Truth Baptist Church
Ruth 1

      • Ruth 1:16ESV

  • Worthy Of It All
  • Goodness of God
  • Seek Ye First
  • Trust In God

  • From Hardship to Hope: Ruth's Relentless Faith

    Bible Passage: Ru 1:1–22

    Trust in God: Perfect submission, All is at rest, I know the author of tomorrow, Has ordered my steps. I trust in God, My Savior, The One who will never fail, He will never fail.
    Summary: This passage highlights the emotional turmoil experienced by Naomi and Ruth as they face loss and upheaval. Rather than succumbing to despair, Ruth’s decision to stay with Naomi becomes a beacon of hope. Their return to Bethlehem not only symbolizes the dawn of a new chapter for both women but also signifies God’s faithfulness amid suffering and the hope that can emerge from grief.
    Introduction
    The late pastor Voddie Baucham once said that Ruth is a love story of a covenant relationship between Ruth and Naomi and Ruth and Boaz. The book is a brief but powerful story about two women who faced adversity, and how one showed unwavering loyalty to her mother-in-law. Ruth has a special place in the Bible. The book connects the covenant law under Moses to the covenant relationship under the Kingship of David. The beginning of the book starts in the period of the Judges and the last sentence tells us of the coming king David.
    The story describes a man and his family fleeing a famine in their home land and moving to foreign land. The father and both sons die leaving three widows in distress. When his wife decides to return home, her daughter-in-law, Ruth, insists on accompanying her. Through a series of events, Ruth and Naomi find help when they were helpless under the providential care of God. The book begins with hardship and death, but it ends in redemption and hope for the future of Israel.
    It is important to realize that this story occurs during a turbulent period in Israel’s history, the period of the Judges. What was this time like?
    [SLIDE]
    Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
    The period of the judges was a spiritually turbulent time that occurred right after Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land. Joshua, who had led Israel into the Promised Land, had died. But more significantly, this was a time when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes”. That is the time when the events in Ruth occurred.
    The book traces how one family navigates one tragedy after another, from famine, to living as strangers in a foreign land, through multiple deaths in the family, to returning to Israel as strangers (at least for Ruth!). But in this span of this short book, there is a a movement from loss and desperation to restoration and hope.

    Sometimes Life Goes from Bad to Worse

    Ru 1:1-5
    Life is full of surprises, and sometimes those surprises are not pleasant. Sometimes life goes from bad to worse. The opening verse tells us a lot about what was happening in this book.
    [SLIDE}
    Ruth 1:1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
    The period of the judges was a dark time in the history of Israel. The Israelites had not completed the task of driving out the pagan nations. Those pagan nations would be a “snare” for God‘s people leading them away from the Lord, just as He told them they would do (Joshua 23:12–13). The time of the Judges was spiritually turbulent where Israel disobeyed God, were punished and oppressed, called out to God, were delivered, and then they disobeyed God again. This cycle repeated itself several times.
    In just the first few verses in Ruth, we see things go from bad to worse. Not only did the events in Ruth occur during the time of the Judges, there was also a famine during this very bad time. Oftentimes, a famine is the judgement of God, but we are not told that in this passage. What we know is that there was a very bad thing that happened during a very dark time in Israel’s history. Then we are told that there is a man who took his family from the land of promise, from the city of Bethlehem, which means “house of bread”, and moved them to a foreign land. So, the man left the “house of bread” to live somewhere else that had bread.
    To “sojourn” means to travel or reside as a foreigner. Some translations render this word “reside”, “dwell”, or “live”, but the sense of the verse seems to establish one’s residence in a place other than one’s original home—essentially to dwell temporarily as a stranger or guest in foreign territory. The family most likely did not intend to be there very long, but were responding to an immediate crisis, expecting eventually to return home. They went away for a short time, but ended up staying away for ten years. As sojourners, they were vulnerable and depended on the hospitality of the people in that land. This same precarious standing will be seen when Ruth and Naomi return to Bethlehem as widows without protection or property.
    The man, Elimelech (which means “God is king”), took his wife and two sons to Moab. Who was Moab? They were descendants of Lot and his eldest daughter. The relationship between Israel and Moab was riddled with conflict. The kingdom of Moab refused Israel’s access through their land to the Promised Land (Numbers 21). It was King Balak of Moab who hired Balaam to pronounce a curse on Israel (Numbers 22-24). During one time of the Judges, Moab ruled over Israel for 18 years until Ehud the Judge, killed Eglon, the king of Moab. But as the Book of Ruth indicates, there were apparently periods in which Moab and Israel lived in peace.
    That is the situation in verse one. But things quickly get worse.
    Ruth 1:3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.
    Elimelech died and his wife, Naomi, was left with her two sons. Elimelech’s choice to flee the famine was like others in the period of the Judges, he did what was right in his own eyes. He probably thought he was doing the right thing to protect his family. However, one of the more grievous sins in Israel was marrying foreign women with their foreign gods. In fact, God warned Israel that this would be a “snare” for them and it would draw them away from God. Well, guess what Naomi’s sons did?
    Ruth 1:4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,
    Her sons, Mahlon and Chilion, married Moabite women. Since the Moabites worshiped pagan gods, one called Chemosh, the sons’ decision to marry Moabite women (Orpah and Ruth) may reflect spiritual immaturity. It may have violated God’s commandment for His people to not intermarry with pagan people, as intermarriage was viewed as potentially leading to idolatry. Again, this was a time when people did what was right in their own eyes. However, we see that at least Ruth decided to follow God. We just do not know if that occurred before or after her marriage.
    But things get worse.
    Ruth 1:5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
    After Elimelech died, both sons died, leaving Naomi alone with her two daughters-in-law. A childless widow was in a precarious position, lacking long-term financial support. Thus she needed community help. While the story to this point focuses on Naomi’s loss, we should not forget that both Orpah and Ruth lost their husbands as well. The three women were in a predicament. Times were bad, but there was hope. God was at work.

    Take Steps Towards Salvation

    Ru 1:6-14
    After moving to Moab to survive, the family experienced tragedy. But things would change, and eventually Naomi heard of good news from her homeland.
    [SLIDE]
    Ruth 1:6 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.
    Naomi heard that God had blessed His people with food. We should not overlook this simple but powerful fact that Naomi acknowledged God’s sovereignty and providence. God sent rains to water the crops. God is present with His people and provides for them. Naomi heard that God had visited His people and had given them food. With all the bad things Naomi experienced, this had to be good news.
    Initially, it seems that Naomi decided to return home with Ruth and Orpah. It appears that the three women started the journey from Moab to Judah. But, Naomi seems to have a change of heart. She told Ruth and Orpah to return to their own families.
    Ruth 1:8–9 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.
    Naomi urged her daughters-in-law to go back to Moab, back to their “mother’s house”. Naomi probably thought that they would find better prospects for remarriage there than in Bethlehem. Since Ruth’s father was apparently still alive (Ruth 2:11), Naomi probably thought Ruth could return to her family and be taken care of, and find marriage. Naomi shows concern for their security and stability. The daughters refused to go, but Naomi pressed on. She had hoped God would treat her daughters-in-law better (“deal kindly with you”) than she believed He had treated her.
    [SLIDE]
    Ruth 1:13 …No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.
    Naomi was affectionate to Orpah and Ruth and cared for them, but she was also bitter. She may have been mad at God and may have thought that Ruth and Naomi would be in a better situation with their own people and their own gods. Remember, this was the time of the Judges where everyone did what was right in their own eyes.
    Naomi interpreted her hard circumstances as coming from God’s judgement or God’s ill motives toward her. 
    How many of you have felt that way? Have you experienced so much pain and discouragement that you thought God was punishing you? Maybe you said, “Why me, why is God doing this to me?”
    The rest of the book shows that Naomi was mistaken. She went through some very difficult circumstances, but that was not because God had it out for her. God had a plan, which we see unfold with the rest of the book. Naomi may not see God’s providential hand working and probably had difficulty trusting God would take care of them. Naomi’s plea to her daughters-in-law may have been fundamentally misguided, maybe even sinful. If returning to Bethlehem—where the true God had visited and provided—was right for Naomi, then it should have been right for her daughters-in-law, too.
    Naomi’s journey back home represents a step towards hope and renewal. Naomi may have had a fragile faith, but she had faith.

    Choose Commitment over Convenience

    Ru 1:15-18
    Orpah kissed Naomi goodbye, but Ruth “clung to” Naomi. She did not let her go.
    [SLIDE]
    Ruth 1:14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
    The Hebrew verb translated “clung to” can also mean “cleave to,” “bond to,” “hold fast to,” or “keep close to.” The phrase first appears in Genesis 2:24 describing the marriage covenant, where a man leaves his parents and cleaves to his wife—and appears repeatedly in Deuteronomy to describe the commitment God’s people should demonstrate toward the Lord.
    In Ruth, the phrase shows Ruth’s loyalty and commitment to Naomi. Ruth decided that she would devote herself to care for Naomi no matter what the future brought. Ruth would not be separated from Naomi physically, Whereas Orpah showed love through obedience to Naomi’s wishes, Ruth showed love through commitment by faithfully “cleaving” in a deep personal relationship.
    Naomi’s concern for their survival may be understood, but it may also be a failure to trust in God and invite her daughters-in-law to join her in her covenant faith in the Lord. She acknowledged that Orpah was returning “to her people and to her gods”. 
    Ruth 1:15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”
    While Oprah did go back to her family and her gods, Ruth did not. She “clung” to Naomi.
    [SLIDE]
    Ruth 1:16–17 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.”
    Ruth chose to share Naomi’s future—her travel, her home, her faith. Wherever Naomi went, Ruth would go. She chose faithfulness. She chose commitment.
    Ruth refused to go back to her past. She refused to go back to her family and to their false religion. Ruth refused to go back to her false gods, but to go forward to the one true God. Maybe you are tempted to go back to what you are used to, what is comfortable, to what is known. Move forward in faith. Trust God to lead you.
    Ruth made a decision to not only be loyal to Naomi, but to be loyal to God. Although Ruth was ethnically Moabite, she fully embraced God and His covenant people. Her confession of faith, saying “your people shall be my people, and your God my God”, recalls the promise of God to Israel: “I will be your God and you shall be my people”.

    Return to Redemption

    Ru 1:19-22
    When Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, the town was stirred. Why were they stirred? Was it because Naomi came back without her husband and two sons? Was it because she came back with Ruth? It is not clear. Either way, Naomi came back bitter.
    Ruth 1:20–21 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‘s name means “pleasant” and yet her circumstance was anything but pleasant. And I can understand that, my name is Michael and it means “like God” and I can tell you I’m anything but that. So, Naomi wanted them to call her Mara, which means “bitter”. I imagine she felt bitter. She experienced a very difficult ten years living in a foreign land. In fact she communicates her bitterness in how she describes God‘s dealing with her during that time. Notice, Naomi said “I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty”. Basically, God took away all that she had. She was bitter and she blamed God.
    Yet the chapter ends with a hint of hopel: the barley harvest was beginning, suggesting God would replace Naomi’s emptiness with fullness.
    But Naomi did not understand or at least did not see at that time what God was doing in her life, even in the bad circumstances of her life. God was working through her life and the life of Ruth to bring about her deliverance, but not just her family, but deliverance for the entire nation, and the world.
    [SLIDE]
    Ruth 4:21–22 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
    Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David. She was also an ancestor of Jesus. She was a forerunner of the universal blessing that Christ’s redemptive work ushered in. In Jesus, redeemed people of all nations, no longer strangers and aliens, become fellow citizens in God’s household (Ephesians 2:11–22).
    God was working through the lives of Naomi and Ruth, even if they cannot see it or even believe it. God’s redemption often begins quietly in unexpected places and unexplained ways. But, we can trust in God’s larger plan, even when circumstances seem bleak. The book of Ruth reveals God working providentially even in dark times.
    May we trust in God's unseen work in our lives.

    Conclusion

    In closing, the predicaments of life can challenge our faith, just as they challenged Naomi’s. But, there is a redeemer who is greater than your darkest days. Ruth illustrates how God can turn our mourning into joy, showing that our faithfulness in the face of trials can lead to transformation and restoration.
    A1: If you feel overwhelmed by life's challenges and responsibilities, reflect on Ruth's perseverance through hardship. Maybe you are tempted to think God does not care about you. Nothing could be further from the truth. God does care about you and is working on your behalf. Trust in Him. Be resolved in your faith in Christ and His love for you. Connect with God through prayer and scripture. 
    A2: Ruth’s pledge to Naomi showcases unwavering faith despite uncertainty. If you are experiencing hardship, or you are overwhelmed by doubts or fears about the future, know that God is there. Nothing is uncertain with Him. He is sovereignly leading history  according to His perfect plan and will. When faced with doubts, turn to God’s Word and recall His many promises. He is present and at work, even if we can’t see it.
    A3: If you feel isolated or disconnected, know that you are not alone. Like Naomi and Ruth needed one another on their journey home, we need one another to walk through this life of faith. If you see someone who feels isolated or disconnected, reach out to them. Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi reinforces the idea that community and faith can bring about healing even in the darkest times. You can embody Jesus’ love and encourage the building of a supportive church family where everyone feels valued and included.
    This is good news. Thanks be to God. Amen!
    Closing Song: I Am Resolved I am resolved to follow the Saviour
    Faithful and true each day
    Heed what He sayeth
    Do what He willeth
    He is the living way

      • Ruth 1:13ESV

  • I Am Resolved
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