Ruth 1:19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.
The trip from Moab to Bethlehem would have taken 7 to 10 days by foot. Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth would have journeyed through rugged precipitous terrain for about 50 miles. Bethlehem is located at an elevation of about 775 meters (2,543 ft) above sea level hence it would have been a steep climb up the Judean Mountains to reach Bethlehem. Naomi would have recollected the onward journey to Moab. It would have been downhill with her husband and her two sons. The scenic views they enjoyed, the trees they sat under to have lunch, the caves they rested, the fun and the laughter they shared would have flooded her mind. The return journey would have been a time of reminiscing the sweet memories, but also a time of remorse and repentance for making the wrong decision to migrate to Moab. Moab was a place where the Jews were prohibited to dwell or settle. No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, not even in the tenth generation (Deuteronomy 23:3).
Naomi and her husband Elimelek made the wrong decision to move to Moab when there was a famine in Bethlehem. As a consequence, Naomi lost her husband and her two sons in Moab. Some mistakes are costly! Naomi repented and decided to return back to her hometown. The return of repentance reversed the curse that Naomi brought upon herself.
The journey of repentance is not always a pleasant one. It will be filled with regret, remorse and ruefulness. However, it is the unpleasant journey uphill that will rearrange our lives and renovate the consequences of our wrong choices. The journey of repentance will be painful, sorrowful, and regretful, but it is inevitable. Don’t shy away from admitting and correcting the wrong decisions. The journey of repentance will reset our lives.
Journey of repentance:
1. Repent: The journey of repentance is steep, stressful and strenuous. Repentance is a ‘right-about-turn’ from the course we are on. Naomi went to Moab to make money and live luxurious lives, but she left everything that was profitable to return back to Bethlehem. Repentance will result in leaving behind what we thought was important and moving towards our destiny direction.
2. Reverse: The painful journey of repentance reversed her barrenness. She lost her posterity, possessions and prosperity but the Lord God restored everything she lost as she embarked on the journey of repentance.
3. Restore: The Lord restored her inheritance. King David and the King of Kings, ‘King Jesus’ were born from the family line of Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law. 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” (Ruth 4:15). Repentance restores what disobedience had stolen.
The journey of repentance is steep, rough and tough, but is very rewarding.
Ruth 4:17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, show me the areas where I have to climb the steep hill of repentance and renovate my life that was struck by wrong decisions. Amen.
Ruth 1:19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.
The trip from Moab to Bethlehem would have taken 7 to 10 days by foot. Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth would have journeyed through rugged precipitous terrain for about 50 miles. Bethlehem is located at an elevation of about 775 meters (2,543 ft) above sea level hence it would have been a steep climb up the Judean Mountains to reach Bethlehem. Naomi would have recollected the onward journey to Moab. It would have been downhill with her husband and her two sons. The scenic views they enjoyed, the trees they sat under to have lunch, the caves they rested, the fun and the laughter they shared would have flooded her mind. The return journey would have been a time of reminiscing the sweet memories, but also a time of remorse and repentance for making the wrong decision to migrate to Moab. Moab was a place where the Jews were prohibited to dwell or settle. No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, not even in the tenth generation (Deuteronomy 23:3).
Naomi and her husband Elimelek made the wrong decision to move to Moab when there was a famine in Bethlehem. As a consequence, Naomi lost her husband and her two sons in Moab. Some mistakes are costly! Naomi repented and decided to return back to her hometown. The return of repentance reversed the curse that Naomi brought upon herself.
The journey of repentance is not always a pleasant one. It will be filled with regret, remorse and ruefulness. However, it is the unpleasant journey uphill that will rearrange our lives and renovate the consequences of our wrong choices. The journey of repentance will be painful, sorrowful, and regretful, but it is inevitable. Don’t shy away from admitting and correcting the wrong decisions. The journey of repentance will reset our lives.
Journey of repentance:
1. Repent: The journey of repentance is steep, stressful and strenuous. Repentance is a ‘right-about-turn’ from the course we are on. Naomi went to Moab to make money and live luxurious lives, but she left everything that was profitable to return back to Bethlehem. Repentance will result in leaving behind what we thought was important and moving towards our destiny direction.
2. Reverse: The painful journey of repentance reversed her barrenness. She lost her posterity, possessions and prosperity but the Lord God restored everything she lost as she embarked on the journey of repentance.
3. Restore: The Lord restored her inheritance. King David and the King of Kings, ‘King Jesus’ were born from the family line of Ruth, Naomi’s daughter-in-law. 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” (Ruth 4:15). Repentance restores what disobedience had stolen.
The journey of repentance is steep, rough and tough, but is very rewarding.
Ruth 4:17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Prayer: Dearest Lord Jesus, show me the areas where I have to climb the steep hill of repentance and renovate my life that was struck by wrong decisions. Amen.
Leave a Reply