The initiation of both words (Kisser and cleaver) brings to mind that which is affectionate or caring. However, not all things done with a good intention are right, and not all things that are appropriate feel right to do, but they must be done.
Our actions or doing is always of a consequence, and the action of others will be of a consequence and alteration in our lives. Are we then vulnerable in an ever-changing world to alteration, and changes for good or bad?
The focus is not always, if we can evade those consequences, but how an individual confronts a situation now, it will determine that which is imminent.
For those that do right, they shall ride the wings of time, therein, throughout history, they will be known by all. Whereas there are those who change for the situation at hand, for their refusal to see ahead, due to their lack for the appreciation of the present, they bring to an end the prospect of a future.
Such is the account of Ruth, Orpah and Naomi. Although, this is the presentation of the order of the names, however today, two of the three names are renown, Ruth, and Naomi, and one is but forgotten. Of the two renown, Ruth represents the persistence of love unto hope for success.
The three women experienced the consequence of alteration in their lives. Notwithstanding, their confrontation of the situation will illustrate the lesson for today. Therein, may we examine ourselves in all sincerity, lest we become the forgotten one.
As we dive into the account, this we read; there was a famine in the land. The word famine speaks of hunger, or the lack of substance. Man’s physical hunger at times is for the lack of his spiritual awareness and the deficiency of God in his life. In an ever-changing world, when there is a change, let us seek the unchangeable One, the Lord Jesus Christ. Though we be vulnerable for the alteration around us, but in Christ, we are an overcomer.
Those who seek, must learn to watch, and to those that observe, they must learn to be patient in times of uncertainty, lest we are filled with emotions for the making of the wrong decision.
The land previously mentioned, represents where the believer has to be by the will of God. However, there are times, though the believer is in the right place with the right people, but he or she will at times experience a famine; the lack of having that which is needed. Therein, the handling of the situation will alter the experience he or she will encounter. Everything that is done will be of a consequence for the individual and for others.
The famine in the land spoken of previously, this led to the migration of a family, from their land to another land. A man, his wife along with their two sons. His action became a consequence for him and those around him. Thus we read, and Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
Ruth 1:3-4
After That Mahlon and Chilion (The two sons) died also both of them; and the woman (Naomi) was left of her two sons and her husband. That is to say, Naomi was left all alone, without a husband or sons, but her daughters-In-law.
Even though it took a hard time of famine to cause the transition of Naomi’s family to another land. However, for a decade, with certainty, as a believer, Naomi was a blessing to Ruth and Orpah.
The blessings received by some, is but for an opportunity of a self-gratification, but for others like Ruth, a blessing that is received is an appreciation and a lesson to behold. In this we will perceive in the preceding text.
To live is to learn, learning to live require choices and decisions that must be made. At times, not all things done with a good intention are right, and sometimes doing the right thing is difficult to do, but it must be done.
Such was the case in the lives of the three ladies. Naomi, being a widow, and without any immediate family in a foreign land haven't given all she could give to her daughters-in-law. She was faced with a decision and a choice, though it was her own to make, but as stated; whatsoever we do, it will be of a consequence to us and to those around us, for good or for bad, and the revealing of the true nature of others.
As recorded in the first chapter and the six verse of the book of Ruth. Some time later Naomi heard that the LORD had blessed His people by giving them good crops; so she got ready to leave Moab with her daughters-in-law.
There are many who embark on the journey of making the right decisions in life, but few be there that continues. The three ladies started out together to go back to Judah (The home of Naomi) where there are now blessings. Many will miss the blessings in their lives, not for the lack of the awareness of the blessing, but for being shortsighted, they only see the current situation while willfully blinding themselves from the good that lies right ahead.
Shall we do the right thing only when it is rewarding for us, or we do that which is right because it is right?
As believers, let us choose God first, then He will give to us that which is right. However, let us not determine in our flaw human nature base on emotions, rather than faith while expecting God to bless the wrong choice of our hands.
On their journey, there came the realization that Naomi had nothing of riches, or pleasure to offer the ladies, but love. So then, were there not blessings in the land in which they were going to? Certainly, there were, but Naomi being a woman of faith did not promise the ladies that which they might need, so that they too, can learn to trust God in making a decision. In tears they lamented, but Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye and went back home, but Ruth held onto her.
Such are certain Christians today, they love and are willing to do the right thing, but with a timely expectation, but soon they will turn their backs on fellow Christians, the Church and ultimately their beliefs, they justify their action by a kiss -The Representation of abandoning that which is right while claiming to show some decency in the process. Then there are the Ruths, they may not know what lies ahead, but by faith and true love, they hold on tighter by cleaving.
So Naomi said to her, "Ruth, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. Go back home with her." But Ruth answered, "Don't ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Ruth 1:15-16
Ruth did not know what lies ahead, but she was willing to believe, and God delivered.
Today, in the genealogy of Christ, Ruth the little girl who was an outsider, but clung to her mother-in-law, is an ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the position as His great-grandmother many times over.
Let us ask ourselves are we prompt to partake in the right thing, but soon to kiss and depart, for the unseen of our own self-gratification, or do you cling to that which is right even when it seems uncertain?
Are you a kisser or a cleaver?
The name Ruth means, friend, and the name Naomi means, pleasant.
Though Naomi lost it all, but she was true to her name, a pleasant woman. As a widow, she was a woman without a voice, but by her side was a friend, Ruth.