The foreigners favor

Introduction

Today we continue our series “23andme” a study where we examine the family history of Jesus. If you don’t know, 23andme is a genetic test which utilizes all 23 chromosomal pairs to determine our genealogy and ethnic identity. The 23andme results of Jesus can be found in Matthew 1:1

Matthew 1:1 ESV

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

In this genealogy there is a list of names. Sometimes those names make sense, and they don’t require much explanation. However other names stand out, such as these name. Matthew 1:5

Matthew 1:5 ESV

and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,

We know why Rahab is a name that sticks out, it’s because she was a prostitute. However Rehabs occupation isn’t the only reason why her name stands out. This reason is also why Ruth’s name stands out. It’s because they were women. It was a time where the value of women was not particularly high. However when you read the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew chapter 1, you will see the name of 5 women. This would have been a big deal, so much so that many would have viewed such a decision as a loss of credibility. However when you read the story of Ruth, you will understand why the scriptures place her name amongst Jesus' ancestors. Because the faith of Ruth will help lay the foundation of the type of faith Jesus will ask of his followers

Ruth 1:1–5 ESV

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. 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. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

It’s easy to conjure up images of John Stineback’s dust bowl era novel “grapes of wrath” when hearing this story. In “Grapes of Wrath '' the Joad family pack-up their items and their old Ford Model T, and leave the barren dust of Oklahoma for the promise of California. Naomi and Elimilech find themselves in a similar situation. They pack up their family and leave the famine stricken land of Israel, and leave for the hope of work and food rumored to be in the land of Moab. As is the case in Grapes of Wrath, the story of Naomi and her family ends in great tragedy. After moving to Moab, Naomi's husband (Elimelech) and her 2 sons (Mahlon and Chilion) would die. The promise and hope the family had upon moving to Moab was dashed and destroyed. The only family Naomi had left were that of her daughter-in-laws Orpah and Ruth.

As you can Imagine, the death of her husbands and sons left Naomi devastated. Her once optimistic and hopeful self had been reduced to one who was much more somber. When people would call her by her name “Naomi” she would request they no longer call her such. Naomi instead requested to be called “Mara” which means bitter. She called herself Mara because the Lord dealt bitterly with her.

Naomi feels betrayed and abandoned. Some of us can sympathize with Naomi when they read this story. We understand what it feels like to be forgotten. We may even realize that God would NEVER forget us, but we can’t help but feel this way. Little did Naomi know, God was getting ready to send her hope and redemption from a source much closer than she may suspect.

Ruth 1:6–16 ESV

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. 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. 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. 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. And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 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? 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, 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.” Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 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.

Naomi realizes there is nothing left for her in Moab, so she decides to return to the land of Judah. However Naomi believes that it would be in the best interest of her daughter-in-laws to remain in Moab. Naomi knows what it’s like to live as foreigner in a foreign land.

I once was a foreigner living in a foreign land. (kind of). When I was a Jr. in collage I did my ministry Internship in Allentown, PA. So when I was 23 years old I pack-up all my stuff and moved to Allentown. I’d never been there before, and it could have easily been a scary time. However the church community there was fantastic, and the ministers on staff did a great job helping me get adjusted. They made me feel welcome. However there was one issue. They were Philadelphia Eagles fans. They may not be so welcoming of me today. The main point of this story though is this. When I moved 1000 miles away to a foreign place, I had a great support structure. This would not have been available for Ruth and Naomi.

There may not be a harder place to be during this time. A woman in this position would have little to no chance of creating any type of livelihood.

Naomi gathers Orpah and Ruth together, and she explains to them why they cannot accompany her to Judah. Naomi does her best to make sure they know the only way for them to remarry and have a good life is to remain in their country.

Orpah sees the advice as wise, so she decides to stay behind. However the scripture says that Ruth remained at Naomi’s side. Ruth tells Naomi “I’m not going anywhere” Where you live I will live, your people will be my people, your God will be my God.

Ruth makes a declaration. I am willing to leave everything behind in the name of faith and love. Ruth leaves behind her national identity, her history, and her people. She did this because of her belief in Naomi’s God, and love for her mother-in-law Naomi.

Naomi would look at somewhere between amazed and bewildered. Naomi knew that Ruth shared in the same heartache that she did, for she too lost her husband. You can Imagine what Naomi must have been thinking

Ruth could easily blame God for her troubles. Ever since she married into this foreign family with their foreign God, her life has been painful. She could easily resent both the Jewish people and God. Most would be understanding if she was.

Instead Ruth is willing to make this foreign God her God, this foreign people her people. Ruth is willing to place her faith in a foreign God. The same God whom Naomi says deals with her bitterly. This action could have been the very thing which restores hope for Naomi.

Eventually Ruth is going to catch the eye of a highly influential Hebrew man named Boaz. Once Boaz realized that Ruth was in need of a kinsman redeemer, he told her that he would be the redeemer she needed. Boaz would become her kinsman redeemer though the process of marriage.

They eventually have a son, and Naomi becomes a nurse for the child.

Both Naomi and Ruth would be redeemed because of the faith of Ruth.

So what does this story teach us? There are 2 main points I believe this passage teaches us.

Never underestimate the impact your faith has on others. The scripture doesn’t specifically mention how much Ruth’s faith impacted Naomi. However I believe there is enough implication to understand that Ruth’s faith helped elevate Naomi’s. Where would Naomi be if her daughter-in-law without Ruth’s willingness to be faithful?

We always hope our faith will help us grow. This is a good thing to hope for! However we must understand that God may use our faith to inspire more faith in others. Are we living in such a way that welcomes this?

Have you ever had someone in your life whose faith has helped provide inspiration for you? Does this person know of their role? Sometimes the answer is yes, however it is often no. This means we must conduct our faith with the realization that our faith might be inspiring the faith of others.

Surrender our lives to Christ The best example of Ruth's story may be found in the parable of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price in Matthew 13:44-46

Matthew 13:44–46 ESV

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Ruth was willing to sell her national identity, her capability to have a family, and her chance to live a normal life, all so she could obtain that hidden treasure. Sometimes love requires us to surrender our rights, our wants, our desires, and Ruth did all these things. But that wasn’t the end, eventually Ruth would marry Boaz, and in so doing she would be grafted into the national heritage of Israel, and she would live a life she wanted. The love and joy ruth show is this, what surrender to God, he will often return as privileges