All posts by Benny Page

Ruth

Ruth 3

As we viewed the providence of God last week in chapter 2 of Ruth, we saw the beginning of hope, albeit it was small hope,a spark of hope arises in Naomi. At the end of chapter 1 of Ruth, Naomi proclaims upon her return to Bethlehem: “ Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara,( bitter). I went out full but the Lord has brought me back empty.” Naomi ‘s view of God’s providential involvement in her life is one of bitterness and hopelessness.

When one has no hope and is filled with bitterness, it often paralyzes the person into a state of inactivity. Naomi cannot dream, plan or look forward to anything. ( Without a vision, the people perish.) Naomi is so depressed she cannot dream of anything good happening. But upon hearing Ruth’s account of her first day in the fields of Boaz, Naomi proclaims hope has entered her life- “ He ( the Lord) has not stopped showing His kindness to the living and the dead!” Hope has returned in the life of Naomi and she now begins to plan for her dream to be fulfilled in the life of her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Just a little hope has transformed Naomi. Hope is a powerful emotion and Naomi begins to plan for the future in this third chapter of Ruth.

When these two widows returned to Bethlehem, their plan was for Ruth to take care of Naomi. In order to do this, Ruth would arise early each morning and put in a long day gleaning corn from the fields. On her first day, we saw the hand of God direct her to the field of Boaz, a potential kinsman redeemer and for the first time – Naomi and Ruth were excited and hopeful about the future.

Now as Ezekiel described the throne and government of God as this complex design of ‘ wheels within wheels’ we begin to see the story within the story within the story. This story is a picture of Christ’s relationship to those who trust Him and belong to Him. Here in this story we see the steps we must take as God’s people to enter into a deeper relationship with our Lord. Our Kinsman Redeemer does not want us to live on leftovers from gleaning, He wants us to have all that He has for us.

How do we claim what He has for us? By faith. Faith links us to the fulfillment of our hope. “ Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see. And in Hebrews 11: 6 we read this all important truth: “ Without faith it is impossible to please God and those who come to Him, must believe that He is, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Notice it is not the gifts we seek, but the Giver!

Listen carefully to what our Kinsman Redeemer tells us: “ Therefore do not be anxious, saying what shall we eat? or what shall we drink?- or what shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things and your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteouseness , and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do no worry about tomorrow,for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. “ ( Matthew 6)  The Lord knows you also have to have hope and He has promised to supply all our needs in Christ Jesus. He is our Hope. Just give me Jesus- for that is all I need.

How does one enter into a deeper relationship where we take the Lord at His word and believe all our needs will be met? How do I enter into the Throne Room of heaven with confidence, even boldness, as Ruth demonstrates here, so that I might find grace to help in time of need?

We must prepare as Ruth prepared.

  1. We are to be cleansed of our sins as Ruth washed herself. “Cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” ( I Cor. 7:1) David pleaded with God to ‘ wash me’. ( Psalm 51) If we do this we are promised this: “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” ( I John 1: 9) We must put off those things that defile us. The priest made sure they were confessed of all their sins and cleansed before entering the Holy of Holies. Our Lord Jesus is still washing our dirty feet as He did for the disciples.
  2. We are to anoint ourselves with the Holy Spirit, as Ruth anointed herself with perfume. Nothing can be done apart from the Spirits’ anointing. We must ask the Spirit to help us pray, understand, obey, trust, and witness for if I do it in my own strength- it is nothing. We are guilty of doing what is right in our own eyes when we do it without the anointing of the Spirit.
  3. We must change our clothes as Ruth did. She adorned herself as a bride not as a widow. In Scripture clothing has meaning. From the very beginning, Adam and Eve attempted to clothe themselves to cover their sins. But only the Lord could clothe them properly with the forgiveness of their sins. And we saw for the first time the principle- without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Salvation is a picture of changing clothes. We take off our garments of self righteousness which in God’s sight are ‘ filthy rags’ and we are clothed in the spotless white garment of Jesus Christ’s righteousness.
  4. Ruth approached her kinsman redeemer, Boaz in the right way. There is only one way to approach God the Father. Jesus said: “ I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me.” (John 14) We must follow the principles given in the Scriptures. If we are to worship Him, we must worship Him in ‘ Spirit and in Truth.” We cannot do what is right in our own eyes, many believe they can get into heaven with good works and morality. But Jesus said you can only come one way. Narrow is the way and strait is the gate that leads to everlasting life. Jesus is the way.
  5. Ruth came with the attitude of humble obedience. When Naomi told her how to approach her kinsman redeemer, Boaz, Ruth replied: “ I will do whatever you say.”

Ruth has the kind of faith that gives rise to hope that produces courage to risk it all. Just as Esther did when she entered into the king’s presence without permission, knowing he could have her executed for such an act. She risked it all saying: “ If I perish, I perish.” Shadrach, Meshach and Abendengo risked it all when they would not bow down to the idol and risked death by fire in the furnace.

Ruth could have been rejected. Her act could have besmirched her reputation. Boaz could have taken advantage of this lovely young, woman. She risked it all. Is God asking you to do something- is there someone God wants you to share the Gospel with? Is God calling you to make a sacrificial gift? Is God asking you to wait on Him and trust Him to work out your situation which is causing you so much grief and concern?

Ruth is not asking for a small favor- she is not asking for gifts- she is asking for the giver, himself. She is asking Him to marry her- so they can be one.

Why settle for the gifts? The gleanings, the leftovers- when the Giver Himself is asking you to diligently seek Him?

“ Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are my kinsmen redeemer.” The KJV states ‘ spread thy skirt over thy handmaiden.’ Skirt is translated- wing. Did not Boaz pray for Ruth to be rewarded by the Lord for her actions in taking care of Naomi? He did and said ‘ the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.’

Our Kinsman Redeemer has spread his garment of righteousness over us when we came to him. And even today He is seeking a closer relationship with us- and wants us to continue to draw near to Him.

Boaz response to her assures Ruth – I will do all that you ask. Why does he promise to all that she asks? Because she has come the right way- according to God’s laws and principles of the kinsman redeemer. Boaz is an honorable man and will do what is right. He tells her to lie there and wait until morning. He promises to take care of the matter. He gives her six measures of barley to take back to her mother-in-law, Naomi. Notice what Ruth tells Naomi when she gives her Boaz’s gift of barley. “ Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.” Naomi had gone back empty from Moab, so the Lord could fill her life again.

Now they must wait. Naomi tells Ruth- now wait, be still until you find out what happens. They are waiting on Boaz- who they know will not rest until the matter is settled. Our Lord neither sleeps nor slumbers – He is always at work.

Wait on the Lord.

The Purposes of waiting:

  1. God is eliminating things in our lives. Naomi came back to Bethlehem empty.
  2. God is working in other people’s lives to prepare the way for His blessing.
  3. God is sifting our motives.
  4. God is protecting us from mistakes.
  5. God is waiting to make the greatest impact on our lives.

What must we do in this time of waiting?

Wait on the Lord and do good. James said faith without works is dead.

Be quiet, ‘ be still and know that I am the Lord. ‘

Trust and obey- for there is no other way. Be patient- patience has a very important role in perfecting, maturing your faith. Obey God and you will be blessed. Disobey God and you will be disciplined. It is that simple!

Lamentations 3: 21-26

Psalm 27:13,14

Psalm 40:1-3

Philippians 4: 4-7

These Promises are gifts from your Kinsman Redeemer.

They are yours for the asking. But why settle for just the gifts- when the Giver is yours for the asking.

Ruth did not want just the leftovers and the gifts- she wanted the giver, Boaz.

She had the promise of God’s Word, who cannot lie_ that it was hers for the asking.

Jesus said to the woman at the well- “if you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you could have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

May your know the gift of God this Christmas like never before- for the Gift of God is Himself!

Merry Christmas!

Judges

Judges 19 – 21

Judges 19-21: A Terrible End

The last three chapters of Judges reveal an episode which will shock you. It is repulsive. It is a repeat of Sodom and Gomorrah with even greater wickedness. The account includes: wife abuse, rape, murder, dismemberment, kidnapping and civil war. This episode in Israel shows the depth of depravity that almost creates a holocaust within Israel long before World War II. And what is shocking it is done by Israelites against Israelites. The problem is one that had been building because – ‘ there was no king in Israel and everyone did as the saw fit.’

Let’s address the situation and the custom of polygamy and the role of the concubine. God’s intention, His will was for marriage to be between one man and one woman. ( Genesis 2:24) However, we see early on the people of Israel, God’s people followed the custom of the pagan society and had multiple wives and concubines. We see it with Abraham, Jacob, right down to Solomon. You will also see in those situations where polygamy was practiced it brought heartache and pain without exception. Abraham’s taking Hagar and having a child by her, Ishmael, is still causing problems today between the Muslims, the descendants of Ishmael and the Jews, descendants of Isaac.. Jacob’s family was a dysfunctional family torn apart by Jacob’s polygamy and favoritism which created hatred for Joseph. Solomon, for all his wisdom, found himself with 300 concubines and 700 wives in violation of God’s instructions. The result was his discovery for Solomon how meaningless life was without fearing God and keeping His commandments.

Now a word about a concubine and their role in this society. First of all- men treated all women as second class citizens in this culture. This practice of taking a concubine was adopted from the pagan cultures in the event a man’s wife could not bear children he could take a concubine and the offspring would be considered a legitimate heir. The concubine would not share in the inheritance, receiving only food and clothing and marital privileges. The Lord did not approve it or encourage it.

What we read in this story is all based on the fact- everyone was doing what they saw was fit. Interesting phrase- ‘ as they saw fit’. Meaning it fit their lifestyle, everyone else was doing it and why shouldn’t they also.

Here in this story another Levite , a person called to be set apart, is doing what he wants to do. He takes a concubine and we read the concubine was unfaithful to him. She left him and went back to her father’s house. After four months, the Levite goes back to persuade her to come home with him. What follows is 5 days of partying, eating, drinking, etc., with the father of his concubine. Finally the Levite leaves with his concubine and servant.

As the day is ending they come to Jebus, ( which is Jerusalem) and the servant wants to spend the night there. But the Levite insists they travel to Gibeah, a town occupied by Benjamites. There they stopped to spend the night in the city square where an old man invites them to come spend the night with him. In fact he warns them, you do not want to spend the night here on the square.

What we are about to read reminds us of the story of Lot and the angels in Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 19)

What follows is such a horror story of wickedness, sinfulness, blatant homosexuality and brutality combined with seemingly indifference to human life. These last chapters show the depth of depravity when a society abandons God’s principles and laws. And everyone does as he sees fit.

Here is what happens, it is like the night of living dead: a group of wicked men of the city surround the house. Pounding on the door, they shouted ( demanded) the old man who owned the house send out the man who was their guest so they could have sex with him.

Like Lot, the old man comes out and says to them: “ No, my friends, don’t be so vile. Since this man is my guest, don’t do this disgraceful thing. Look here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. I will bring them out to you now, and you can use them and do to them whatever you wish. But to this man, don’t do such a disgraceful thing.”  This was the viewpoint of Lot in Genesis 19 and the opinion of this old man. But their viewpoint and opinion is confirmed in God’s Word which calls this sexual act detestable in Leviticus 20. In Romans 1- Paul labels these acts: ‘ indecent and a perversion.’ ( NIV)

What follows is a night of unbelievable horror ending in death for the concubine. Brutalized by these wicked men all night, she went back to the house where they were staying, falling down at the door where she lay until daylight. At sometime during the night, she died. When morning came, the Levite attempts to awaken her without any response from her, he loads her on the donkey and sets our for home.

When he reached home, the lifeless concubine is dismembered and 12 parts of her are sent to the 12 tribes. The Levite wants revenge and is calling the 12 tribes to assemble and attack the city of Gibeah which is occupied by their own brothers, the tribe of Benjamin.

I am no fan of this Levite. I find his behavior despicable. He is not honest. His account to the tribes of Israel is not truthful. He states: “ During the night the men of Gibeah came after me and surrounded the house and intended to kill me. They raped my concubine and she died.” We know from the account this is not exactly the way it took place. This man sent out his concubine to pacify the mob and save his own skin. He evidently went to sleep and did not even venture out of the house until daylight.

A word about: Depravity. Depraved minds. Wickedness beyond what we can imagine. Romans 1 tells us how depravity grows deeper.

( Side note: Can you even believe this story is in the Bible? It is a gut-wrenching story of how a world around us wants to conform us- adopting their lifestyle, philosophy and beliefs. Is it far-fetched and inconceivable to you that this could happen in our country? )

Paul writes: “ Futhermore, since they did not think is worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God , He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey parents, they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God ‘s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these things but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1.

When one does not want to retain the knowledge of God- a vacuum is created that will be filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. Today we live in a culture and society in our own country that is becoming more and more a culture that does not think is it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God. God’s Word is clear what happens when this takes place- depravity. When minds are empty of the Word of God they will be filled with every kind of wickedness.

A civil war is going to take place among the tribes of Israel. The Israelites went and asked the tribe of Benjamin to surrender these offenders so they may be put to death. But the Benjamites would not listen to their fellow Israelites. What follows is a civil war that almost wipes out the tribe of Benjamin completely.

You do realize the most costly war in terms of American lives lost was the Civil War fought between the Union and Confederacy from 1861-1865. Estimates of deaths are 750,000 which does not include deaths among civilians. More soldiers died from disease in captivity than were killed in the Vietnam War. In fact more were killed in this civil war among Americans- than were killed in every war from the Revolutionary War, World Wars I and II and all wars from that time through the Korean War in the 1950’s.

How does this happen in Israel among their own people? When sin is not exposed, confessed and punished, it pollutes the society and defiles the land. The wicked men of Gibeah were like a cancerous tumor that needed to be cut out. “ Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump: ( I Cor. 5) Or as we say – one bad apple spoils the whole barrel.

When Gods’ people refuse to obey God’s Word, the results are always tragic. The spiritual life of the church is crippled and often destroyed. The congregation wants to hide their heads in the sand and not cause any problems. Corporate prayer life is ineffective, just as the prayers of anyone who regards sin in their hearts will be disregarded by God until they confess their sin and repent.

When the Lord God Almighty is not enthroned on the throne of your heart- guess who is? Your old sinful nature who does not want to be ruled over- and ruled out. This is why Jesus said we are to take up our cross daily- to crucify our old nature.

What are the last words we hear from the leaders of Israel during the time of Jesus Christ on earth? Pilate says to the Jewish leaders- “ Here is your king.” But they shouted – take him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him! Shall I crucify your king? Asked Pilate. “ We have no king, but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.” ( John 19)

We have no king. There was no king in Israel and everyone did as they saw fit.

As we end this study, let’s review what we have learned. And with that viewpoint in mind let us look at our world and God’s church and draw some conclusions about the Christian life.

Just as He was during this time of judges, God is looking for servants who are available to hear His Word, receive His Power and do His will. God has shown us in this book of Judges how He uses men and women as servants. Like Gideon they are not strong but weak. Gideon said he was from the weakest tribe and was the weakest one in the weakest of tribes. In other words, he was the ‘ runt of the litter’.

All of us are different and when God calls you to serve Him, He does not do so based on your abilities but your availability. Remember the Lord’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.

There is another truth we must not miss in this story. God can work in and through all nations, and all types of people. He can work not only in spite of sin- but through sin. When we consider God’s Sovereignty we must consider how He is in complete control. This verse in Acts 17 underscores His Sovereignty: “ From one man, He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places they should live.”   Why would you even worry that God is not in control, when He has determined not only that each of 7,000,000,000 on the face of the earth exist but the exact geographical location where they are. He has done this from the beginning of time. In fact Paul tells us why God did this: “ God did this so the men would seek and perhaps reach out to Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.” ( Acts 17: 27)

History is truly God’s Story. As dark as these days were in this time in Judges and as dark as they seem today, God was on the throne in the time of Judges and He is on the throne today. No matter how wicked this world seems today.

If you have failed God in the past- guess what- the stories in the Bible tells us of many who failed the Lord. We are all flawed in some way. But the cycles we see in the book of Judges assures us that God chastens those He loves and forgives us when we repent and confess our sins.

Somehow what we all want is a trouble free life. Yet Jesus lived the only perfect life on earth and He suffered like no one else ever has. If we obey the Lord just to get things from Him or to escape trials and tribulations- then our relationship with Him isn’t very loving. It is more of a contract- we will do what you tell us to do- if You will give us what we want. God looks at the heart, the inside- not the outside. He looks at your motive. If you obey God only to get what you want from Him- you are seeking the reward and not the Rewarder. “Without faith it is impossible to please God and those who come to Him, must believe that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” ( Hebrews 11:6) Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, not what they can get from Him.

What is your motivation for obedience? Does the mother sacrifice for the child because the laws of the land threaten to punish her for negligence? Or does she do it out of a heart of love for her child.

 

Do not be confused- God’s Word never fails. If we obey it, He is faithful to bless us and keep His promises. However, it does not mean we will not suffer.

Here is the key: we live our lives based on His Promises, not His explanations. He does not have to explain to us why we must suffer hardships. “Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the Promises of God.” ( Standing on the Promises, Russell K. Carter, 1886) “ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.: ( Hebrews 10:23)

God has also given us governments as Romans 13 explains. But regardless of the form of government a country has, Proverbs 14:34 still applies: “ Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.’

When Israel adopted the lifestyle of the pagan nations around them, they weakened their own nation. When Israel turned to idols, God turned from blessing them. Nations do not decay and collapse because of people who peddle pornography and drugs, but because Christians are no longer salt and light. Compromising Christians hurt not only themselves, their family and church, but they contribute to the decay of the whole nation.

Jeremiah gives us an insight into why these things occur:

“ My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken Me, the Spring of Living Water ; and they have dug their own cisterns ( false gods & Idols) and broken cisterns cannot hold water. ( Jeremiah 2)

“ The Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look and ask for the ancient path, ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls. But you would not walk in it.” ( Jeremiah 6) In life we all follow two quests: the quest for happiness and the quest for truth will bring each of us to a crossroads, an intersection where we must make a decision.

“ The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, who can know it.: ( Jeremiah 17) This is why we must guard our hearts with all diligence for out of the heart come the issues of life.

One of the facets of faith we seem not to fully understand is this: faith is obeying in spite of consequences.   Faith takes God at His Word and does what He tells us to do.   You are not going to have perfect faith. We all start with a measure of faith. Weak faith or little faith must be tested to make it stronger. The more you exercise your faith- the stronger your faith will grow.

 

When we look around today- we can get as disheartened today with the way things are as they so closely resemble the nation of Israel in the times of Judges, 3500 years ago.

But the good news is – God is not through and His story is not finished yet. Surely you have read the end and should know the King is coming again. And everything is going according to God’s plan. He has told us what to expect. He said we would have trouble in this world- but take heart and fear not for He has overcome the world.

Righteousness will triumph. Evil will be defeated. Faith will be rewarded.

You can never tell what is around the corner. You can never tell what God has planned for you. So be on the look out. Look for where He is working and join Him.

Be accountable and above all BE AVAILABLE!

 

We will begin a study of Ruth next. In praying and wondering where to go next, the fact that Ruth comes after Judges had to be for a reason.

We will find the story of Ruth takes place at the same time as the book of Judges. It is a love story, a redemption story and a harvest story. And it is an encouraging story.

Judges

Judges 17 & 18

Judges 17&18: Focus on the Family

The last chapters of Judges are not in chronological order, but are similar to an appendix or footnotes, where the author shares episodes in Israel’s history that illustrate her corruption. I have entitled this lesson- ‘ focus on the family’ for two reasons: (1.) We will focus on one family in the story in these two chapters. And , (2.)- I want us to ‘focus on the family’ because it is obvious from creation, that God’s focus is on the family. Family is an institution created by God from the very beginning with Adam and Eve. In doing so God made the family the foundation of our society. God created three major institutions: family, church and government. In fact, the church and government were created for the benefit of the family. And of course since God’s focus is on the family- guess who else is focused on the destruction of the family? Our enemy- the devil.

The foundation of our society and all societies is the family unit. If this foundation crumbles- the whole society caves in on itself. The moral fabric our society is being ripped apart by the enemy. There is a great attack on our families. Look at our divorce rates, abortions, and child abuse. Then the redefining of God’s very definition of marriage as the union between one man and one woman. The enemy knows that if you destroy the family unit, the nation will go also.

How did God start all of mankind? God began with a simple plan- called ‘ family.’ In the beginning God created a man and a woman and He told them to have children and to fill up the earth. God started with a family, not with the church, the tabernacle, government or the nation Israel. It was a simple plan, each generation was to pass on their faith in God to their children. This is the reason God takes the time to show us genealogies in the Bible, they are a part of His overall plan.

As the population grew ,we saw the believers in Jehovah and the ungodly became separated. The ungodly grew greater in number and influence and pressed the people to conform to their world view. Until by Genesis 6 we have only one family left who have faith in God Almighty- the family of Noah. Noah had obviously passed on his faith in God to his sons and their wives. They were saved from the flood and God started over again with one family.   But as Noah and his family multiplied and filled the earth- the numbers of the wicked grew rapidly again and soon the earth was filled with all types of wickedness. False gods were served and represented by idols. Sexual immorality and violence filled the earth.

When the family unit- fails- there is confusion. Confusion in the home, confusion in the ministry and confusion in society. Elected officials will reflect the will of the people- so confusion reigns in all of the major institutions.  The results will be increased crime ,sexual immorality, sexual abuse and violence . Today sex and violence are the themes of Hollywood that bring in millions of dollars at the box office and influence behavior world- wide. Art imitates life and life imitates art.

Once again in Genesis we see God use a father and his family in the story of Abraham. First Abraham is called to come out of the society in which he lives- a picture of our separation. Abram moved out of the region of the Ur of Chaldees. It was a land and culture of man-made religions, false gods, wickedness and idolatry. God wanted Abram to leave that behind. Later Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, would pass on the faith of his grandfather and father, Isaac, to his family and the nation of Israel would grow out this one man’s family.

Now in today’s story we see household idols,carved images in this family’s home. Micah and his mother do not worship Dagon, they call upon the Lord. But as we will see it is a ‘lord’ of their own making. Watch how easily the 10 Commandments are broken without any remorse or guilt.

The family is a unit of manageable size where God has set up an order and instructions to follow. Every family is a potentially holy family. Listen to these ancient words of wisdom from God in how the family is to operate and the father is to lead: “ Hear O Israel, The Lord your God the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them upon your foreheads. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.” ( Deut. 6) We realize God created His laws to govern and instruct the family in the way they are to go.

God then instructs them and warns them to be careful as they experience material success : “ When the Lord your God brings you into a land He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you- a land with large , flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant- then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of slavery.” ( Deut. 6)

Do we not live in houses filled with all kinds of good things? God is giving the Israelites and us instructions on how to live as a family unit. How to avoid materialism- how to raise our children to fear the Lord. Recognizing all good things come from Him. Or are we prone to forget the Lord Our God who brought us out of the slavery of sin?

Micah’s mother evidently lives with him. He has stolen 1100 shekels of silver from her. A child stealing from his mother for his own use. She utters a curse on the thief,not realizing it is her own son. Micah evidently fears his mother’s curse and confesses he stole the money. Look at her response: “ The Lord bless you ,my son!” I believe she just used the Lord’s name in vain, didn’t she. She asked the Lord to bless sin- the sin of stealing.

When she received the money back, the shekels of silver- she decided to make an idol out of 200 shekels of silver .One of the main ways a silversmith made money in those days was by making idols. We have not changed that much today- in fact we use to go to a place called ‘ Goldsmiths’ to buy some idols for our homes, didn’t we?   These shekels of silver were made into an image and the idol was put in Micah’s home. His home was a shrine for idols. In fact, they had made an idol out of money, literally. Another commandment is broken.

The Canaanites had a worship centers in their homes. They each had a shrine with their carved idols of Baal and Ashtoreth. They had temples also- but the strength of the Canaanite religion was in the family unit- in the home. If they had magazines in those days- a popular magazine would have been- “ Southern Canaanite Living.’ God knew his people would be tempted and influenced by the culture they lived in to conform.

Now you begin to realize why God gave the 10 Commandments to His people before entering this pagan land. He knew of the practices of the Canaanite religion. He knew they had shrines with carved images and idols in their homes. So God gave them these commandments- for the family. “ Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” And the second command: “ You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven or on earth or beneath the waters.: ( Exodus 20) He was speaking to families and what they were to do and not do in their homes in their families.

Why did God give them the Sabbath day? “ Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” The one day they did not work was a day to worship the Lord as a family. In fact, when we were growing up- all businesses were closed on Sunday, weren’t they? No movie theaters, grocery stores, or department stores were open. Today, it is just another day in the USA. What about adultery? Adultery causes divorces and tears families apart. “ Thou shall not commit adultery.” Lying, stealing, murder- all protect the family. Most murders are committed by family members, relatives or people who know each other. And of course- : Honor your father and mother’ was to protect and tie the family unit together.

We find instructions for the family all throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. Psalm 78 says: “ ..what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide from our children, we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done. He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel when He commanded our forefathers to teach their children so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born and they in turn would put their trust in God and would not forget His deeds but keep all His commands.” Do you now see why the enemy wants to revise the history of our country and our forefathers’ faith?

From generation to generation we are to do this. Parents and grandparents. What we see in Judges is what happens when there is no king and everyone does what is right in their own eyes.

Now in this story we see Micah and his mother have a ‘lord’ of their own making, for obviously He is not the Lord God Almighty who gave the 10 Commandments which they break so easily.

The desire to worship images is really the desire to shape and revise God spiritually to fit our lifestyle and culture. When we selectively filter out those parts of God’s character which are revealed in Scripture dealing with His judgment of sin- we are shaping a God that we are comfortable with- not realizing He is a Holy God who cannot tolerate sin. He had rather dispense His grace, mercy and love- but be not deceived God is not mocked. God will judge sin. Often you will hear this comment from people who have devised their own God. ‘ I don’t believe in a God like that- the God I believe in- is loving and kind and merciful. Not a God of wrath and judgment’. This is homemade religion and a god of your own making. And it is no God at all.

Our culture today is deceived into believing we are progressing in our discovery of science, psychology, medicine and no longer need the God of this ancient book to tell us what is right and wrong. We can no longer accept a God who forbids this and that- calling it sin. What we are really saying is : our culture’s distaste for what God calls wrong means we must drop it. We must have a God that fits our culture’s definition of what is right and wrong. We will determine and define what a family unit is- not God.

God also revealed what worship was to be about. In the Old Testament, the tabernacle and later the temple were to be a place where God was present in the glory cloud. This is where worship was conducted for the community of families and where sacrifices were made and His Word was taught. But the home is where the revealed God of Scripture is to be honored and taught from parents to children.

Micah and his mother did not submit to the authority of God’s Word. Their home was a place of religious and moral confusion. Money was their god. The confusion resulted in a child who lied to his parent and stole from his mother.

The devil knows that if you destroy the family , the nation will fall also. He has attacked the family since the Garden of Eden. He does not want a society of families who adhere to God’s instruction given in His Word. So he attacks the Word of God. Today our government has banned the Bible from our schools. Vance Havner said : “ We shouldn’t worry because the government won’t allow children to have Bibles in school. They’ll get free Bibles when they go to prison.” Isn’t it something – the government will not allow Bibles in the public schools, but will give them away to prisoners in prison.

Our prisons are overcrowded to the extent- our government does not know what to do. If every family would make Christ the head of the home and it was reinforced in the public schools- I believe we would see our crime rate plummet. “ Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.” ( Psalm 127)

When there is confusion in the home, because God is not head it will create confusion in the ministry. Watch what Micah does next. Verse 5 tells us ‘Micah had a shrine in his home, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed his son as priest. In those days Israel had no king; and everyone did as he saw fit.’ When the Only One and True God is not head- the confusion will lead to confusion in the ministry, the church becomes a place where the ‘preacher’ preaches a gospel that fits the culture and a god of their own making who wants everyone to be happy and successful.

In fact we see in today’s lesson, a young Levite came to Micah’s house in the hill country of Ephraim. Micah asks him: “ Where are you from? I’m a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I’m looking for a place to stay.”

Micah hires him to be the priest of his home and he will pay him and give him a place to live. Look at Micah’s reasoning: “ Now I know the Lord will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest.”

We want God to bless us, don’t we? People want a preacher to tell them what to do to be blessed by God. This Levite was a hireling, not a shepherd. He would preach and teach what his congregation wanted to hear. He would preach the prosperity gospel that was not restrictive and demanding in obedience- but fit their lifestyle and culture. Micah reveals what his goal is: the purpose of his religious efforts is to get access to God so that he can get God to do what he wants God to do. Make him successful and happy. This is just the opposite of the purpose of true faith. True faith is to give God access to your heart so that God can get you do what He wants.

Now in the continuation of this story in Judges 18 we meet some desperate Danites seeking a place of their own. The chapter starts with what is really their motive- ‘ in those days Israel had no king- so they are seeking something to make their own, as everyone did what was right in their own eyes. They are seeking something- because they have restless hearts. We all suffered from restless hearts before we found the Lord, always seeking something to make us happy.

When they come to Micah’s home- they found a man like them who seems to have it made. He has his own shrine, idols and even his own Levite priest. The Danites were covetous and decided to take what they saw there in Micah’s home.

Coming back with a force of 600 men- they took Micah’s carved image, his ephod and other household gods and the priest as well.

Micah confronts them over their theft. However, since they outnumber him, Micah can do nothing. Listen to his comment: “ You took my gods I made and my priest, and went away. What else do I have?”

If your career is your idol, your god, that which gives your life meaning and purpose- guess what? Someday you career will end. If it is your looks, guess what- age will take those away. Whatever you choose to make your god besides the True and Living God of the Bible- something or someone will take away your god. Micah said you have taken my gods- I have nothing. When you have Jesus Christ, there is nothing or no one can who take Him away from you. He is the One and Only True God who will never be taken away from you. Jesus will never leave you or depart from you.

Many a professional athlete has found their life void and empty after age has eroded the skills that made them famous, admired and wealthy. Pistol Pete Maravich found such a void in his life after his career in basketball ended, he did not know what to do with himself. He dabbled in the occult, drugs, became a vegetarian, took karate, practiced yoga and explored the existence of UFO’s. He finally found what could never be taken away from him- Jesus Christ. Pistol Pete discovered what the Apostle Peter discovered: “ To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life and we know and believe you are the Holy One of God.” ( John 6)

When we find Jesus- we find the blessing we were searching for. We will then experience his blessing when we say to Jesus: Jesus without you- I have nothing. You are my everything.

In 1982 Pistol Pete Maravich became a Christian. He began to travel the country sharing his new found faith in Jesus Christ. Pete told audiences his story and said in a few years before his death: “ I want to be remembered as a Christian, a person who serves Him to the utmost. Not as a basketball player.”

On January 5, 1988, while playing a pick up game of basketball, Pistol Pete had a heart attack and was dead at the age of 40. It was discovered Pete was born with only one coronary artery instead of two.

On the day he died, he was playing with a group that included, James Dobson, the head of Focus on the Family.

Here is the very important principle we are missing today in the USA: The family is the very heart of God’s plan.

Fathers and mothers make the mistake of placing more emphasis on being a provider of income and thus their careers consume valuable time away from their families.

We must focus on our families- it is God’s plan.

Ruth

Ruth 2

Ruth 2: Providence in Action

Providence or the act of being provident can be defined as having the foresight to prepare and make provision beforehand. Think of people rushing to the grocery store when snow is forecast. Paul used a form of this word when he admonished us to ‘ make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires’, Romans 13:14. ( You realize your old nature wants to influence you to plan ahead to make provision for sin.)  When applied to God the idea of providence takes on a vastly larger dimension. God’s Providence encompasses everything in the universe from His creation of the universe and everything in it to every aspect of human existence. The providence of God is the divine superintendence of all things guiding them to their divinely predetermined end . Acts 17 reveals God chose the time and place where each person would be born. (Which also means God chose my parents for me.) Jesus said not even one sparrow could drop from the sky without God’s knowledge. He even knows the number of hairs on your head. In other words, God is sovereign in this universe and in complete control of all things. ( I Chronicles 29) Nothing is impossible for Him. Now consider how God accomplishes this through man’s free will: his sin; through faith and belief in Him; through unbelief: through love for Him[ as well as through hatred of Him; through our wrong decisions and mistakes is more than I can imagine, but believe nevertheless. Scripture tells us we are without excuse. This is a subject of which I cannot begin to understand, much less teach- for ‘ since ancient times, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, Who acts of behalf of those who wait for Him.” ( Isaiah 64) This little story is a story of a BIG God- A God of Providence, as we observe providence in action.

Let me just remind you of this: God is too wise to be mistaken and He is too good to be unkind.

Today we meet another important person in this story of Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. We meet Boaz. Boaz is the son of Salmon, the husband of Rahab the harlot who had helped the spies prepare for the battle of Jericho. ( Joshua 2)

Now let us look where providence has led Naomi and her daughter-in-law to so far. Remember, Elimelech had led his wife, Naomi, and two sons to Moab during a famine in Bethlehem. Providence would have Elimelech die there. Providence would work out its way through marriage of his two sons who would take Moabite wives and then the two sons died. So in the first chapter, Naomi loses her husband, and her two sons and ends up a widow with two widowed daughters-in- law in the alien country of Moab. Her bitterness and emptiness is evident in her words- “ It is more bitter for me than you, because the Lord’s hand has gone out against me. “ And upon return to Bethlehem, Naomi says: “ Call me Mara(bitter) because the Almighty has made my life bitter. I went away full , but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi(pleasant) ? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me? ( Ruth 1)

Are you bitter today? Do you have a grudge against God? Do you think He has mistreated you? Naomi certainly did, and she was very verbal about it. Naomi’s pain is BIG-and her God is small. We are about to see just how BIG – her God is and hopefully be encouraged because this BIG God is our God also.

Naomi wants her circumstances to change and who can blame her. But God will not change our circumstances until our hearts are changed. If our circumstances change for the better, but we remain the same, then we will become worse. Joanie Erickson was paralyzed from the neck down as a teenager. She was bitter over her circumstances and the life she was left with after her accident. However, God changed her heart and she was able to accept and even come to embrace the circumstances as those God had allowed for her good and His Glory. What an impact she has had on many through her ministry. And there are so many stories like that throughout history.

Chapter 1 of Ruth revealed how big, Naomi’s problems were. I know there are chapters in your life, when your problems loomed so BIG- you wondered how you would ever get out of them or through them. Perhaps you even find yourself today in a chapter in the story of your life where your problems seem so big and long lasting – they are all you can think about 24/7. Now in chapter 2, we will see God’s Providence in action and realize His Providence is always in action. Jesus said: “ My Father is always at work”. ( John 5:17) Chapter 2 of Ruth reveals how BIG our God is.

The first verse reveals this new all-important character in the story, Boaz. We are told in the first verse- Boaz is from the clan of Elimelech, a man of standing in the community. He is a kinsman of Naomi and thus a kinsman of Ruth. Boaz’s very existence is by the providence of God( as is mine and yours) – his father is Salmon, and his mother Rahab the harlot who helped the spies in preparing for the battle of Jericho.

Notice also it is harvest time, just after the celebration of Passover. All of these seemingly ordinary events are not ordinary at all when God’s Providential Timing is at work.

Here is what is important for us to note in this lesson;

*If we want God to work in our lives and circumstances and accomplish His gracious purposes, there are certain conditions we must meet. Let us observe these conditions in this story of God’s Amazing Grace and Providence.

  1. We must live by faith. Notice what kind of woman Ruth is. Verse 2 of Ruth 2: “ Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eye I find favor. (NIV)” “Let me now go to the field to glean ears of corn after him in whose sight is find grace.”(KJV) First of all notice God in His Providence, had already given an agricultural law through Moses in Leviticus and Deuteronomy regarding gleaning. Gleaning was the act of gathering after the reapers. God has said the owners were to leave this for the poor so that they might feed themselves. Notice also it required that the poor work if physically possible. Since it was God who gave the harvest, He had every right to tell the people how to use it. ( Has not God provided you and yours with a harvest? He has also told you what to do with it. You can keep 9/10ths of it but give 1/10 to Him for the storehouse of the temple, that there might be food in His house. ) This act took faith on the part of the young widow, Ruth. She was a Moabite, a hated enemy of Israel living in a foreign country. Her language may have been a barrier. She is a widow also- so in a society where a woman is a 2nd class citizen, she is also a widow,with no provider or human protector; and a foreigner in addition from the country Moab, hated by the Israelites. It took an act of faith on her part to even go out alone and into the field. She is in a very vulnerable position. She offers up a prayer- ‘ let me now go to the field and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I will find grace.” Where God guides-He provides. Ruth is industrious. She is willing to work hard. She also has faith the God of Israel will lead her and provide for her.   She comes to a field , not knowing whose field it is, and there she gleans. The field ‘turns out’ to belong to Boaz. Let us note the sequence of events- going back over 10 years, Elimelech’s decision to go to Moab during a famine, a mistake on his part, that God will work together for good. His two sons marrying Moabite women and the dying- all appear to be a tragedy. Thus the return to Bethlehem where there is now food. They return at harvest time following the Passover and the field she happens to have selected belonged to Boaz. These lands would be the very lands, where David would tend his father’s flocks years later. Providence meets hard work through faith in God’s guidance and promises. As football coaches are fond of saying: Luck is when opportunity meets preparation. In other words providence does not favor the lazy. This is why we are to wait on the Lord and do good. James also reminds us – faith without works is dead. Ruth had faith and she was willing to work. Providence at work. Ezekiel saw the providential working of God in a vision which depicted God’s Throne that was moved here and there by ‘ wheels within wheels’ a complex, magnificent structure that pictures the awesome sovereignty of God who supervises everything and keeps it running.
  2. We must live by the Grace of God. Ruth’s prayer that morning was ‘ in whose sight I shall find grace.(KJV) ‘ What is grace? Undeserved favor. Favor bestowed on one who does not deserve favor. The channel of that grace will be through the man of Boaz. We have already been told Boaz is a man of standing and a kinsman of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech. His first words reveal what kind of man Boaz is in his greetings to the harvesters: “ The Lord be with you!” Can you not see his smiling face? Boaz loves his people, he loves hard work and hard workers. He prays for his workers. The admire him also they respond with “ The Lord bless you.” Is this not how the workplace should be? Boaz has a foreman- so he inquires of him – who is the young woman? ( Referring to Ruth) Obviously she has caught Boaz’s attention. Perhaps Ruth is a lovely young woman- we do not know. In my opinion- in Gods Providence- Boaz was in the beginning stages of falling in love. Not only is it harvest time. Not only did Ruth have the faith and courage to go work in the fields to glean grain for her and Naomi- she prayed she would find grace in the eyes of whose field she gleaned. She did not just happen to pick Boaz’s field, it was the providential will of God. At the same time, God led Boaz to this very field at the same time and placed Ruth where she was in Boaz’s sight. God was about to create a relationship that would completely alter her and Naomi’s circumstances and the circumstances of history. Now the picture of a kinsman redeemer is clearly portrayed here. Boaz is a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ in His role as kinsman redeemer and also as bridegroom of the church. Like Ruth, we were outside the family of God as lost sinners. We were spiritually bankrupt and starving with no good thing about us that we should deserve God’s favor. But God took the initiative to make a way for us to enter into His family and all His provisions – just as we will see Boaz.

Grace always means God makes the first move to come to our aid. He comes to our aid, not because we deserve it, but because He loves us. We love him, because He first loved us.( IJohn 4:19) Our kinsman redeemer, the Lord Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners.

Boaz as a type of kinsman redeemer, takes the first steps to meet Ruth’s needs. I believe because Boaz is a type of the Lord Jesus, Boaz first loved Ruth, perhaps from the first time he saw her.

Boaz first speaks to Ruth, for Ruth knew she must not speak to him first. Is it not amazing to you – that God through Jesus Christ has first spoken to us! “ God has spoken in these last days to us by His Son.” ( Hebrews 1:1-2) He speaks to us in His Grace. He will instruct us in the way of salvation- His gift to us. He will guide us with His eye. He will direct our path and the way we are to walk. In doing so, He promises to provide our needs and protect us.

Watch how Boaz speaks to Ruth. “ My daughter, listen to me.” Not ‘hey you’- but ‘my daughter’. Perhaps he called her that because she was younger, or maybe used it as a term of endearment. But already, Boaz is treating her like a family member. He tells her: “ Do not glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch the field where the men are harvesting and follow after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the jars the men have filled.” This means Ruth would follow immediately after the reapers and get the first gleanings, the best part. Does not our Redeemer, the Lord Jesus promise to guide us with His counsel and afterwards receive us to glory? Has not Jesus shared with us his riches of mercy and love and grace? I did not deserve it. I did not merit it. It was all of grace. And now He instructs me how I should walk.

Ruth’s Reaction:

“At this she bowed down with her face to the ground. She exclaimed , “ Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me- a foreigner?” ( Ruth 2: 10) Ruth had prayed she would find grace in the eyes of the one in whose field she gleaned- her prayer has been answered. A prayer that God loves to answer of every sinner- hungry for salvation.

Ruth response was one of humility and gratitude. She knew she had done nothing to deserve this grace, this unmerited favor. I had done nothing to deserve the Lord Jesus’s love. I was certainly not worthy of His sacrifice. But He did it anyway. “ Were it not for grace, I can tell you where I’d be- wandering down some pointless road to nowhere my salvation up to me.” WERE IT NOT FOR GRACE.

 

Boaz’s Response:

“ I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband- how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”  The Lord knew everything about me and He still loved me and died for me, sacrificed from me- amazing love – how can this be – a savior, a king would die for me?

Boaz’s grace is in response to Ruth’s faith. ( For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is a gift of God, not works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:8,9)   Boaz recognizes Ruth has taken shelter under the wings of God. God is the source of blessing- but Boaz is the one through whom God delivers its. Ruth is now looking at her kinsman redeemer as the one who will provide her with all she needs for life. We are told in Hebrews 12 to fix our eyes on Jesus- the author and finisher of our faith. The enemies of your soul- the world, the flesh and devil want you to fix your eyes on your circumstances instead. The enemy wants you to look to the world for the solutions to your problems – not God and His promises.

“ Look at self and be distressed; Look at others and be depressed. Look at Jesus and you’ll be blessed.” And we are blessed- so that we might bless others.

Ruth then replies to Boaz: “ May I continue to find favor in your eyes my lord. You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant- though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls.” At mealtime Boaz invites her to eat with him and shares his bread with her. After she leaves, Boaz tells his men- to leave some extra bundles of grain for her to pick up and not rebuke her.

Question: Do you pray each day that you will continue to do the things that find favor in the eyes of the Lord?

Ruth gleaned in the field the rest of the day until evening. She had accumulated an ephah of barley. A substantial amount that would feed her and Naomi for weeks.

At dinner as she and Naomi talk about the events of the day, as Naomi would be eager to know what had occurred. Where did you glean today? Whose field was it?

When Ruth tells her it is Boaz. Hope happens in the heart of this bitter woman. Boaz is a close relative –he is our kinsman redeemer! The Lord has not stopped showing His kindness to us .

So Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz and did just as he had instructed her.

Should we not rejoice in Jesus Christ our Kinsman Redeemer? Follow His instructions and do what He has told us to do. There is no reason to be hopeless for He has promised to take care of us and never place more on us that we can bear. He will never leave us or forsake us. Follow his instructions. For He has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him. Do you know Him? He is the God of all hope.

What we are reading about in the story of Ruth is a story of hope that does not disappoint us. It is not a story of unfounded optimism, but a story of hope based on the blessed assurance of God’s love and His promises to us. Ruth’s hope is not unfounded is it? It is based on the promises of Boaz that invokes confidence and trust in a man of standing.

Our source of hope is in Almighty God who has promised to work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Paul quotes from Isaiah 64 in I Cor. 2:

“ No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.”

“ Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is in us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever. Amen.” ( Ephesians 3: 20.21)

Question: Do you believe God is able to do immeasurable more than all you can ask or imagine according to His power that is in you as a believer? Maybe a better question is not do you believe He can- but do you believe He will?

Ruth and Naomi are going to find relief from their suffering- redemption from their kinsman redeemer. They are going to find hope that will not disappoint.

Like Ruth- we do not need to look in any other fields that what our Kinsman Redeemer has provided. The grass always looks greener on the other side- but things are not what they seem. The Lord Jesus our Kinsman Redeemer can supply all our needs. And He knows we need hope that does not disappoint.

So I trust Him to supply me and mine with hope- for He is the God of All Hope.

Boaz is committed to protecting Ruth and Naomi. He has given them hope that will not disappoint.

Do you realize God’s love protects you? It is like a garment He spreads over you.

Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. ( I Cor.

Ruth

Ruth

Ruth: Hope in a Hopeless Situation

Hope is defined as : “ a feeling ( emotion) of expectation and a desire for certain things to happen”. We all have to have hope. “ Now faith is being sure of what you hope for…” (Hebrews 11.) This is a story of hope linked to faith in Almighty God. Romans 15 tells us: “.everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through endurance and the encouragement of Scriptures, we might have hope.” And later on in that same chapter, Our God is described as the “ God of all Hope.” We know and believe God does not change. When God gives you a promise, He will keep that promise for it is impossible for God to lie. So we have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure. When a ship faces a storm in the open seas, it drops its anchors to ride out the storm or else it risks being blown off course. Even in the harbor, one drops the anchors in the case of sudden storms that cause the ship to collide with other ships and suffer damage. Build your home on the rock, the solid foundation the Word of God and it does not mean you will not have storms, it means your home will not fall.

Life is hard. Sometimes we turn a corner and run into unexpected problems- we must make a decision. But actually the decision must be made before hand. For you see when this occurs, there will be the temptation to take the path of least resistant, the easy way out- to manipulate our way around the problem. Sometimes we take the world’s solution and a shortcut to get away from the problem. Beverly Sills the acclaimed opera soprano said: “ There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going.”

God wants us to become people who are committed to trusting Him in His character and His promises, and that requires faith. “ Now faith is being sure of what we hope for…” God’s way is usually the harder way, for it is by this route that He shapes our character and strengthens our faith. It requires that you are committed totally to His Will, and must be willing to submit to the refining process. This is not just a story of hope in a seemingly hopeless situation. Ruth and Naomi are helpless- but not hopeless. And it is because of the commitment of Ruth. God is our very present help in time of trouble.   If we obey God in life, everything holds together. If we disobey God- everything will begin to fall apart.   This little story is packed with great truths and encouragement: hope, love, a beautiful picture of our Kinsman Redeemer, and commitment we see in the life of this young Moabite widow,Ruth.

The story of Ruth is connected to the book of Judges, for the setting is in the time of Judges. Verse 1 tells us: “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah , together with his wife and two sons went to live for a while in the country of Moab.”

As we just completed our study of Judges, we realized it was one of the most disturbing stories in the Bible which was magnified by the fact that it was God’s people who were doing the most disturbing things imaginable.

The first verse tells us this man, Elimelech , his wife Naomi and two sons- Mahon and Kilon left Judah to go and dwell in the country of Moab due to the famine. It reminds us of the time Abraham went to Egypt during the famine.(Genesis 12). Abraham was trying in his own wisdom to solve his problem. When he went down to Egypt- it was a picture of a believer turning to the world to solve his problems in their own wisdom. Abram immediately had to lie about his relationship with Sarah and the Pharaoh took her into his harem. Abram benefitted from the arrangement temporarily as the Pharaoh treated Abram well for Sarah’s sake, believing him to be her brother. But it would have lasting consequences ( Hagar) as God had to rescue him from his own wrong decisions.

And thus our story of Ruth begins with a man of God, ( the name Elimelech means “My God is King”) and he was from Bethlehem, a name which means” House of Bread”. However this man’s action are contrary to what his name means and like Abram he turns to the world to solve his problem.

We know from our study in Judges, the cycle that continued was rebellion against God, followed by judgment and then deliverance. Based on this, we can assume the famine in Bethlehem was the judgment of God on the disobedient people of Israel of whom we read time after time- ‘ there was no king in Israel and everyone did as they saw fit.’ Yet here is a man whose very name says- My God Is King.

Elimelech seems to have forgotten what his very name means and tries to solve his problem with his own wisdom, and does what we often do when trouble strikes out- we try to avoid the problem- run from it. Depend upon our own wisdom and the resources of the world rather than turning to our Almighty God who has promised to meet all our needs.

This is a small story, only four chapters, about a small family. As we have seen from the very beginning God has focused on the family with detailed instructions of the role of father, mother, and children. The story of Ruth is a story within a story. It is the story of a sovereign God working all things together for good in spite of the sinful choices of men.

The story will from the very beginning appear to be a series of losses and suffering that make one wonder is God at work here ? Yet in the darkness of this story- we see the light of hope in Jesus Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer who came into a dark world as the light of the world.

It is a story of hope in the midst of heartbreak after heartbreak. We have seen passages in Judges where the character in the narrative goes un- named. Yet here we are given the names of all the characters – so there must be a reason behind the names. We have discovered what Elimelech’s name means- My God is King. Naomi’s name means Sweet/Pleasant. The names of the two boys mean ; Sick and Decay/Dying.   Orpah means ‘ gazelle’ and Ruth mean- ‘friendship’.   The father is the leader and head of the family, but he has left God out of his decisions. His two sons marry Gentile women, which was forbidden by their law.

We are told in quick succession, Elimelech dies, his two sons who were aptly named, die and Naomi finds herself in a foreign country having buried a husband and her only two sons and left with two foreign daughter-in-laws who are now widowed. Three widows in a foreign country. All of this has occurred in a 10 year period.

Naomi’s life has been emptied of everything she treasured, husband, two sons, no grandchildren and only two foreign widowed daughter-in-laws. Empty. Hopeless. And Bitter.

A father and husband whose name means – My God is King- does not consult the One known as Wonderful Counselor. A wife whose name means Sweet/Pleasant becomes bitter. Two sons whose name mean Sick/Weak and Dying have passed away.

Naomi receives word the Lord has come to the aid of his people and there is food back in Bethlehem. Remember what Jesus called himself- ‘ The Bread of Life.’ Where was Jesus born? In Bethlehem, the House of Bread. Naomi tells her daughter-in-laws to go back to their homes and find husbands. Both refuse to do so- Naomi insists : “ it is more bitter for me than for you, for the hand of the Lord has gone against me.”

In fact, Naomi blames God for all her problems. She is so hopeless. Listen to the lists of her problems and know this is all she has been doing, making a list of all that God has done against her: 1. I have nothing to give you. 2. I am a widow too old to work. 3. I have no more sons to give to you in marriage. 4. I am a bitter old woman and God has done this to me. He is behind this famine, the trip to Moab, the death of my husband and two sons.

Now at this point in the story, looking at the circumstances we cannot help but empathize with Naomi and perhaps agree she has certainly suffered much loss.

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye and went back to her family. She lived up to her name- Gazelle, and runs off.

Now we will look at where do we find HOPE in a time of suffering. The stage is set- the small family is in misery, hurting and suffering. Where do they find HOPE? For I can testify as many of you can- one of the most devastating emotions to experience is the emotion of hopelessness.

When trouble comes into our lives, we can do one of three things: endure it; escape it, or enlist it. If we only endure it- the problem becomes our master, doesn’t it? We become hardened and bitter, the chronic grouch, pessimists and person with no expectations of anything good. If we try to escape our troubles, we might be able to for a while, but sooner or later, we will encounter them again. We will also, as believers, miss what God is trying to do through the trials and troubles He allows. The third way is to enlist the troubles and trials so they become our servants and not our masters. You know what you need to do? Thank God for this trouble, problem,or crisis in your life. This means we must believe Romans 8:28 that God will work all things together for our good and His glory. This requires one to walk by faith and not by sight. How do you walk by faith? We read this in the Scripture over and over- but how does one actually do this? We walk by faith when we claim the promises of God and obey the Word of God, in spite of what you see, feel or whatever may happen. When a Christian lives by faith, it glorifies God, witnesses to a lost world, and builds our faith and Christian character.

How does one respond to suffering? First of all know this, it is not a matter of IF suffering will occur but WHEN suffering will occur.   When it does occur, how will you respond?   Here are the options and responses:

  1. Will I believe God is in control of the situation?
  2. Will I follow Him, trust Him,even if He does not get me out of it?
  3. Will I run away?
  4. Will I try to solve it myself with the world’s solutions?

Suffering is real. It hurts. It keeps us awake at night. It makes us cry out. It makes us desperate and yes, sometimes,it makes us feel hopeless.

There are all types of problems among God’s people thjs very day. Financial, physical, sickness, loved ones in trouble, no jobs, young people with school loans trying to find meaningful work, a world around us which seems to lurch from one crisis to another without any permanent solutions.

The enemy is attacking God’s family and creating this emotion of hopelessness that is leading some of us to doubt God is really in control, has our best intentions in mind, and can God’s Word and His Promises be claimed with confidence?

Let’s look at the characters so far and their response to trouble:

Elimelech controls his suffering by hoping in himself. He walks by sight and not by faith. Need bread- go where there is bread. He puts his hope in his own intelligence, his own wisdom, his own abilities. We do not see or hear Elimelech praying to God and seeking God’s direction in this time of suffering. He does not repent of his sin. He does not seek wise godly counsel. He is pursuing what is needed for his life and life of his family- we all understand that, don’t we? Yet Jesus said, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. God has promised to supply all our needs. Elimelech leads his family to a pagan land full of foreign gods. By his very actions he teaches his sons you have to do what you have to do to solve your problems. Elimelech does what is’ right in his own eyes.’ When Elimelech left Bethlehem and went to the land of the enemy- he honored the enemy of the Lord by trusting the enemy to supply his needs rather than God.

Orpah runs from suffering. Her hope is in false gods. If we will be honest, we can understand her decision as reasonable. Go home, start over, find another husband among your own people. Forget about this God of Israel. Orpah never did believe in the God of Israel and now she decides the best thing to do is go back to the god she had before. The pain of tragedy upon tragedy will reveal whether one’s faith in God is real or not. For some joining the church is like joining a well meaning civic club. Orpah wants a god that is easy to follow and promises to provide happiness, love, satisfaction and joy without any problems or heartaches. She will run from one god to another to find satisfaction in her life.

Naomi sits in suffering. She will not be comforted. She is bitter. Her hope is in nothing. She is by her own description- a bitter old woman. A widow who has lost her two sons. When she returns to Bethlehem and the neighbors comes out to greet her by her name, Naomi. ( Remember this means God is Sweet.) Her response- my name is Mara- bitter. She blames God for all the calamity that has befallen her. She is overwhelmed with grief that turns into bitterness which produces hopelessness.

One of the dangers of bitterness is it blinds us to the truth. Sometimes we suffer and are in trouble because of our sin or the sins of others. But suffering is also used by God to bring about His plans. ( Just look at Calvary- where Christ died, the Just for the unjust.) Today you often hear people in America say- ‘ our government is broken; our schools are broken; the family unit is in a mess, our economy is broken. Realize the Bible reveals God uses brokenness to rescue a broken world of broken individuals. He is too wise, to be mistaken. He always uses the best method to get the best results for the most people for the longest period of time.

I wonder if Naomi did not want these two daughter-in-laws to go back to Bethlehem with her because she was ashamed of what she and her husband had allowed. Was she covering up her sin? In addition what kind of witness is she to these two young women? Would you want to follow the God she blames for all her problems?

Orpah turns back- but not Ruth.

 

How does Ruth react to suffering? This non-Jew, a Moabite whose name means friendship. Remember also we have a friend who sticketh closer than a brother, who will never leave us or depart from us. Ruth will not leave her mother-in-law in this condition. Ruth is a picture of commitment. She sticks- when everyone else is leaving. Everything around her presented obstacles. The enemy may have had her targeted for more reasons that are not obvious. If not in the beginning, her very words tell us she is the one with a believing faith in the God of Israel. Now perhaps you will begin to see why God has chosen Ruth as an important ancestor in the line of the Lord Jesus.

Listen to one of the most encouraging and brave speeches made and think of the backdrop against which this confession is made.   “ Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”   An expression of true love and loyalty- often used in wedding vows. For this is a love story.

How does Ruth react to suffering? With unwavering hope in faith in God. She does not confuse being helpless with being hopeless.

Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of bitterness.

In everything give thanks- including the suffering you are now undergoing.

God is not only for us- He is with us!

As we approach a New Year, let us think of it as a new beginning. Yes we have an adversary- but we also have an Advocate.

God has not abandoned us. He is at work. And He is working all things together for those who love Him and were called for and to a purpose.

Do not try and control your suffering- this leads to hope in self or the world, not God.

Do not try and run from it – for you will run toward false gods with empty promises.

Do not sit and be bitter- hoping nothing.

“ He gives strength to the weary and increases power to the weak. Even youths grow weary and young men stumble and fall, but who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” ( Isaiah 40)

Our hope is in the Lord. He is the God of all hope. If you are without Him, you are without hope. I have been there- and hopelessness is a dark, depressing, place to be. Fortunately I saw the Light- the Light of the World who broke through the darkness of my sin and gave me life.

“ In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The true Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” ( john 1)