Ruth Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Bible story Joseph multi colored coat

TENSION

Big Question

How will we respond when it seems like God is against us? Story of Joseph Sometimes its not even the big things.

Our phone breaks Half way to atheism

there is no God.

TRUTH

Turn with me to

Ruth 1

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi

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. 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.” 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.

Naomi and Ruth Return

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; call me Mara, 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?” 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.

Vs 1-5 - Setting

What happens in these verses? Time of the Judges? Moab? Moab is the enemy of Israel What would it be like for women like this?

Vs 6-18 - Rising action

We see this argument go back and fourth. Why is Naomi asking them to go back to their parents house?

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?

Hopelessness

Vs 6 Naomi thinks God is against her.

Why shouldn’t she? Her family is dead She knows that God is sovereign Orpah leaves - no big deal

Ruth says - serious loyalty

Clings to her Lets look at vs 15-18 quickly Naomi is so mad she doesn’t care if Ruth worships Yahweh or not. Ruth is so determined to stay with Naomi that she says I’m going to follow you no matter what.

Donkey from Shrek

Vs 19-22 - chapter Resolution

We see the bitterness Who does she blame?

God How does this section end? Barley harvest

When Naomi thinks God is working against her, He is actually working for her

Where is the glimpse of hope?

Naomi misses the fact that

Ruth won’t leave her She is back in her home country It is harvest time ... so she will have food. Romans 8:28

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

This isn’t saying everything will go how we want it to go Big Question

How will we respond when it seems like God is against us? Even when we find ourselves in a story like Ruth’s, like Rachael’s.

Loose everything.

LANDING

C.S. Lewis

Human Death is the result of sin and the triumph of Satan. But it is also the means of redemption from sin, God’s medicine for Man and His weapon against Satan.

Jesus went to the cross crying out God was against him God turned all wrath against Jesus so we could have the blessing Jesus deserved Jesus was treated like us - a sinner

We are treated like his sons and daughters Tim Keller God looks at the anxious and says, I tore my Son to sherds for you, and you’re afraid I will not give you what you need? Death may seem like our greatest sorrow, but it is death that brings us our greatest joy.

From this death we can be certain that God is for us.