posterity that I shall never have.’ Oh, how agonizing it must have been for Naomi to look back on that day ten years before when she and her husband and sons had turned their backs on God’s promises! (1:6–13.) God is gracious and for those that love him it really is true that every cloud has a silver lining! Orpah turned back, but Ruth refused to leave her. ‘ “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her” ’ (1:14, 15). Ruth, however, was no longer
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