Sermon Central
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The Sad Fate Of Oprah
Contributed by William D. Brown on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: Orpah, who was a Moabite woman, a woman that knew not the True and Living God, such was Ruth also, but Orpah was willing to go with Naomi her mother-in-law back to the land of Bethlehem Judah and once there possible could have become a believer in the Tru
What I have a problem with is, who can dogmatically say that Orpah would never have become a true believer in Jehovah God at some point after she arrived in Judah, it seems to me like many people have appointed them selves as Judge and Jury, we read often of hopeless pagans finally realizing the truth to do with the real God and being saved.
People don't necessarily have to be a believer in a false god to be lost, a lost sinner here in good old S.C. is just as lost as any lost person in the world.
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Ephesians 2:11-13 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision (Jews) in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Orpah was no LOST- ER than you or me, lost is lost. -- All gentiles at one time were without hope.
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God had a plan for Ruth, the great king David came from Ruth and Boaz, and I believe God would have taken care of Orpah as well.
11And 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? 12Turn 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; 13Would 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."
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It seems to me that Naomi did this ignorantly, perhaps not realizing what the end result would be if these two Moabite windows died in their sin and the chances of that was much greater if they go back to their old way of living, and that is certainly what was at stake as no one can be saved apart from the True God.
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14And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: -- probably all three-
and Orpah kissed her mother in law; --
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This is the last time we ever hear of Orpah, she is never mentioned again, found two times in the Bible, both in Ruth verses 4 &14. --Two, the number of division.
* Notice; the last memory that Naomi has of Orpah, she was weeping, and then kissed her goodbye. What a sad picture this presents, Orpah was willing to go with Naomi and Ruth but was literally talked out of it.
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--but Ruth clave unto her. -- Ruth loved Naomi and was determined to stay with her regardless, perhaps Ruth was stronger in her commitment than Orpah, but this world is full of people that have more determination than others, I don't see how this could be the determining factor of who God can save.
* Notice; Naomi is still even at this time trying to talk Ruth into going back to her pagan people with Orpah.
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15And she said, (Naomi) Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
