Read Ruth 8:8-14
Today I want to look at what we can learn from the Book of Ruth and Naomi’s example of leading other women to Christ. The book of Ruth is primarily a historical short story narrative. Ruth 1:1-5 introduces the book. Ruth is divided into four scenes between chapter 1 and 4 and it concludes with Ruth 4:13-17. The story takes place almost exclusively in the rural, agricultural setting of Bethlehem in Judah, in the period of the judges of Israel, with only a brief introductory setting in the neighboring country of Moab. The four scenes are the intimate and personal account of a daughter-in-law’s faithfulness and loyalty within a family setting. Her faithfulness and loyalty is a response to the tragic introduction and results in the healing conclusion.
Ruth’s story occurs during a time of the judges. It was a dark time when people lived to please themselves and not God. It was period that seems very similar to our world today. It was a period of disobedience, idolatry, and violence. Just as He was then, God is looking for some people who will follow His lead even in times of crisis and deep despair. God will use anyone who is open to Him to achieve His purpose.
As the story begin Elimelech , Naomi, and their two sons: Mah-lon and Chil-ion have left their homeland in Bethlehem-Judah because there is a famine in the land. The famine has occurred because Israel has again left God for other gods. Thus, Elimelech decided to go to Moab. Moab was a land east of the Dead Sea. The origin of the Moabites came from the incestuous union of Lot with his eldest daughter, who bore him a son named Moab which means from father (Genesis 19:30-38).
When Israel settled in the new land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad conquered parts of the country of the Amorites that had formerly belonged to Moab. There was constant fighting between Israel and Moab. Saul and David both fought there, and Ehud, one of the Judges, subdued Moab for 80 years (Judges 3:26-30). It was one of the nations that oppressed Israel during the period of the judges. The famine in Israel had to be severe for Elimelech to move his family to Moab. A move to Moab meant dealing with tension. We can also observe that Elemelech may have shown a lack of faith in this move. God has promised to supply our needs. The Bible says, “I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25) I’ve never seen in God’s Word where He says, “I’ll supply your needs as long as there is not a famine, or I’ll supply your needs as long as gas prices don’t go too high. He said in Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” So we are encouraged to wait on the Lord. He will come through! Elimelech might have placed himself and his family in a place they never belonged because of His impatience. This could have been the reason that many curses fell upon his family.
The names in this family are also particular interesting. The husband's name, Elimelech, means "God is King." Naomi means "pleasant." The son Mah-lon's means "sickly." Chil-ion means "perish." Why would an Israelite not look within the Promised Land rather than settling in Moab? It was clear that the LORD was not necessarily king in Elimelech's life.
Soon after getting to Moab Elimelech dies and Naomi is left with two sons to raise in a foreign land without any family to help her. Friendly relations with the Moabites was discouraged but apparently not forbidden and eventually these sons grow up and marry women of Moab. Ten years later fitting both their names “sickly and perish” the sons both die. Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah are now left with no one to love and no one to care for their well being.
Israelite law recognized the dilemma of widows and made some specific laws to help them. If the widow had sons, it was their responsibility to take care of their mother. With no one to take care of a widow she was often taken advantage of, ignored, and left in severe poverty. If a widow had no sons, she could return to her parents. If a widow’s husband had brothers, they were required to take her in as their wife beginning with the oldest brother. Elimelech apparently didn’t have any brothers. Naomi is now left with no resources, in a foreign land, with two daughters-in-law.
Naomi decides it is time if not past time to go back home. Since she was not living in the day of cell phones, blogs and Skype she really didn’t know if any of her family back home was still alive. So it wouldn’t have made since to carry both ladies back not knowing even if she returned home whether she’d be able to provide for them.
When someone usually says, “Let me tell you about my mother-in-law.” It is usually followed by some humorous negativity. The mother-in-law /daughter-in-law relationship is usually followed by ridicule from either party. However, it does not appear that there was tension between Naomi and either of her daughters-in-laws. It was Naomi’s godly character that kept these two ladies by her side.
Naomi speaks very kindly to her daughters-in-law as she bids them both to return to their families. It is obvious that she has loved them in spite of who they are (Moabites) and in turn they love her (an Israelite). She tells them how she appreciates how that they have stood by her side in her times of difficulty and didn’t abandon her even after her son’s death. Because of their love for Naomi they both tell her they will go with her to her homeland. But Naomi insists that they go their way because she has nothing left to offer them. In verse 11 we notice that Naomi has come to accept these young ladies as her own children for she calls them “my daughters.” They are so broken by the thought of having to leave Naomi and they begin to weep loudly.
What characters of God do we see in Naomi? First, we see love. 1st John 4:7 says “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” Naomi loves these girls with the love of God. Her godly character allows her to look beyond their faults and to see their needs. Isn’t that just what God does for us? He loves us in spite of us. That’s unconditional love.
Next she displays kindness and compassion. Even though it seems that her own life is in a mess and she needs someone to depend on, she considers what will be best for them. God did this very thing for us in sending Jesus to the cross in our stead. He made a way out of no way that we might be reconciled back to be with our family.
Finally, Naomi even in a place of lack is selfless. She desires for her daughters to be blessed. She says, “The Lord grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them.” Our God was showing us how to be selfless when He allowed His only begotten Son to suffer and die at Calvary that we might live. That’s selfless. Try today to love, show kindness and compassion, and to be selfless in spite of your own situation and watch God bless you.
