The Harvest to Come

Ruth 1:1-22

Imagine this: You’ve dedicated your life to God's call, leaving behind your home, family, and every comfort you know. You arrive in a foreign land to preach the gospel, only to face unrelenting hardship—imprisonment, sickness, the loss of children, and even the death of your spouse. For many, this might lead to despair or questions about whether God truly sees, cares, or is in control.

This was the story of Adoniram Judson, one of the first American missionaries to Burma (modern-day Myanmar). Despite profound suffering, Judson clung to the truth of God's sovereignty. He once said, “If I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated sufferings.”

Judson’s faith in God's sovereignty didn’t eliminate his pain, but it anchored him in hope. It helped him see suffering not as a chaotic accident but as part of God's redemptive plan. Even in his darkest moments, Judson trusted that God was at work for His glory and the salvation of the lost.

Today, as we turn to God’s Word, we’ll explore how understanding His sovereignty can transform our perspective on suffering. Just as Judson found peace and purpose in God's providence, we too can discover that our trials, though painful, are never meaningless in the hands of a sovereign God.

God’s Sovereignty in Suffering Ruth 1:1-5

Context: A time of famine in Bethlehem forces Elimelech’s family to Moab, where tragedy strikes as Naomi loses her husband and sons.

When the Judges ruled.

Everyone did what it right in his own eyes.

Just a quick recap until we get at the begining of Ruth.

The Book of Judges presents a vivid and sobering account of Israel's cyclical rebellion and God's gracious faithfulness. the book underscores the sovereignty of God in preserving His covenant people despite their persistent disobedience. Judges recounts the period between Joshua’s conquest and the establishment of the monarchy, highlighting Israel's failure to fully obey God by driving out the Canaanites. This disobedience leads to spiritual compromise, idolatry, and moral decay.

The narrative follows a repetitive cycle: Israel sins by turning to false gods, God disciplines them through oppression by foreign nations, the people cry out for deliverance, and God raises up judges—charismatic leaders empowered by His Spirit—to rescue them. However, each judge, from Othniel to Samson, demonstrates human frailty and points to the need for a greater, perfect Deliverer. The book crescendos in its final chapters with shocking accounts of moral and societal collapse, encapsulated in the phrase: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25

Judges 21:25 ESV

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges serves as a theological commentary on the depravity of humanity, the justice and mercy of God, and the necessity of Christ as the ultimate Judge and King. It underscores the futility of human effort apart from divine grace.

This is where we find the setting to the book or Ruth.

We are introduced to a man named Elimelech, whose name means My God is King. In a town called Bethlehem.

Bethlehem means the house of bread.

We find out pretty quickly that there is a famine in the land.

Deuteronomy 28 tells of the covenant curses that would come upon the people if they were disobedient to the law of God.

This famine is judgement for the disobedience and is to be used as a wake up call to repentance.

I wonder how some will take it. Where we find Elimelech is taking his wife and sons to a town about 50 miles. The town of Moab.

Moab does not have the best reputation in the OT.

Deuteronomy 23:3–6 ESV

“No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the Lord forever, because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. But the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam; instead the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loved you. You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity all your days forever.

Remember what happened in Numbers 22?

From Famine to Fullness: The Gospel according to Ruth (From Bad to Worse)

Balak, king of Moab, had hired Balaam to curse the tribes while they were making their way from Egypt to Canaan. Balak, who had heard about Israel’s recent defeats of kings Sihon and Og, feared the Israelites and sought any means to gain an advantage over them. To Balak’s dismay, his hired diviner, Balaam, uttered favorable oracles for Israel.

Deuteronomy 23:4 ESV

because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the way, when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.

We are told that Moab did not offer bread for the Israelites as they passed by.

The Message of Ruth: The Wings of Refuge (The Famine (1:1))

Centred on the high plateau east of the Dead Sea, Moab was populated by the descendants of Lot. Though the Moabites were not attacked by the Israelites on their return to the promised land after the exodus, despite their characteristic unfriendliness, Moabites were not to be admitted to the congregation of Israel.7 Why? They were worshippers of Chemosh, a god to whom human sacrifice was apparently made. The Moabites were sometimes referred to as ‘the people of Chemosh’. Furthermore, during the early period of the times of the judges, Eglon, the king of Moab, had invaded the land of the Israelites and pressed the people of Israel into servitude for eighteen years.9

The irony here is that Elimelech left the house of bread for a town that offered no bread for his people before now.

As they leave Bethlehem to head to Moab so they wouldnt die from the famine. We read in verse 3. That Elimelech would die.

Very ironic isnt it.

She is left with her two sons that both took Moabite women Orpha and Ruth. Then after about ten years they both would go on to die.

Thus further the barrenest of Orpah and Ruth could be interpreted as continued discipline from the Lord.

We end the first 5 verses with alot that happened.

Naomi would be and understandably devastated with the loss of her husband and her children. Further, she would not have a male protector in a male dominated world. She was a Israelite living in Moab.

We dont know Naomi fully, since we were just introduced to her, but if this is the story of someone in our church right not how would we respond.

Maybe, like Naomi, the decisions of others affect you. We would agree that that is the case, right?

Maybe you had plans with a friend and they canceled at the last minute, thus leaving you high and dry.

However, we see more adverse circumstances surrounding her.

We live with choices made by a parent, spouse, child, sibling, friend, employer, politician or even a criminal.

Sometimes these choices make us feel alone, helpless, anxious or alienated because of the estrangement of a relationship or death of a love one.

How are we supposed to respond to the pain that we feel?

These trials challenge our faith. does it not?

Maybe part of the problem is our view about God in and through our trials.

For Naomi, the pain that she is feeling and wondering what went wrong and wondering where the Lord is. No where in scripture is there promised instant relief.

We live in a world that is under a curse, with men at women who are born in sin and are inclined to sin.

Even in all of these bad choices that were made. Even in all of the pain that was being felt. God was working.

God, unbeknown to Naomi was working his redemptive plan in and through her family line.

Even in suffering and loss, God is at work to bring about His redemptive purposes.

We can look at her life and see what the Lord is doing. Life didnt turn out as Naomi expected in Moab. So how does Naomi, Ruth and Orpah respond to the suffering?

God’s Sovereignty in Calling Ruth 1:6-18

We find three women without men and a future without hope. There was much hope as they left Bethlehem for Moab, Ill put hope, but on the way back some years later there isnt much hope left.

She hears that Yahweh had drawn near to the people and brought them food.

Naomi’s Return: Hearing that “the Lord had visited His people and given them food,” Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem.

God has shown his gracious provision to his people, he has provided food during the famine. This signals God's gracious provision for His people.

As they were traveling to the land of Judah from Moab, Naomi in tears calls for her two daughters-in-law to return to their land.

Naomi responds to the two young ladies in a peculiar way. She acknowledges the working of God but not to his kindness to her.

You can hear that in her prayer as she prays for Yahweh’s hesed kindness or his loving kindness to be given to them as they go back to their land.

She ultimatly knew that she would not be able to help Ruth and Orpha in any way, so to Naomi it was better that they would return to the land of Moab than spend more time with her.

Naomi herself did not think that Yahweh had been kind to her. She believed that they Lord’s hand had gone out against her. Ruth 1:13

Ruth 1:13 ESV

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.”

She believed that Ruth and Orpha’s proximety to her would cause them to experience the same disfavor from the Lord that she was experienceing right then.

Therfore, the women should leave them and head back so they wouldnt continue to be affected by the Lords discipline of her.

She also felt that they should go back and be under the care of the Moabite deity Chemosh.

Her theology was a little off. She seemed to believe that Yahweh’s influence was only found in a select group of people, while the false god Chemosh could help the women out in Moab.

She even claims that it was the Almighty that had made her life bitter. Or if translated literally had done evil to her. She seemed to believe that the adverse effects that she had felt was Yahwehs retribution for their convential unfaithfulness or the consequences of their wrongdoing.

She takes the experience that is surrounding her and changes her theology and concept of God.

Ultimately what she is saying here God is great but he is not good.

We are not told if God is dealing with her in anger. One of the mistakes that Naomi is making was measuring God’s goodness by her level of happiness and her immediate circumstances.

We likewise can do this too.

When we are struck with unexpected illness or death, losing a job, or even the life that we planned on having isnt quite going the way that we thought. We measure the goodness of God based upon how we feel at that point of time.

This is partially the affect of postmodernism in our culture. That we believe that God desires for us to be happy, healthy, and rich. IF anything else happens that must mean that he is angry with us.

We pray selfish prayers, seek our will, even if it means being angry at God for not allowing us to experience the fulfillment of our agenda.

Remember the hit country song by Garth Brooks

Just the other night at a hometown football game My wife and I ran into my old high school flame And as I introduced them, the past came back to me And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be

She was the one that I'd wanted for all times And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine And if He'd only grant me this wish I wished back then I'd never ask for anything again

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers

When these prayers are unanswered or life does not work out quite like you thought, we need to reflect on the unchanging attributes of God.

We dont change who God is, WE are the ones who need to change based upon who he is.

Paul felt the same kind of pressure and pain in the new testimate. Listen how he responds

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 ESV

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul understand that in his present circumstances his theology controls his response.

God is active in our lives. Do you view your life as being part of God’s plan? We see here that even when life hurts God is active and in control. He is doing something good, ultimately the accomplishment of his redemptive plan and the perfection of his people.

God draws us to himself that in him we would find security, contentment, peace, and joy in him. He uses these difficult times to show our need for him. He may use someone’s sin or your own sin to show you that you need to depend upon him. He brings us to the point of weakness to demonstrate his greatness and goodness. As we are brought from the fleshy affections, we can be able to rejoice and delight is things that are dear to the Lord and to his heart. We can allow him to work for his glory in all our circumstances.

2. Ruth’s Commitment: Ruth, a Moabite, makes a radical choice to follow Naomi and worship Naomi’s God.

We see the providence of the Lord start taking place in Ruth. SHe does not want to leave Naomi, but even forsakes her God to join into relationship with God

Her declaration ("Your God will be my God") reflects divine election and God's plan to include Gentiles in His covenant family.

God is active. Naomi doesnt see it, maybe ruth doesnt either but we can. He is using their situation to call gentiles to himself. Ultimatly, we find this in full fulfillment in Christ. That both Jews and gentiles are grafted into the covenent relationship with God.

God’s Sovereignty in Redemption Ruth 1:19-22

She changes her name to bitter old woman

went away full and now she is empty.

She beilieves that God has brought charges against her. As if testifying aginst her in the court of law.

For the Christian, we know that this is not true.

Romans 8:33 ESV

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

That's a powerful and profound statement about the faithfulness of God and the assurance we have in Christ. Here's how you might build on that for a sermon or teaching moment:

The beauty of God’s redemptive plan is not just in its scope but in its certainty. If God has promised to exalt His Son through the accomplishment of redemption, then every step of the journey—every moment of grace, every act of sanctification, and every promise of perseverance—is secure.

Paul echoes this in Romans 8:38-39

Romans 8:38–39 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God’s commitment to His plan is not just about our individual salvation but about His glory. His reputation as a faithful, sovereign, and righteous God is at stake. If He has begun a good work in us, we can rest assured that He will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

This truth transforms how we live. It means that our failures cannot undo God’s work, our suffering cannot thwart His love, and our doubts cannot diminish His promises. If God is for us, who can be against us?

Naomi’s Bitterness: Naomi’s story beautifully illustrates how God can weave hope into the darkest seasons of life. When she returns to Bethlehem, her words are raw and honest: “The Almighty has dealt bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20). She left full, during a famine, with a husband and two sons, only to return empty, grieving, and uncertain about her future. She even asks to be called Mara, meaning bitter, as a reflection of her pain.

Yet the chapter doesn’t end in bitterness; it ends with hope. The author subtly points out a pivotal moment: “They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest” (Ruth 1:22). This detail is more than a timestamp—it’s a symbol of God's provision. Naomi left Bethlehem in search of food, and now she returns at a time when God’s abundance is beginning to show.

This is a powerful reminder: even in our bitterness, God is already working toward restoration. Naomi couldn't see the full picture of what God was doing—how Ruth would play a key role in His plan, how this season of loss would lead to redemption, and how their family line would eventually lead to Christ, the ultimate Redeemer.

For us, too, there is hope in every season of loss. We may not understand God’s timing or His methods, but we can trust His faithfulness. The same God who brought Naomi and Ruth back to Bethlehem at the time of the harvest is the God who will provide for us in our moments of need, often in ways we cannot yet imagine. The harvest is a reminder that even when life feels empty, God is preparing to fill it with His grace and provision.

Sovereignty Highlight: Through Ruth, her Moabite daughter-in-law who clings to her with steadfast love, God begins to unfold His redemptive plan. Ruth’s faithfulness will lead to her marriage with Boaz, a kinsman-redeemer, who will bring restoration to Naomi’s family line. Their union will produce Obed, the grandfather of King David, whose lineage will culminate in the birth of Jesus Christ, the ultimate Redeemer.

In Christ, the Redeemer prefigured by Boaz, we see the ultimate demonstration of God’s sovereignty and grace. Just as Boaz redeemed Ruth and Naomi’s family from despair, Jesus redeems us from sin and death, securing a place for us in God’s eternal story. Naomi’s lament is a reminder that even in seasons of bitterness, God is weaving His perfect, sovereign plan for our good and His glory. Our hope, like Naomi’s, is found in trusting that the Redeemer is at work—even when we cannot yet see the harvest.