During the time judges ruled in Israel, the social terrain was filled with individualism. Israel had no king and each person did as they saw fit (Judges 21:15). Naomi and her family lived within the period of the judges. The previous posts have indicated the reason for the migration from Bethlehem to Moab. At that time, the nation of Moab wouldn’t have been the best destination for an Israelite. The Moabite society represented all that God hated. In fact, according to the laws of Moses, “[n]o Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation” (Deuteronomy 23:3). The sins of the Moabites included their refusal to help the Israelites when they were moving into Canaan and hiring Balaam to curse the Israelites (Deuteronomy 23:4-5). In Revelation 2:14, we get to know that the same Balaam taught Balak (king of Moab) to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. The command given to the Israelites while Moses was alive was this: “Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.” (Deuteronomy 23:6) They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years (Ruth 1:4) Considering this background information, a Moabite person was then no good to an Israelite. The reason for the stigmatization of the Moabites was meant to keep the Israelites safe from transgression. The Moabites were seen as people who could easily convince an Israelite to sin. Naomi and her family did not only interact with Moabites, they moved to live with them. This was against what the laws permitted. As if that wasn’t enough, Naomi’s sons married Moabites women. Ruth 1:4 states this: “They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years.” Kilion and Mahlon’s marriage to Orpah and Ruth (respectively) might have been considered an attempt to disobey the laws of Moses. While we might be quick to consider the consequences to the Israelites, we should also remember the Moabites women. Ruth and Orpah might have been brought up with knowledge of the systems and standards in Moab. They would have taken part in the worship of idols at some point in their lives. They would have heard the story of Balak an Balaam and how Israel treated the Moabites women who entered the camp of the Israelites to entice them to sin (Numbers 25). They would have heard of the story of the Midianite woman (Numbers used Midianite and Moab) who during a sexual encounter with an Israelite man was pinned to the ground with a sword (Numbers 25: 7-8). Although Naomi and her family were foreigners in Moab, these stories should warn any woman from Moab about the potential insecurities of having a relationship with an Israelite man. However, Ruth and Orpah left their own parents, families and friends and moved to stay with Israelites. We are not presented with details of how long their marriages lasted and how they were treated. But from all indications, the Moabites women loved their mother-in-law. Ruth and Orpah present to us the cultural dynamics of interracial, inter-tribal and inter-religious marriages. Even till date, marriages built on diverse cultures, national backgrounds, religious beliefs and societal caste systems face some challenges. First, the couple are likely to face the barrier of putting away their differences. Then the challenge of how society perceives such unions. Even parents and family can become barriers to such marriages. In some cases, immigration laws may act as barriers as couples from different countries struggle with visa issues. Religious institutions may also ban the marriage of such people. Ultimately, a Christian’s marriage should glorify God and advance the kingdom of God. There are more important things to consider before you marry. Racial and tribal affiliations might not be the ‘big thing’. The question we should ask is, “will Christ be revealed in my marriage?” For Ruth and Orpah, their marriage to Israelites men was a bridge to God’s bigger story. We shall continue this conversation again.
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