Relationship with God

Don’t wait

Ruth 1:6–15 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.”

This book takes place in time of judges, shows that God works through the worst if times, the book really a story about Naomi that was dealt with a lot of pain.

Happens after promise land and time when kings ruled but there was a 400 year period judges ruled Israel with a lot of victory and repentance.

Few people worshipped God with a lot false gods worshipped so God brought judges and in this time there was a famine that forced this family to go to Moab.

Israel was so wicked they move to a godless nation…husband dies and two sons while in Moab, now two daughters…she walked through so much pain now she changes her name to Mariah which is bitter from sweet.

Don’t adjust your identity due to your storm, don’t allow the storm get in you…many are conditioned to famine, but there is bread in Bethlehem.

She went back to Judah…I’m not staying the place I’ve been in but I’m getting out.

BACK TO JUDAH

She packed up everything after losing everything and going back to I don’t what..she looked at the two daughters in law in her 80’s and said she goodbye and kissed them, but Ruth clung.

Orprah left her, but she blessed her…sometimes there is people that will leave or need to leave because they can’t go where you’re going.

Some are content in staying the same and where they are…Your identity isn’t secured or determined by who left or what you went through.

You have to be willing to kiss things goodbye to get what you’re going or to receive and step into what’s on the way.

God will bless you and who stayed with you.

RETURN TO ME

Hebrew word, 67 times in Bible and 10 times in Ruth 1…pain meant to distance yourself from him but now it’s time to get back to the place of intimacy with God.

It’s time to get out of the place God didn’t call you or purposed for you.

Psalm 84:1–12“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor…”

3. Jews understood hunger for God meant an active pursuit..verse 5, pilgrimage was set times of festivals in Jerusalem, hunger causes pursuit.

4. Paul chased for years of the one that was chasing him, so our response to the chaser is pursuit.

5. We were meant to go from glory to glory and faith to faith…we grow in Him not sit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

6. There will be valleys but you PASS through the, not STAY in them…they are a launching pad into the next season.

Conclusion

PRESENCE MUST BE PRIORITIZED

In first chronicles 13…ark carried on a cart, UZZAH dies, obedium says you can park it at my house, 90 days it’s there with blessings flowing on the home, daughter in laws blessed with kids each of the three months, David seen favor, went got the ark back, obedium followed him…why? Because the presence it the most important thing.

If we make room for him, make him a priority then he will bless, strengthen, bring favor, etc