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 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 wantto wait.  Her logic seemed faultless.

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.  
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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--Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he was intimate with her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has not left you without a family redeemer today. May his name become well known in Israel. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and took care of him. The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed, He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Matthew 1:16—and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary, who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.
 
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
 
©2005 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)