Last week we started our series on the book of Ruth, a book that (in many ways) begins in tragedy. A man named Elimelech and his family flee a famine in Bethlehem and go to the land of Moab. And then he dies, and after his sons take Moabite wives, they die, leaving the man’s wife (Naomi) and the two daughters (Orpah and Ruth). And (because they have no male providers) they are left destitute and without provision. And verse 6 of chapter 1 picks up where we left of. It says…Ruth 1:6—
Last week we started our series on the book of Ruth, a book that (in many ways) begins in tragedy. A man named Elimelech and his family flee a famine in Bethlehem and go to the land of Moab. And then he dies, and after his sons take Moabite wives, they die, leaving the man’s wife (Naomi) and the two daughters (Orpah and Ruth). And (because they have no male providers) they are left destitute and without provision. And verse 6 of chapter 1 picks up where we left of. It says…
Ruth 1:6— 6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food.
The Lord Visits-- Now why did Naomi choose to go back? Well, two reasons: First, in Israel, it says the Lord had visited, which meant that God had sent rains to water the crops; and so now, in the springtime, there was the long-anticipated harvest where food, or “bread” (Hb. lekhem) was available again. But remember she has no men in her family to farm her land. And even if she did, remember they have been gone from their land for 10 years, so there was probably no crop to be harvested. So what good is it to go back?
Provisions for The Poor-- Well, God had made provisions for people in her predicament. God breaks the mold of ancient culture by building into Israel’s economy a system for caring for the poor. Women like her could survive by doing such things as picking up the grain dropped by the harvesters and intentionally left, as God commanded, as a provision for the poor. And we will talk more about that provision in later weeks. But for now I merely want to point out that this was probably not a possibility in Moab. So Naomi leaves. And Naomi’s return to Bethlehem begins the first major scene in the the book of Ruth. Let’s look at it; verse 7...
Ruth 1:7-13 (ESV)— 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.”
Ruth and Orpah’s Predicament-- Now what is going on here is that Ruth and Orpah want to come with Naomi back to Israel. But there is a problem. They would not be able to get married again and have children of their own. Why? Because they are Moabites. No Jew would marry them. If Naomi had more sons and they waited for those sons to grow up, then maybe they could get married to them and produce children who could in turn provide for them in their old age. And that may seem strange to us, but was the custom of the day. And that system makes sense because it provides you with children who can take care of you and (if sons) preserve the family name. But, even if it were possible still for Naomi to find a husband and conceive (though she was too old), it would be ridiculous for Ruth and Orpah to wait so long. So Naomi urges them to return each to their father’s house. And we know from 2:11 that Ruth still has a father who is living, so it would seem to be in Ruth’s best interest to return to her father’s house. But look at verse 14. It says…
Ruth 1:14-18— 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.
Ruth’s Oath-- [Ruth’s decision had far-reaching spiritual implications (2:12; Mark 10:29–31). Her confession of faith, your people … my God, recalls the central covenant promise: “I will be your God and you shall be my people” (Gen. 17:7–8; Ex. 6:7; Deut. 29:13; Jer. 24:7; 31:33; Hos. 2:23; Zech. 8:8; 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 21:7).] And not only that, but [...Ruth binds herself by an oath that invites punishment if she is unfaithful. She swears this oath in the name of Yahweh (cf. 1 Sam. 3:17; 1 Kings 2:23), thereby owning him as her God.] And this is one of the things that makes the story of Ruth so amazing; because here in the period of the Judges, where you have Israelites turning to Canaanite religion, here you have a Moabitess forsaking her idols and following Yahweh. It is such a reversal. And for her it is transformative.
Chemosh-- Because the Moabites worshiped an evil god named Chemosh; a god of child sacrifice; a god of fear. In fact in Ruth’s culture [It was customary for those who worshipped this god Chemosh to offer their infant children as sacrifices on an altar, {as} burnt offerings {in order to appease him}.] Imagine serving a god of terror like that. But then Ruth comes to Bethlehem; and in and throughout the book of Ruth we see the one true God challenging her worldview, showing her that He was a very different kind of God; a God who loves her and wants to bless her. And he reveals His love to her in that He provides food for Ruth and Naomi; He provides a husband for Ruth; He provides for the redemption of their property. And from what we know in history, God even chooses to bring the Messiah (Jesus Christ, the Son of God) through her future husband Boaz’s line, the line of David. And what is most fascinating is that many years later, when Jesus is born in Bethlehem, He is born for a purpose. The sins of the world had to be payed for. But our God is not like Chemosh. Although a sacrifice is necessary, God doesn’t demand us to sacrifice our children; He sacrificed His. He allowed His own Son to die on the altar of the cross for us!!! That is why, when Jesus (the one who is and called Himself The Bread of Life) was born in Bethlehem (this very city; the House of Bread), the house was full again. Salvation had come to all those who would receive Christ as their Savior.
Romans 3:23-25a (NIV)-- 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith…
Three-fold Commitment-- Now Ruth’s Commitment meant three things: (1.) First, she was forsaking her loyalty to Moab and pledging allegiance to Naomi, her country, and the God of Israel. (2.) Secondly, she was resolving to live a life of celibacy, knowing that she would likely never get remarried because of her nationality. (3.) Third, she forsook her gods, turning from Molech and Chemosh to worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Ruth’s Love a Picture of God’s-- Why does Ruth do all this? She could have taken the easy route and gone home, where she would have been provided for. But instead she chooses to really give up her life for her mother-in-law, pledging herself to take care of her. And this kind of love is really at the heart of the whole book. A love that doesn’t seek its own good but the good of another; a love that seeks to love and sustain another. And what the message of the book teaches us is that God is also seeking to love and sustain us, even though He doesn’t have to. God never takes the easy road in His relationship with us. God gave it all (even at the cost of His own Son), who died on a cross so that we could enter into a relationship with God.
Don’t Know How-- Now Ruth and Naomi don’t yet know how God is going to love and provide. And I am not sure if Naomi even expects Him to. Look at verse 19...
Ruth 1:19-21-- 19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi;[a] call me Mara,[b] for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
The Famine in Naomi’s Heart-- Now this passage reveals that the famine that took place did not take place only in the land. It took place in Naomi’s heart as well. She [describes her family situation before her return (as full) and after her return (as empty). {In courtroom imagery, she says} the Lord has testified against me. {She’s saying} He has brought calamity (destitution, childlessness, widowhood) upon her. {And so} She sees her suffering as God’s testimony, i.e., as proof that God condemns her for…sin… (see note on Ruth 1:11–13).]
Mara-- And so Naomi tells the people to no longer call her Naomi (which means “pleasant”) but to call her Mara (which means “bitter”). And that word for bitter is the same word used to describe the bitter water in the desert that the Israelites came across, and which God made sweet. Well here she is blaming God for doing the opposite; turning her from sweet into bitter. And [...Naomi is interpreting her hard circumstances as coming from God’s enmity toward her; {but} as the rest of the book will make plain, she is mistaken (see note on Ruth 1:20–21).] Verse 22…
Ruth 1:22 (ESV)-- 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Now sometimes you and I wonder just exactly how God is going to provide. And sometimes we, like Naomi, sometimes doubt whether He will or not. But He always does. In my preparation of this message, I think the Lord really spoke to me again the truth of Romans 8:28, which says: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
And what this reminds us of is that God sees our future better than any of us can see our past. His hand is always on us; always steering our lives through the rough waters to the shores of His purpose for your life. You know it is amazing what can happen in your life when you let go and trust in the providence of God. Today, I would like to encourage you to turn to Jesus; the One who is your redeemer; your shelter; your Provider; your Comforter; and yes, even your Bread. Amen.
