Good morning,
This week we will look at the book of Ruth. This is a love story. There is the love that Ruth had for Naomi. There is the love that Boaz had for Ruth. Then there is the love God has for His children. Only one of those loves is unconditional, redemptive, and eternal.
***Please read Chapter one***
Chapter one tells us of a:
Famine in Bethlehem v1
Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land.
Sojourn in Moab v1
And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
Family V2
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
Death v3
And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
Two marriages v4
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
Two deaths v5
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
Grieving mother telling her daughters to go back to their family’s v6-14
One leaves v14
And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
One does not v15-17
And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Return to Bethlehem v18-22
The key to chapter one is found in verses 16 and 17. “And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
Ruth made a decision to go with Naomi to Bethlehem. Her love for Naomi was stronger than her desire to return to her family. She had lived for ten years being influenced by Naomi and her Jewish roots. She made a choice to follow the God of the Bible, rather than to go back to Moabite paganism.
Who or what are you following today? Ruth gave up all she knew to follow Naomi and her God. Have you given up everything to follow the God of the Bible?
As we will see it was a very good decision for Ruth.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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