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Introduction:
The Bible is full of accounts involving difficulties in the lives of people.
It is clear that after sin entered the world in Genesis 3 that life started getting much more difficult.
Today we see tragedy after tragedy.
This very week we saw a tragedy at Oxford High School in Michigan where 4 teens were killed and others were injured.
In a world full of tragedy and trials, how are we to continue along in our Christian walk?
How do we keep from losing hope as we stare in the face of difficult circumstances?
There is only one way that we can do this.
Only by the power of God walking with us and working through us can we keep moving forward.
Today we are going to be starting a four week series through the book of Ruth.
We are going to see a woman - Naomi - who understands tragedy up close and personal.
And today we are going to see how, despite the dire circumstances and trials that she faced, God was walking with her all along the way.
May we be encouraged knowing that this same God walks with us even today.
Let us pray.
Prayer
This first chapter gives us three difficult times that we may need reminded that God is still walking with us.
The first is:
I. God Walks With Us...In Times of Tragedy (1-7)
This is an extremely heavy beginning of a book!
These first 7 verses are packed with drama and a whirlwind of tragedy.
I want us to walk through the verses and then see what we can learn from them.
Lets start in verse 1 and work our way through this.
First we see that this book is set up in the time when the judges ruled.
This was a very difficult time in Israel’s history.
There was no real consistent leadership.
In fact, we see the difficulties of this era in Israel’s history in the book of Judges twice as we see in 17:6 and 21:25 the following statement:
The book of Judges is fraught with moral failings and godlessness.
It is during this time period that there is a famine that comes in the land.
This famine was likely a judgment of God on the people of Israel.
Israel was given a conditional covenant.
If they obeyed the Lord - things would go well.
If not - judgment would come.
Many people today try to apply that understanding to us today and can’t seem to understand why bad things happen even when we are doing what we are supposed to be doing.
Yet we are under grace and not a covenant of works as New Covenant believers.
We now are blessed with the Holy Spirit that walks with us day by day.
We don’t need external situations to confirm whether we are in the will of God or not.
We can have confirmation through the peace and conviction of the Holy Spirit.
And I might add that it is just as much of a blessing that we don’t receive harsh judgments from the Lord like Israel did as we are under grace!
We receive discipline as sons and daughters of the King - but not the judgments that Israel experienced!
Next we are introduced to the family of Elimelech.
Elimelech, which means ‘God is King,’ comes from the tribe of Judah from around the area of Bethlehem.
As we enter this Christmas season, remember where Elimelech is from and what tribe he is from.
We are given his wife’s name, Naomi, which means ‘pleasant.’
However, we are also given his two sons names which are Mahlon and Chilion which are thought to mean ‘weak’ or ‘ill.’
Elimelech - “God is King”
Naomi - “Pleasant”
Mahlon and Chilion - “weak, ill”
These very names also set up some drama.
We are given the parents names which are very hopeful names.
Yet the sons names point to a future disaster or tragedy to come.
And we are also introduced to a decision that is made - a decision to go to the land of Moab.
You can see that journey on this map.
It wasn’t a terribly long trip as Moab was a near neighbor to Israel.
However, it wasn’t the best place for them to go.
You see Moab was not exactly the best nation in the world.
Their origins are found in Genesis 19:30-38 which is a disturbing section of Scripture in which Lot is made intoxicated by his daughters in order for them to continue their lineage.
One of those children born from this sinful, incestuous act was named Moab.
Not only was this nation formed as a result of sin, but it was also the nation that tried to curse Israel three times as their king, Balak, tried to get Balaam to pronounce a judgment on Israel (Numbers 21-22).
Furthermore, Judges 3:12-31 shows us that under King Eglon, the king of Moab, they ruled harshly over the Israelites until the judge of Israel at the time - Ehud - killed King Eglon.
This was not the most ideal of places for this Israelite family to flee.
Yet this is where they went.
The next three verses - 3-5 - give us the tragedies of a lifetime all in a few verses which span no more than 10 years.
Naomi loses her husband and two sons and is left without any provider.
In a patriarchal society, she is left without any head of the family and appears to be doomed to being a destitute and poor widow.
Yet in the middle of these great tragedies, we see hope arise.
Verse 6 shows that she has heard that God had visited her people!
The judgment of God was relenting and He was again giving them food.
The land called Bethlehem which ironically means ‘house of bread’ went from being destitute to blessed.
Bread was being restored to the house!
So she and her daughters-in-law start their journey back to the land of Naomi - back to Bethlehem.
My friends, God can take broken things and make beautiful things from them.
Isaiah 61:1-3 (cited by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19).
You may be at a point in your life where you finished Thanksgiving and really struggled to find things you were actually thankful for.
Life is difficult.
Tragedy may have just struck you as it had Naomi.
Yet, God walks with you even in times of tragedy.
And He is able to turn your tragedy into triumph.
He is ready to exchange your ashes for beauty, mourning for gladness, a faint spirit to a garment of praise.
You see - the Triumphal Entry of Christ (Luke 19:28-40) was one of the most confusing things of all.
Christ took a Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem knowing that He would be crucified a week later.
Yet, triumph He still did! 3 days later after His crucifixion, He rose from the dead!
Brothers and sisters, we can walk triumphantly, even in the midst of tragedy because we have victory through Jesus’ power.
We can have hope for our future because we know who holds it.
My friend, take one step at a time.
God will guide you if you have repented of your sins, submitted your life to Him, and placed your faith and trust in the Savior - Jesus Christ.
Know that God walks with you even in times of tragedy.
And know He also...
Scripture References: Judges 17:6, 21:5; Gen 19:30-38; Numbers 21-22; Judges 3:12-31, Isaiah 61:1-3 (Luke 4:18-19), Luke 19:28-40
II.
God Walks With Us...In Times of Turbulence (8-18)
After reading this section of Scripture, I think the term turbulence comes to mind quickly.
Times of Turbulence
Naomi is setting out with her daughters-in-law (v7)
Then she tells them to go back home (v8)
Then they say no and cling to her (v10)
Then Orpah heads back home (v14-15)
Then Ruth joins her and refuses to leave her side (v16-18)
This is quite the dramatic interchange!
One can only imagine the inward struggle of Naomi.
She knows that these two ladies do not have much hope with a poor widow like herself.
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