The Blindspot God

Good morning, friends, and Happy Sabbath! It’s such a privilege to be sharing with you today —thank you, Jason, for the opportunity—and the encouragement, too!

Thank you to ____ for our Scripture Reading, today! Those verses set the stage for our journey today. Friends, have you ever really considered all that Naomi lost?

First, there was a famine in Bethlehem - and Naomi lost the ability to feed herself and her family.

Then there was the loss of the familiar and safe, as her family sought economic refuge in a foreign land, full of unfamiliar customs—and in fact, full of the enemies of Israel!

She lost her community and extended family as they settled among strangers and pagans.

And then she lost her husband, Elimelech. How will she raise her two boys alone? Who will support their family financially? For that matter, who will she talk to in this foreign country? Who will love and understand her now? If only she could go back to Israel - but who would protect her? She can’t make such a journey alone with two children.

So, the boys grow up, and perhaps lacking their father’s influence and instructions to the contrary, they both take Moabite wives—against God’s law! I have to wonder—was Naomi disappointed in their choices? Did she try to convince them to return home and pick out Israelite brides? Did she wonder why they came in the first place?

And then, worst of all, Mahlon and Chilion both die. With ten years condensed into five brief verses, we just don’t know the details - perhaps they died several years apart. Perhaps they both died from the same illness - perhaps even an epidemic! I’ve read stories of families who have lost multiple members to the coronavirus—what a tragedy. But regardless of how or when they died, Naomi must have been distraught. She must have missed her sons with all her heart. She must have been lonely. She must have had a crisis of identity, too — who was she now, without her family? And where did she belong?

Naomi is the female Job of the Bible. She lost everything.

Friends, it seems to me that our church has had quite a season of loss, too. This past winter, many of our families lost loved ones. As a church family, we’ve cried a lot of tears. We miss our loved ones. This spring, the coronavirus situation has led to additional losses—the loss of physical community in our grief—the loss of hugs and handshakes on Sabbath mornings—the loss of our plans for the upcoming seasons—for some, the loss of jobs and financial security.

What losses have you experienced? Have you lost a loved one to death or perhaps even to estrangement? Have you lost a job or your sense of security? Have you lost a dream that meant a great deal to you? I know I can think of losses large and small in my own life.

Let’s pick up the story in Ruth 1:6—“Then Naomi 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.” In a way, even this choice included loss. She left behind the graves of her family, the reminders of her children and the ten years they spent there. The long trip to Bethlehem would be dangerous for women alone. And besides, when she arrives, would

anyone remember or assist her? Ten long years after leaving her home—overwhelmed by all the loss, Naomi decides to return.

Perhaps this being overwhelmed by loss is why Naomi first begins to leave with her daughters- in-law in tow—perhaps she just can’t imagine the loss of another relationship. But as they journey, it seems that Naomi reconsiders. In a touching scene, she pleads with Orpah and Ruth. “‘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.”

Oh, Naomi. The losses you carry! Must you carry this one, too? Whatever her feelings toward the girls may have been when her boys first brought them home, now it’s clear that they’ve developed a lot of love for each other!

It’s also clear that Naomi knows what it will mean to Orpah and Ruth to be Moabite widows in the land of Israel—after all, she’s been a widow in a foreign land herself! They will have limited ways to earn a living. They will suffer hard labor and constant worry. They may endure the ridicule and prejudice of the townspeople. And they will likely end their lives as childless widows! Who would choose to marry these poor foreigners? So, out of love for them, she urges them—turn back, my daughters! Find REST. There’s no earthly reason to subject themselves to all these hardships—not on her behalf. They will need a different kind of motivation to endure all that.

So, Orpah does as Naomi encourages. When I learned that the name Orpah means gazelle, I pictured a deer, frightened by a sudden sound, bounding away from the danger and back to safety. Orpah turns back—back to the safety of her people and the familiarity of her gods. She is not prepared for the trials ahead.

But not Ruth. Ruth, whose name means “friend” or “companion,” insists that she will stay with Naomi no matter what comes. “‘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. 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.’ And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.” Ruth 1:16-18

What an inspiring message of commitment! Unlike Orpah, it’s clear that Ruth has the spiritual motivation to make the difficult changes ahead. I wonder how Naomi felt about Ruth’s insistence to accompany her! Maybe she was grateful to not lose yet another person. Maybe she felt burdened by the responsibility to care for this daughter-in-law, somehow arranging a marriage. But the author doesn’t say—all we know is that Naomi “said no more.”

There’s another area of the story that the author could have illuminated—but doesn’t. And that’s the matter of this move to Moab. While Job could be confident he’d done nothing wrong and beg God to vindicate him, Naomi doesn’t have that certainty. On one hand, the narrator never outright condemns them for seeking refuge in Moab. And Elimelech’s name means “my God is King”—does that indicate that his choice was made from God-honoring motives? Even so, there is a sense that Moab—the land of their enemies—might not have been a place they should have gone, and that sense grows as we hear of the terrible things that happened while they were there. And didn’t other Israelites stay behind and survive the famine? The author seems happy to leave us with the ambiguity. As much as we might wish for an answer and for some certainty, the series of events is simply allowed to be on record—no explanations offered. Have you ever struggled to understand the meaning of various events in your own life? Sometimes the leading of circumstance just feels unclear!

But the author does make one thing very clear—and that’s Naomi’s perspective of God.

When Naomi reaches Bethlehem, we are introduced to a significant character in the story—the women of Bethlehem. We will hear from these women just twice in the story, but they frame the story for us. Their interactions with Naomi help us understand what the author really wants us to know.

So the women see Naomi enter town, and they say, “Is this Naomi?” Naomi means “loveable” or “my delight.” “Is this Naomi?” they ask. They probably just mean, it’s been so many years and her physical appearance has changed, but isn’t this our friend? But it sounds like Naomi hears this: “Is this Naomi - my delight - the woman God delights in?”

“‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara.” Mara—bitterness! “for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 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?” Ruth 1:20-21

How can you call me Naomi? Others may have delighted in me, but God does not delight in me! God has told me exactly what He thinks of me, and it isn’t good. He’s destroyed me and taken away everything I have. Therefore, call me bitterness, because that is what I am.

Now, let’s not be hard on Naomi.

Because, interestingly, Naomi knows God is a God of kindness. She blesses her daughters-in- law with these words “May the LORD deal kindly with you...The LORD grant that you may find rest.” She clearly sees God as provider, noting that “the Lord had visited his people and given them food.”

But when it comes to her own situation...Naomi doesn’t see that kind, providing God.

After all, the irony of Naomi’s situation is rich. Wouldn’t we expect whole families to die in Israel where there was a famine? But instead, 3/4ths of the family dies in Moab where there is plenty of food! Furthermore, Naomi says she left famine-ridden Bethlehem “full.” But now she returns from the golden fields of Moab “empty”! There’s nothing expected about Naomi’s situation— and she is in deep pain. She has experienced loss beyond comprehension. She even thinks she has lost the love and protection of her God. From all she can see, God has not only left her high and dry—oh, no! Worse still, God has actively turned against her.

Friends, are Naomi’s complaints true? Do the tragic circumstances indicate God is treating her bitterly? Has his love for her changed? Has He in fact brought her back “empty”?

I find so much encouragement in the very next verse.

“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.” Ruth 1:22

Naomi—not Mara! Not once does the narrator call our leading lady by her chosen name. She remains Naomi—“my delight.”

Ruth, the Moabite, her daughter-in-law with her — with her! Ruth, a friend, though a most unexpected one, being a Moabite, is still with her. No, she has NOT come back empty.

And here they are, arriving in Bethlehem—which means, the House of Bread. And when? At the beginning of barley harvest!

In this one little verse, the author gives us four arrows straight to the answer. No, “my delight,” God has not turned against you! You have a friend from an unexpected places with you! You are in the house of bread! And you’re here right on time for harvest—right on time for plenty.

But Naomi can’t see it! Not yet. Grief has clouded her mind—but God is working in her blindspot.

What blindspots do you have, friends? Are there ways in which it seems God has abandoned you? Or like He’s punishing you? Have you ever seen God as working good for everyone else but you?

Just this week, as I was searching for my notes on a previous study from the book of Ruth, I ran across my prayer journal from several years ago. Jason was teaching at a little Bible college sponsored by the North Pacific Union, routinely working 80 hour weeks. I was at home —in an RV—with an infant and a toddler, overwhelmed and isolated. We loved our school, but we were both praying for rest for our family. In fact, we had been reading a book that emphasized the need for us to invest time in our children for their longterm spiritual wellbeing. We were convicted that we needed a change. There was another leader at the school we felt was capable to take over, and so we started to put feelers out for other jobs—and not ministry related ones!

And then, (outrage) do you know what God did? He started to give us the idea that the Union was going to close this school we had poured our whole life into. And that did not feel like love! Because we knew God had called us to start this school!

During this time, I wrote these words in my prayer journal:

“Lord,

I'm angry at you.

On one hand, I feel like you're asking us to do better with our family. On the other hand, when we go about doing that, I feel like you're rebuking us for not being committed to the school. I don't know how to do both. I feel like we've done the best we can. We need rest. You know our frame - that we are dust - don't you see our need for rest? My husband is stretched almost to breaking by this...Why, Lord, when we are serving you? Even living in an RV to keep our family together in your ministry? Why have you done this to us?

Are we now to work even harder and pour more into this school only to see it close at the end of our last year here?...It doesn’t seem like your steadfast love and mercy never ends. It doesn't feel like love never fails. It feels like you're rebuking us and leaving us high and dry.”

Friends, I’m a little embarrassed to read that to you, and I hope you’ll treat me gently as a sinner in need of so much grace and growth. You see, God was working in my blindspot, too. I couldn’t see then the good God had in mind for our family—the loss of our school, the loss of my timeline for rest was clouding my vision. I couldn’t see it then, but God was working in my blindspot.

Friends, do you have a blindspot, too?

Perhaps loss has blocked your vision, like for Naomi. Or perhaps your vision is blurred for another reason—after all, we rarely see our own faults clearly. What’s your blindspot—the place you just can’t see God in?

Friends, you probably know the story of Ruth well. I wish we could savory the story slowly, but instead, let’s summarize. Ruth goes to work in the barley fields, gleaning what she can to feed herself and her mother-in-law. She “happens to come” to the field of Boaz, Naomi’s rich relative. He takes notice of her, and works things out so that she takes home much more than an average day’s gleanings. In fact, the ephah of grain that she beat out and took home was approximately 29 pounds of grain! One estimate I read suggested this was sufficient for half a month! Now, that’s one successful day of work!

Let pick up the Biblical narrative in chapter 2, verse 18: “And she (Ruth) took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied.”

I love that little detail, don’t you? Biblical narratives can be painfully sparse on the details compared to modern literature, so we know this detail is important! For one, it speaks to how destitute the women were—Naomi may not have eaten if Ruth hadn’t brought those leftovers home. It also shows Ruth’s tenderness for Naomi, as well as her economy, remembering to carefully tuck her leftovers into her pocket to take home to Naomi. For that matter, God’s provision for Ruth’s lunch that day was more than enough—God loves to fill us so full that we have to share.

And what is Naomi’s response?

“And her mother in law said to her, ‘Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.’” From the abundance of her first day of work, Naomi can tell that someone is paying attention to Ruth. Notice who she blesses — blessed be the man. She is impressed with the man’s kindness.

So Ruth tells her —“The man’s name is Boaz.”

And Naomi said to her daughter in law, “May he be blessed by the LORD, whose kindness has

not forsaken the living or the dead!”

Oh, friends, I love it! One name changes Naomi’s whole story! All of a sudden, Naomi can SEE! And what she sees is the Lord’s kindness—to her!

The Hebrew word for kindness in this verse is the famous checed or hesed. Hesed is a loyal love. Hesed is life-saving kindness. Hesed has covenant implications.

In the prayer journal entry I shared with you, I alluded to Psalm 103. It’s one of my favorite Bible passages, and it beautifully comments on God’s hesed—His steadfast love.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love — that’s hesed!

He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

As a father shows compassion to his children,

so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame;

he remembers that we are dust.

God knew my frame, back in that little RV. God knew Jason’s frame, too. And He knew Naomi’s —racked by the loss of almost everything she held dear. And friends, God knows your frame, too. He knows all your losses. Your limitations and weaknesses. Your wrong choices and your doubts. And He shows compassion—like the tender remembrance of leftovers in a pocket. He abounds in hesed—in steadfast love. Abounding—heaping up—like 29 pounds of grain from a single day of gleaning.

The Bible project summarizes the story of Ruth with these beautiful words. “God weaves together the faithful obedience of His people to bring about His redemptive purposes in the world.” Ruth’s loyalty, tenderness, and back breaking labor—Boaz’s attention and generosity— these faithful acts weave together to reveal to Naomi God’s kindness. Now, she is no longer blind to God’s hand, working on their behalf. She tells Ruth, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.”

A redeemer. Now, let’s pause. We know that word in a spiritual context, because Jesus is our redeemer. And praise the Lord for that! But what did the word mean to Naomi? And what can we learn about our own redeemer?

Some old testament research tells us this:

- a redeemer was the family member who could buy back property and slaves sold off in a time of hardship

- a redeemer was kinsman who received the restitution for a wrongful death

- a redeemer was the one who acted as the revenger of blood in the case of a murder

And...

- a redeemer was the one responsible for providing an heir, should a man die without one

These are really heavy, weighty responsibilities. The kinsman-redeemer functions in life or death kinds of scenarios. They did what you could no longer do for yourself. In this case, it looks like Naomi and Elimelech sold their land during the famine to provide for themselves. So now, Naomi has nothing. But Boaz can purchase that land back. And Boaz can marry Ruth and provide an heir to inherit the land and continue Elimelech’s family line!

We’ve been speaking of blindspots today. Now here’s an image of a different kind of blindspot:

In Isaiah 44:22, God says, “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like a mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.” I picture a heavy fog settling down in front of me. Everything is completely obscured, as if it’s not even there. That’s what God in Christ Jesus does to my sins. They’re gone. There’s no life for me there anymore. Instead, God invites me to turn around—return. Come back to me. Come into the clear air and sunlight of righteousness and relationship. As we turn to Jesus, our sins in His blindspot, there is nothing but joy. Isaiah continues: “Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has DONE IT!...For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.” Isaiah 44:22-23. I like to personalize it—

the Lord has redeemed Joelle and will be glorified in her life!

So far we have just focused on Naomi, and how her story unfolds, but Ruth is the other main character of this story. In fact, I found it difficult to parse the pieces of this narrative, even as a former English teacher, because, well, which woman is the protagonist here? In the end, I decided that this is a rich story, with twin protagonists whose plot lines twist and wind around

each. So far, Ruth has been the friend and provider for the bitter Naomi. But now, as the end of chapter two and into chapter three, Naomi becomes the wise advisor to the clueless Ruth! I just love the richness of the Bible, friends! There is so much to soak in. So humor me a moment, and let’s talk about Ruth briefly.

After all, Ruth experienced loss, too, you know. Her husband. Her stable life situation. Her family in a move to a foreign country. Frankly, there was plenty of loss to go around. But Ruth’s loss—and her response—was different. For one thing, no one doubts whether God might be punishing her! There’s simply nothing recorded to punish. In the face of loss and adversity, Ruth threw herself at God’s feet, clinging to the one representative of God that she knew— Naomi. For all Naomi’s bitterness, friends, her witness was strong! Ruth learned to love and trust a foreign God through her example. “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God!” she claimed. Even though, for all she knew, this meant living as a childless widow in a foreign country for the rest of her life. In fact, that right there is Ruth’s blindspot—she had no idea what mechanisms God might leverage to provide what she needed.

So God provides Naomi. Naomi tells Ruth about their redeemer. She advises her to stay safe while gleaning—potentially dangerous work—by remaining in Boaz’s fields. And when the time is right, she tells her exactly how to propose marriage to this man who could redeem their family line and inheritance. And then she encourages Ruth to wait patiently while Boaz works things out.

Do you see God’s hand weaving through the blindspots of each person’s experience?

God showed hesed—steadfast love—to Ruth, calling her to faith through Naomi’s witness. God showed hesed to Naomi, providing Ruth to her. God showed hesed to Ruth and also to Boaz, in leading Ruth to Boaz’s field. Boaz showed hesed to Ruth in making her work as easy as possible. In turn, this showed God’s hesed to Naomi. And now, God weaves some more, as Naomi shows hesed to Ruth, telling her what to do and how to do it. Ruth shows hesed to

Boaz and Naomi in being willing to marry an older man. Boaz shows hesed to Ruth and Naomi by sending her home from the threshing floor with 80 pounds of grain and making the marriage arrangements.

There’s so much more in this story, but let’s close where we began—with the women of Bethlehem.

“So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went into her, and the Love gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the woman said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has NOT left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter in law, who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Ruth 4:13-15

Did the Lord deal bitterly with Naomi? No. He did not leave her without a redeemer.

Did Naomi go away full and come back empty? No. She went out with two sons and came back with a daughter worth seven.

God saw her bitterness and her calamity—and he brought restoration and nourishment.

Friends, God is always at work. Even in our blindspots.

God is always good and kind. Even when we suffer.

God is always our redeemer—hiding our sins in His infinite, fog-filled blindspot.

So, let’s not measure God’s love by our circumstances.

Let’s cling in faith to our redeemer.

Let’s watch carefully—let’s see if we can’t catch a glimpse of His hand, weaving and working in the details of our life, just barely out of sight.

And when we glimpse Him—the corner of His sleeve, or a flash of His hand—let’s rejoice.

“Blessed be the Lord, who has NOT left you this day without a redeemer. And may His name be renowned in Israel.”