The Narrow Way vs. the Broad Way (Ruth vs. Orpah)

Ruth 1:14
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Elimelech and Naomi were living in Bethlehem, Judah and they were Ephrathites. They traveled from Judah to Moab with their two sons Mahlon and Chilion. The reason they moved from Bethlehem to Moab is because a famine struck the land, while the judges ruled the land. After Elimelech and Naomi reached Moab, Elimelech died and Naomi was left with her two sons Mahlon and Chilion. Mahlon and Chilion married Moabite women Ruth and Orpah respectively. After ten years of livelihood in Moab, Mahlon and Chilion died as well. Naomi was a bereft mother, left with her two daughters in law. Naomi made a wonderful decision of returning to her own land because she had heard how Lord visited His people and the land was blessed with bread again.

Naomi requested Ruth and Orpah to return to their own land Moab saying (Ruth 1:8-9), “Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.” We understand that Ruth and Orpah were kind to Naomi and her family. Naomi was meaning well for her daughters in law and was trusting that the Lord will grant them rest by blessing them with husbands in their land. She kissed them and they three wept loudly. Ruth and Orpah insisted that they go with Naomi to her people.

Naomi again requested Ruth and Orpah to return to their land. This time Naomi explains them why they should return and strongly urged them not to follow her. In Ruth 1:11-13 “And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.” Naomi also said that her heart is filled with grief for her daughters in law that the hand of the Lord is gone out against her.

It is very clear that Naomi and her daughters in law enjoyed a sound relationship. They cared for each other. Naomi wanted her daughters in law to find rest in their husbands’ homes. She knew in her heart that she would not have any more sons and even if she marries again and has sons that the wait for her daughters in law would be too long. At this stage we see that they all wept yet again. Ruth 1:14 says “And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.” Orpah got convinced and kissed her mother in law and returned to her own land Moab while Ruth adhered to her mother in law.

Orpah and Ruth were on the crossroads at this point. They could choose one way or the other; that is they could return to Moab or stick to their mother in law and go to Bethlehem of Judah. Moab represents the broad way while Bethlehem represents the narrow way. Firstly, Moab was born to Lot and his daughter after the destruction of Sodom. Though Moabites and Israelites were related and have the same roots from Terah, they had conflicts because of Moab’s birth which was incestuous. Secondly, Sihon, King of Amorites did not let the Israelites pass by when they were journeying from Egypt to the Promised Land, as it is said in Numbers 21:21-23. Also, we see that Moabite King Balak appointed a prophet Balaam to speak against Israelites as said in Numbers 22:5-6. On the other hand, Bethlehem is comprised of two words Bethel (House of God) and Lehem (Bread). In other words, Bethlehem is where God and His people resided and it was filled with bread. This bread is the “Bread of Life”.

Way of Moab or the broad way is the way traveled by many that leads to eternal damnation. Way of Bethlehem or the narrow way is the way least traveled and leads to eternal life. Matthew 7:13-14 says “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” The narrow way is the way of the truth and the life. In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Orpah chose to go back to Moab while Ruth went on with Naomi. Ruth was blessed and married Boaz and gave birth to Obed. Ruth 4:21-22 says, “And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.” Ruth was redeemed by Boaz just the same way you and I are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb. This blood was shed by the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. You and I have a choice as well. We could choose the broad way that leads to destruction or the narrow way that leads to eternal life. This choice dictates your eternal journey. Are you on the crossroads today? Will you choose the narrow way like Ruth did?

Tomorrow: Two way rest for Naomi and Ruth