodbye and left her knowing in my heart I would never see her again. I returned to my own culture and people to worship gods like Chemosh, I grew up knowing.

I’ve always wondered what happened to my mother-in-law, Naomi, as well as my sister-in-law, Ruth. She also lost her husband Mahlon. He was Kilion’s older brother. Naomi tried to convince Ruth to go home to her mother as well. But she insisted on returning to Israel with her. Ruth was tough as nails. I was much more pragmatic.

By the way, that rest Naomi prayed I would find—I never found it. I guess I should tell you my name is Orpah. Like Ruth, I’m from Moab. But you’ve probably never heard of me and my name will never amount to anything more than just a name. But then I don’t suppose anything significant happened for Ruth or Naomi either—poor things.

Meditation
Ruth 4:13-17b; Matthew 1:16b—So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord . . . He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth . . . And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David . . . the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, Who is called Christ.

Inspiration
The rationalist says it is absurd to imagine that the purposes of Almighty God are furthered by an individual life, but it is true.—Oswald Chambers in So Send I You

The most formidable enemy to faith in God is rationalism because there is no answer saving on the spiritual line.—Oswald Chambers in Notes On Isaiah

Nothing bold has ever been done in the name of rationalism.—Oswald Chambers in Shade of His Hand