Ruth 1:1-22.............1:1 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion--Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each to her mother's house. 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 in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, "Surely we will return with you to your people." 11 But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go--for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!" 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, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16 But Ruth said:
"Entreat me not to leave you,Or to turn back from following after you;For wherever you go, I will go;And wherever 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.The LORD do so to me, and more also,If anything but death parts you and me."
18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.
19 Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, "Is this Naomi?" 20 But she said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?"
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. NKJV
It is interesting to note that when Naomi named her sons, Chilion means: failing or annihilation, derived from the verb (kala) meaning come to an end. and Mahlon means: weak, sick, wounded. Why would a mother give her sons those names? What was a part of Naomi's heart that would regard her sons in this manner?
Can you imagine Naomi calling her son's to dinner? " Failing, annihilation, weak, sick and wounded, time to eat"! For every time she called them, she was calling them to failure, utter annihilation, to sickness, weakness and being wounded. Can you see a pattern here? You certainly would not live long for sure!
Now we know that her husband moved the family to Moab when there remained a drought in Israel. There in Moab, after some time, he dies and then the two sons die as well. It was probably about ten years after the father's death that the sons died. Why did they choose Moab to live after being in Bethlehem for such a long time? Many commentaries on it said that those areas of Judah still probably offered the high places to worship the "foreign god's " . It is interesting that coming out of the book of Judges and seeing that is what the book is about and how it was handled by some leaders in some of those places, those high places evidently remained in some areas of Judah. So it is likely with those high places set for worship to those "foreign god's" still had some footing in a nation of this family, they would certainly not be put off by worshiping the foreign god's they had seen in their own country as well and could possibly had embraced it!
My thought was, how did Naomi respond each time of the passing of the "loved one"? To be taken to a foreign country who had their own "gods" and to be left behind because of death seems brutal to me. She had no one around her to help her through the loss of a loved one. Now, alone in a place that is far from home and far from the God of Israel makes me think of the "Prodigal Son".
When tragedy comes, the most likely thoughts at the beginning is, "why did I come here?", "why did we move, when we could be enjoying our retirement right now", or "what could I have done differently"?
Do you think Naomi wanted to be " rescued" ? Did she have a hopelessness in her situation? It is interesting to me that she,Naomi, said, " 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 in the house of her husband."
What kind of life these two women must have had with Naomi's son's that she is asking the LORD to deal kindly with them as they had with her? She also asked for them to find rest in the house of their "new" husbands! They evidently stayed to see the "dead" taken care of as of the recommended duty of the day! But she mentions the word of " rest" to them as well. I know when I see someone overworked, harassed, bullied, weary, tired in life from just like the day to day drudgery, whether work or elsewhere, I always think the person needs to rest. And our rest is always in the Lord!
In this scripture............Matthew 11:28-30.......28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
NIV
One thing was certain, she, Naomi, now heard that bread was found in Israel, and she wanted to return to the familiar of family and friends. Maybe she needed to get back to the synagogue and worship! In her actions toward Orpah and Ruth, Naomi appeared to have a desire for them to stay a family, but in the scheme of things, the pathway was darkened because Naomi had no other sons and Naomi herself was up in age and could not give another son to them to marry.
I think, too, that in the greatest pain of loss, she saw no hope for the two young women and probably had no earnest desire to see them marry again. Although she saw that they could not continue with her, she was now leading them back to their home and their "god's"............sad, but true!
Did Naomi miss sleep night after night? Did her heart-ache weigh her down in such a way that the cares of this and all the worry for Orpah and Ruth cause her to weaken under the vigilant watch for and over the two young women? She saw her sons die early deaths and no likely hood of grand-children.
In all this, Naomi decided that the "best for the two" would be for them to return to their people and their "gods" of Moab.
My belief too is that Naomi, wanted to face the "music" you might say alone.........they left in famine to find greener fields somewhere else..............for they as a family, they left their homeland to get to a place of no famine and ended up staying longer than they needed to stay. In the end of "doing our things, our way" can certainly send us severely into a place of famine, lack and loneliness as we see with Naomi!
Ruth 1:16 .............But Ruth said:
"Entreat me not to leave you,Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever 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.The LORD do so to me, and more also,If anything but death parts you and me."
Strong words from a young woman. Yes, she put a curse on herself! Ruth had more than just a passing affection or attachment with Naomi, her mother-in-law. She had a heart attitude that caused her with much determination to press in and rely on the God of Israel and His ways of doing by His statues. Surely Ruth had seen something of it time and again in the day to day actions of Naomi.
Ruth had to have seen something in the relationship Naomi had with her God and she wanted to participate in it as well!
So Naomi relents, and Ruth goes with her back to Israel! In verse 19-22....we see the women population most likely excited about Naomi's return. Yes, Naomi had returned, but she felt she came home empty, the widow without support, and the bitter without hope. Naomi certainly believes she has drunk from the cup of bitterness and loss in her being abandoned through death of her husband and sons. Now a woman up in age, and most likely gray coloring in the hair, she returns to the familiar.
Certainly God knew her anguish. He knew her anger, her complaints, and yes disappointments. He, too, was aware of her human frailties. (Psalm 103:14) And He saw her discouragement because of her age.
When we choose to step out and away from God, the outcome is surely bleak!
I believe she had the wisdom of God to make the needed decision to get back where they started from and have "some bread". I believe she remembered some of the past times of going to the sanctuary and worshiping God! In truth, Ruth, became the child who walked as a disciple of the Lord and obedient to His plan. I, too, believe that as Ruth heard of the God of Israel by Naomi, she was compelled by the Holy Spirit to follow after truth and walk in His ways that gives to Ruth and others like her safety and ease. It was Ruth who stood her ground to say, "For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever 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.The LORD do so to me, and more also,If anything but death parts you and me."
When Naomi chose to line up with God again, the game-changer was on the scene!
In the following chapters of Ruth we find the ultimate heritage only God can give.
They, Naomi and Ruth, came at harvest time! They came and God provided an avenue to bless them both. He blessed Naomi with wisdom by the Holy Spirit to speak truth and direct Ruth to the one field and to the one particular relative. Ruth was blessed by gaining a family and a godly heritage. Whatever the circumstances, God never changes, He is always on the scene and will turn things for His glory. For whatever the suffering: we should seek to and plan to respond in a godly and faith-filled way. Even in drought, death, trouble, affliction, and heart-ache, God can change things when we turn our eyes from the circumstances and look to the giver of LIFE!
Ruth 4:13-17...............13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth." 16 Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. NIV
Father, You know our weakness. You know our coming out and going in and in all this, our complaints, disappointments and pain are heard. This life journey Father takes turns we do not see coming. Things come and change our lives from what we think is peace, but in reality is change by encountering stress, hassles, a drudgery of daily life and yes, more work. It sometimes feels like a roller-coaster ride, and YOU know I truly dislike those rides.
In Jesus' name we pray and believe that, we see that it is You who determines our steps according to Proverbs 16:9. Help us to see when we are just being selfish , following our own ways that can lead to bad results. For what may seem good to us can be all wrong at this time of life. We invite You into our planning and whatever is not in line with Your Word may it be null and void. Jesus is our Hope. He is Anchor for our soul! Whatever life brings, may we be triumphant like Naomi to walk in truth and stay with truth. May we see the life in Jesus and what He gives to broken lives and heart-aches. I pray we operate in the wisdom of God that You give liberally to us when we ask. (James 1:5) Father, we may have some grey coloring on the top of our heads, but that in no way deters us from our following You. We choose not to find the lazy chair of comfort zone mentality but choose to be ever-pursuing You in holiness and righteousness. Like the lives of Naomi and Ruth, YOU our God showed Your hand mightily and today I pray that for all who read and receive this message from the God of more than enough that lives of heart-ache and pain be healed. Father, today may men and women be brought out of the pain of loss, death, brokenness and pain and deliver them to peace, joy and healing!
I thank You for those who by faith, who have stood the test, and had patience to endure will be lacking nothing. Today You are their strength. Father, it is Your grace that is sufficient and we expect to dwell in a peaceable habitation, in safe dwellings and in quiet resting places. We treasure You and thank You for answering us in time of trouble. Now thanks be to God Who always causes us to triumph in Christ! Amen.
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