Ruth 1:6-22

Ruth 1:6–22 ESV

6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 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? 12 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, 13 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.” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “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. 17 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.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. 19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 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?” 22 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.

Introduction: HOME

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Ten Commandments of Home Rule

Ten Commandments of Home Rule

1. If you sleep on it - make it up.

2. If you wear it - hang it up.

3. If you drop it - pick it up.

4. If you eat out of it - put it in the sink.

5. If you step on it - wipe it off.

6. If you open it - close it.

7. If you empty it - fill it up.

8. If it rings - answer it.

9. If it howls - feed it.

10. If it cries - love it.

Home is the place where, when you have to go there, They have to take you in.

- Robert Frost

God’s grace comes when it is least deserved and most unexpected.

The story moves from famine to fruitfulness.

We hear nothing of repentance.

We see not one step towards God.

God comes to his sinful people with Grace and mercy. We don’t see the sinful people coming to God.

Grace never rescues the deserving.

Grace redeems the runaway.

Question for you to consider?

When news of God’s grace breaks what will be your response?

Indifference? - So What??

Bitterness - I am over that!

How will you respond to the grace of God?

Barry Webb in his commentary on Judges and Ruth stated,

Judges and Ruth—God in Chaos (Hearing of Home (v. 6))

Naomi at this moment is like the prodigal of Jesus’ parable, sitting hungry in a far country and remembering the abundance in his father’s house. And like him she concludes that there’s only one realistic thing for her to do.

Is it time for me to go home?

Are you looking for:

Real Rest

Real Help

Real Relationship

A crises can challenge your understanding of God.

Sometimes when we interpret God in light of our circumstances and experiences we draw some really bad conclusions.

In this section Naomi’s view of God is distorted by the tears in her eyes.

Ruth 1:19–21 (ESV)

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?”

20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.

21 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?”

Naomi - Pleasant

Mara - Bitter

The NET Bible

Shaddai (or El Shaddai) is presented as the sovereign king/judge of the world who grants life/blesses and kills/judges. In Genesis he blesses the patriarchs with fertility and promises numerous descendants

Almighty - Shaddai or El Shaddai - This is the name of God that speaks of his sovereignty to bless and multiply his people.

Issac sends Jacob to Laban’s house so that he might find a wife. He uses the world El Shaddai to speak of God’s fruitful blessing.

Genesis 28:3 ESV

3 God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples.

Naomi went away full and the God who makes his people fruitful and multiplies them instead empties her of everything.

She doesn’t mention the reason for the famine, she doesn’t mention the consequences of running from God.

It is easy to blame God for the consequences of your sin.

How do we prevent brokenness from turning into bitterness?

Look to the word of God to understand the character of God.

Remember God specializes in redeeming broken stories.