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Refugees - running from famine - Missing?... at least in hard times
Missing afterwards?...by circumstances or by choice.
Naomi had been in Moab for 10 years.
There was a famine. She wanted to return home. Her daughter-in-laws wanted to come with her. But Naomi urged them to go back to their mothers' homes. She wished them well and asked the Lord to bless them. But Ruth insisted going to the land with provisions. She knew it would not be easy. No land. No husband. But she went. Orpah did not. She returned back to her mother's house, where there were hard times.
Ruth's relatives may have missed her at one point, especially in better times. They knew the family relationships of Ruth, Orpah and Naomi. If they wanted to, they could certainly have made enquiries with Orpah in her mother's house. "What happened to your sister-in-law Ruth?"
- "Oh, she had plans to go to Bethlehem when I left Ruth and Naomi on the road to Naomi's land. Naomi's husband's family lives in Bethlehem. I don't know about her mother's house. I would look there, if you want to find her."
If they did make enquiries, they would have found out, that Ruth was doing well. First they would have had to find out that Naomi was known by two names. Perhaps Ruth had more than two names. Her name pronounced the Moabite way, the Bethlehem way, Boaz's wife etc.
Naomi asked to be called by a new name. Each person probably called her what they wanted:
"Don't call me Naomi. Call me Mara."
"Direct Quote": Ruth 1:20
Ilokano - Didak awagan iti Noemi. Awagandak iti Mara.
Ruth's relatives would have had to ask in a similar way like Naomi's relatives had ask earlier. ("Can this be Ruth?")
"Can this be Naomi?"
"Direct Quote": Ruth 1:19
Ilokano - Pudno kadi a sika ni Noemi?
Ruth lived to be in a home where her mother-in-law appreciated her. She was married anew, this time to a loving and influential man. She became the mother of a young son of promise.
Ruth herself may have been concerned about her relatives, wouldn't you be?
In that case, she would have sent a messenger servant to her mother's house to enquire about their well-being.
Ruth said to Boaz from her heart:
"Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me--a foreigner.
"Direct Quote": Ruth 2:10 -
Ilokano - Apay a kasta la unay ti panangipategmo kaniak? Apay a naasika unay iti maysa a ganggannaet?
Boaz had looked after food and water for the refugees. He had kept the men from touching Ruth. He treated Ruth with respect.
He instructed his servants:
"Don't embarrass her."
"Direct Quote": Ruth 2:15 -
Ilokano - Diyo singsingaen.
He was kind to the living and the dead. He knew the rules of his community. And he asked for more blessings.
"May the Lord repay you for what you have done."
"Direct Quote": Ruth 2:12 -
Ilokano - Gunggonaannaka koma ti APO gapu iti inaramidmo.
If both sides of the relatives wanted to find out about the others, it would have been fairly easy to ascertain that noone was missing.
If only one side of the relatives wanted to send and receive news, the other side would have received a message, because at each stage of change, they would have told someone where they were headed. But the enquirers still would not know, if someone was missing.
If neither side makes an effort, noone would know if anyone is missing.
Pray for news of relatives for refugees...who are refugees for various reasons...famine or war....
Lord Jesus, thank you for the Red Cross Registry, the Postal Systems, the telephone, email sytems and personal messengers that help find people.
Lord, help family re-unifiers match names regardless of name changes, spelling, fonts, pronunciation and language conventions.
Abba, remind refugees of easier ways of finding their loved ones.
Help the High Commissioner of Refugees enlist the help of the world community whereever there are refugees.
Lord God, help refugees, whether they linger on the road, return home or go to an unknown land of promise.
Amen.
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