Divine Hiddenness

Intro

Everyone at some point has questioned where is God? Where Was He in my pain? Did he hear me when I cried? Does he know that I am alone? Does God care?

Today we will be looking at the topic of what happens when it seems as if God is absent.

For this we will be looking at the book of Ruth. The book of Ruth is one of the more interesting Books in the Old testament. first thing worth noting is that this book is one of only two books in the bible named after a woman. The follows the story of a young moabite woman named Ruth who chooses to follow her mother in law Naomi after the loss of her son (Ruth’s late husband)

Ruth 1:1–3 CSB

1 During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land. A man left Bethlehem in Judah with his wife and two sons to stay in the territory of Moab for a while. 2 The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife’s name was Naomi. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They entered the fields of Moab and settled there. 3 Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, died, and she was left with her two sons.

This was already a dark period in Israel’s history when Naomi and Elimelech had moved from Israel too Moab. unfortunately the hardship only increases for Naomi.

while in Moab Naomi’s israelite sons marry Moabite woman, unfortunately again Naomis sons both pass away. leaving her with her two daughter in laws Ruth and Orpah

After this tragedy Naturally Naomi became very bitter. the scriptures point that she believe that God’s hand was against her (1:13) naturally orpah left with Naomi’s blessing thinking that Ruth would do the same

This is the first time we see God speaking through the apparent abesence

upon this Ruth leaves her home land for Israel with Naomi and becomes her care giver. even going as far to work gleaning in the fields to provide for her and her mother in law

Ruth’s Love

After Naomi has realized that there is nothing for her: Her husband has passed, her son’s have died, she is far from her home land there maybe stigma for her to return after her abesence and now one of her daughters in law leaves her. the last thing she was likely expecting to hear was these beautiful and famous words

Ruth 1:16–17 CSB

16 But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.

Ruth Devotes herself to Naomi even invoking a curse if nothing but death separates the two of them.

Ruth demonstrates a devoted loving kindness that goes above and beyond what is required or expected.

Commentator Marion Taylor suggests that this kindness is one of the major purposes of the book, showing Gods divine virtues through the characters in the text (2)

Hesed

Hesed is form of covenantal love and kindness that God hold’s towards his people

Commentator Marion Taylor suggests that this kindness is one of the major purposes of the book, showing Gods divine virtues through the characters in the text (2)

Boaz:

when Ruth and Naomi returned to Israel Ruth was gleaning in a man named Boaz’s field. he approaches ruth and shows her hessed by allowing her to glean the feilds but addiontally providing a special care for Ruth by providing extra food and water for her and Naomi as well as charging the men in the feilds to not bother her or touch her

This where start to see Gods care in the face of his absence. Ruth returns home and in Ruth 2 She praises God for what he has done and for Boaz’s kindness

Throughout the remainder of the book we see no direct response from God to Naomi’s or Ruth’s situations. There is no thunder and lightning, no voice booming from the heavens rather we see people coming in to provide care.