Ruth

Ruth 1:1-17

 

“Hope itself is like a star- not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity. ” -- The Rev'd Charles Haddon Spurgeon

 

   Such was the situation in the book of Ruth in the Old Testament.  Adversity showed forth the hope of God’s plan being shown in the descendants of our Lord Jesus Christ .  “ There was famine in the land” we hear in the time of the Judges.  Elimelech took his family from Bethelehem to Moab in the east.  The two sons of Elimelech and Naomi married Moabite women---Orpah and  Ruth.   The Moabites were descendants of Lot & their god received child sacrifices . 

 

   In the middle of adversity a star of hope appears.  This is the working of God and His providence.  Do you remember what providence is?  It is literally seeing before.  God sees before and prepares His plan to be made plain in the working of adversity but God does not see it that way.  You see He takes all of our history and He makes something out of it.  This was the case with Ruth.  How did it happen?

 

   It happpened because God willed it and what He wills He makes to happen.  Are you and I not glad that we have only to submit to His plan ?  We can rest in it.  There was a famine.  It was not pleasant but God had His hand on this.   Then more distress occurs.  The sons die in Moab.  Elimelech has already died.  Naomi is left. She decides to return to Judah because the “ LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.” 1:6  Naomi tells her two daughters-in-law that they can stay in Moab which is their homeland.  “ the LORD deal kindly with you”   This is a beautiful scene where they all weep.  Orpah decides to stay.  “ ….your sister in law is gone back unto her people….” 

 

  We might say that God’s plan for us as His children is always a part of His intention for us and is always intended for our good and His glory.   Henri Nouwen said it this way, “God's love for us existed before we were born and will exist after we have died. God's love is from eternity..”   He also said, “There are no ifs in God's heart. God's love for us does not depend on what we do or say, on our looks or intelligence, on our success or popularity”   His love for us depends on Him, not us…therefore it is unconditional.

 

   Secondly Ruth decides to go with Naomi in those words which should be in a Hollywood epic, “  Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest , I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” 1:17  Why did this happen?  I believe that Ruth saw something in Naomi and how she handled adversity.

 

    In how we accept God’s overuling providence in the troubles and blessings of our lives,  we are setting the stage for how others see God.  Does that make sense?  If others see in us conditional love for them, they will not see God in us at all.  I will love you if you do such and such or say such and such.  That is conditional love.  That is not how God loves and how we should love.  Our epistle lesson today from Colossians points this out :” PUT on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful”

 

    Lastly, God can use anyone and call anyone and make them part of His plan.  Ruth became a believer.  She followed God.  She was the great-grandmother of King David.  This should give us both a sense of awe and humility.  The point is this---do not count anyone out.  That is not our job to do be judge.  God can take the Moabite woman whose people sacrificed children and grant them spiritual eyes that they may see Him.  Then they can become servants of Him just like you and I.  I like what one commentator said about Ruth” its major theme is that God is involved in our lives and in our history.” From The Matthew Henry Study Bible.

 

    If we wish to see the providence of God in our lives we can find it in so many ways.  The path we have taken is not always the one we chose but God laid it out for us as we acknowledged Him in all our ways, and He did direct our paths.  Ruth was called to God and she followed.   We too are not always sure of the path but thanks be to God , He has called us through the witness of others.  Perhaps it was a friend or family member who helped us, or a Naomi. Whatever or whoever it was we too can say as Ruth did to Jesus, “ Where you (go) I will go , where you lodge I will lodge and nothing but death can separate me from you.  And as believers we know that not even death can separate us from Jesus and the love of God .  Praise Be to His Name and may He call many to eternal life in the belief in the Son of God ---our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.