The Love that Wins

November 10, 1991

Ruth 1:19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem.

There is some question in some scholars' minds why the Book of Ruth ever came to be. Certainly it is a contrast to the "hero stories" of the Judges which go before— stories like Sisera's murder (by a tent peg) and Jepthah's terrible vow and Ehud and Eglon (which was my four sons' personal favorite) and Samson and all the rest; and it is also quite a contrast to the tales of the kings which follow.

Some believe it was not written down until the time of the greatest king of Israel, or his highly intelligent son— possibly by the Prophet Nathan, as a reminder that the greatest people can come from common roots, as well as the fact that nobility can be seen in humble places as well as where we might expect to look for it.

Be that as it may, this is not a big drama, not a Cecil B. DeMille production. No parting of the seas here. But a beautiful story, and just as wonderful.

I. IT IS THE STORY OF A WOMAN WITH A PROBLEM

She was bound to the fortunes of her husband in a way that modern men and women can hardly understand. She may or may not have had influence in the decision which her husband made.
You know the story: times got hard in Israel.
The book starts out talking about a man named Elimilech. The name means "My God is KING." Wonderful name!
But this story is not about Elimilech. The heroine's name is Naomi. Well, there are two heroines, and a hero. They are Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz- don't forget Boaz. And the real hero is God, and the reality of the love and faithfulness of God.
Some people think that Elimilech was a shepherd, and couldn't find pasture to sustain his flocks. He thought that Moab might afford better grazing. No one really knows all the details or reasons, but it was Elimilech's decision:
We're making the journey to Moab!
As if living in a foreign land were not bad enough, this woman, Naomi, had no sooner gotten her young sons married— to non-Jewish wives!- which was a violation of strict Mosaic code— when Elimilech had the nerve to die and leave her to fend for herself.
Poor Maholn and Chilion may have made a stab at keeping the business going. But Maholn was "weakly" and Chilion was "pining": and literally they both soon died as well, and as the scripture says, NAOMI WAS BEREFT.

II. IT IS ALSO THE STORY OF A WOMAN FOLLOWING A PROMISE

Naomi did not hesitate too long. She determined to go back to her roots, to her culture, but also to the land of Promise.
The pull of her promise attracted both her daughters-in-law. Naomi was obviously a KIND person, or her daughters-in-law would have jumped at the chance to be back in their home.
She was a person of INTEGRITY, as Ruth's famous speech indicates: She had an obvious faith in Jehovah God.
She was a daughter of the House of Bread, and somehow she felt she would not starve if she could make her way back there again. It is just a little bit like the story of the Prodigal, even though none of this was Naomi's fault.

III. THERE IS PERIL INVOLVED

(Which peril is seen most clearly in the "Separation Scene:)

Naomi's risk is calculated. She has traversed these miles before. She has some idea of what is waiting.
Ruth and Orpah have a different kind of risk.
1. For Orpah the risk is understandably too great to take. She cannot venture into the unknown.
2. For Ruth the risks are the same, but the perspective, perhaps, is a little different. Instead of just seeing the global change, and challenge of the unknown, Ruth sees Naomi's faith. Ruth makes a momentous choice. It is a beautiful passage of prose. We have made it into music, we sing it at weddings. It was actually a FIVE-FOLD CHOICE:
  1. The choice of a GOD.
  2. The choice of a PATH, or WAY. "The way you go, I go!"
  3. The choice of a HOME. "Where you lodge, I will lodge."
  4. The choice of a PEOPLE "Thy people shall be my people!"
  5. The choice of how she would DIE and be BURIED! People who know the true God have confidence that overcomes the final enemy!
  There is genuine LOVE here. It is mutual. Ruth had been a kind wife as well as daughter-in-law; so had Orpah.

IV. THE PROOF

THE CONFIRMATION, THAT NAOMI AND RUTH DID THE RIGHT THING MAY WELL STILL BE GOING ON!

Probably Elimiliech made a mistake by running to Moab. For when Naomi returned 10 years later, the same people she knew before had survived; they were engaged in the barley harvest.
What Naomi's husband did wrong (1) affected her, but (2) could not keep her from ultimate victory.
The two women survived. And much, much more. Ruth became co- owner of the vast fields of Boaz. A lowly Gentile single woman soon was hiring and firing and making decisions at the heart of the Jewish culture. Homiletical theologians like to make a lot of that as some kind of pre-curser of the way God looks at the nations— with love for all, not just the Jews.
But far, far beyond what they ever knew— this pastoral, homely little story has encouraged people of God to exercise faith. Long before Romans 8:28 had ever been thought about,
1. Naomi demonstrated an eternal law of God: that even in the worst and darkest times God knows and cares for His own.
  Long before John 15 had been spoken, about the Vine and the Branches,
2. Naomi showed the world that God's people can ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY, and the result will be MUCH FRUIT!
  In the case of Naomi, the real blessings began with the birth, to Boaz and Ruth, of little Obed. Actually, by Jewish law the little boy was not only the heir to Boaz, but to Mahlon, carrying on the family which had been extinguished. Naomi shared in the joy in an official way; she was literally this baby's grandmother! What wonderful JOY is almost hidden there in the simple words, (4:19) that say Naomi took the baby in her own arms.
  Maybe, it was thought then, maybe something will come of this family after all!

For Ruth, well, she never did know the extent of her blessing! This history was written, no doubt about it, to underscore the lineage of the greatest king of Israel up until that time!

But we know even better! Ruth was part of the royal line of ancestors to the Messiah!

Conclusion:

It is probably wrong to try to make too much of an application on such an intensely personal story. But maybe because God wanted to remind us that wherever we are, whether it is our fault or not, we are not beyond the bound of His love. We can go home again!

Prayer: Make us faithful where we are! Let us know You know, too, and You care! Amen.

# God Will Take Care of You