R1-15: How We Look For ‘Rest’ And ‘Security’ In All The Wrong Places

“‘May Adonai grant you security
in the home of a new husband.‘
Then she kissed them,
but they began weeping aloud.”
-Ruth 1:9

In terms of women’s rights, the ancient world of the Middle East is so far removed from our modern experience, I imagine it’s close to impossible to really understand the traumatic situation Naomi, Ruth and Orpah had been plunged into when they all lost their husbands.

Bottomline, this was a man’s world…

Which meant that without the protection of a husband or sons, a woman’s situation was quite precarious.

Yet as tragic as Naomi’s situation was, we can see she was just as concerned for the well-being of her now widowed daughters-in-law.

In her blessing to them, she expresses the hope they would find “rest” in the house of a new husband.

Let’s take a look at the Hebrew word for “rest” here for a second.

The word is MENUCHAH or מְנוּחָה.

The good ‘ole concordance tells us the word means a “place of rest”…which is correct.

However, in order to more accurately capture the nuance of the word, I would add the adjectives “warm” and “comforting” to the mix.

We’re talking about a WARM and COMFORTING resting place here.

Naomi is praying that Ruth and Orpah would find a husband who would both comfort and provide a warm home for them.

Next we’re told Naomi kissed them.

That gesture might strike westerners as a bit strange I think.

In the Middle East (and actually in some places in Europe), kissing is both a welcome or farewell greeting among women.

Naomi wasn’t offering up kisses as a form of affection or comfort here which is how I think most westerners would interpret it.

Finally, the situation comes to a head with Naomi and her two daughters-in-law breaking out into tears.

Again, as I just explained, the prospects for women in this era are so far removed from our modern experience, I think it’s really difficult for us to relate…

I work as a corporate headhunter here in Japan and I’m often in contact with female professionals who earn anywhere from between one hundred to two hundred thousand dollars a year easily.

In fact, I’m working with a big 4 female consultant in her early thirties right now who’s earning a base salary of 20 million yen (that’s just her base!).

And as a professional freelance copywriter, I’m proud to say that most of my mentors have also been women.

In fact, one of them is ranked as being one of the highest earning copywriters of all time irrespective of gender (her name is Lori Morgan).

Pretty much every women alive in our modern world today has no need to rely on a man for financial provision.

My point is unless we really make an effort to understand the Biblical world these women lived in, their plight will be completely lost on us.

And to put an even sharper point to that perspective, remember the central theme of the book of Ruth is all about finding a solution for Naomi’s situation.

Ruth and Orpah were still young women, so they still had the hope of remarrying and starting life anew.

For them, the easiest and least riskiest solution was to just stay put in the territory of Moab and let Naomi return home alone.

I really have to give credit to Naomi here.

She had such a generous heart…

Because as bleak as her situation was, she still wanted what was best for these girls.

Alrighty, let me close with a quick takeaway I feel the Lord placing on my heart…

It has to do with the word MENUCHAH or “rest”.

Here’s the thing.

At the end of the day, I believe ALL human beings want “rest” and “comfort”…

But we look for it in all the wrong places.

We look for security by hoarding away money into our bank accounts…

Or we seek security (and societal approval) through marriage and having children…

We seek security in our jobs…

We seek security by attaching ourselves to some worldly identity (harboring a superiority complex because of our race, nationality or religion)…

And as we just saw, Naomi, Ruth and Orpah sought security in their future “husbands”…

But at the end of the day, none of that stuff is what comprises REAL security.

Consider that King Solomon had it ALL…

He tried to find security and satisfaction in every worldly luxury he could get his hands on.

Yet at the end of his life he still concluded it was all “futile”.

So on that point, I’d like to let King Solomon close for me today.

“Here is the final conclusion,
now that you have heard everything:
fear God, and keep his mitzvot;
this is what being human is all about.
For God will bring to judgment
everything we do,
including every secret,
whether good or bad.”

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

“Come to me, all you who
are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. 
For my yoke is easy and
my burden is light.”
-Matthew 11:28-30