Today, the Holy Spirit has free reign over the whole world. It's been that way since Jesus Christ died on the cross. At the moment of His death, the price was paid. Mankind had been redeemed, the curse of sin had been lifted from the Earth. The veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (Mat. 27:51), and the Spirit of God was free to leave the Holy of Holies, because all that needed to be done had been done.
In Ruth's day, however, Israel was set apart for the purpose of showing others God's great love and power.
So it was that Naomi rose with her daughters-in-law. She would return to Israel. Her daughters-in-law followed.
This was the equivalent of today's missionaries calling people to choose to trust in Christ by faith. Missionaries today face the same type of people as Orpah and Ruth. They must walk a fine line. If they rush people into decisions, they risk losing people who need a tender, loving ear, who need someone to guide them very slowly. Some fields are so tough, it is months before one can even establish a relationship. On the other hand, they must never make the mistake of focusing only on relationships. People must trust in Christ's redemptive work on the cross to be saved. And, there are places where people are hungering, and will come quickly.
However, we never know when Christ will return for His church. Missionaries must also be mindful that He will call His church away, so they must work “while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.” (John 9:4) He will not delay for us.
In the same way, Naomi would not delay when she heard there was bread in Israel. It was time for her to leave, and any work that she’d neglected to do in reaching people never got done. The relationship had been formed. But, now it was time to make a decision. She couldn’t work any more on the hearts of her daughters-in-law. It was now or never.
Orpah and Ruth, at least, had the benefit of knowing that Naomi would leave. We will not have that advantage when Christ comes for us. We will disappear in the twinkling of an eye.
These ladies were probably thinking of the family as they rose with Naomi. They’d enjoyed the fellowship. They’d seen great benefits. They loved Naomi, and all she'd done for them.
Naomi, however, loved God even more. When word came in Moab that God had ended the famine in Israel, she was anxious to go back. Israel was where her people were. It was the place where God showed His mighty power, the people out of whom God would send the Redeemer of all mankind. She wanted to honor Him. God had been with her - and her family - in Moab. But, she had been listening. She'd been hoping that God would visit His people, and she could return. Because, she knew she belonged there.
