RUTH: QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION
Ruth 1:1-22
By Pastor Ralph Juthman
INTRODUCTION:
Illustration- Ladies/Men Answer this Question, what is the title of your favotite movie, TV show or book ( other than the Bible).
There are obvious differences. Personally, I like movies/tv shows and books that contain lots of action. If there is not a heart stopping car chase or something blowing up, then it really does not interest me much.
Romance novels or movies are particularly uninteresting to me. However, once in a while a story comes around that piques my interest.
IN the Bible there are two books that many men overlook because of heir content. Ruth and Song of Solomon might be considered by some men to be irrelevant for their macho image.
Yet, this small four chapter book, is more than a fairy tale or romantic novel. It was written by the prophet Samuel, and details the events that occurred during the time of the judges.
Many bed time stories begin with “Once upon a time, a long time ago, in a far away land, in a beautiful palace, there lived a beautiful princess.”
While it was written a long time ago, in a far away land it did not involve a castle, princess or Prince charming. The story of Ruth is a glimpse into the lives of ordinary, though godly people, during one of the most turbulent time of Israel’s history. Someone has described it as ‘an oasis of faithfulness in an age marked by idolatry and unfaithfulness.”( Ryrie Study Bible Notes)
The book of Ruth has been called "the most beautiful short story in the world." It deals with ordinary people living in difficult times. Ruth is also a story of God’s invisible hand weaving Himself through the circumstances, events a seasons of people like you and me.
Theologians call this, PROVINENCE; it’s the story of how God providentially guides and blesses all who trust Him
The word Providence: means God orchestrates everything to accomplish His purpose. It is voiced in the verse from Romans 8:28 that encourages us,
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.
Our journey begins in Chapter 1 where we discover,
1. In the Darkest times God is in Control: ( Read 1-5)
It must not have been easy living in those days. These were dark days for Isreal, when ‘everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” ( Judges 21:25). But even during dark and dreadful days, God has his people who continue to follow Him.
God had set aside two people, a husband and wife to be lights in a very dark time.
The man’s name was Eleimelech, or ‘God is my King”. Can you imagine living everyday, and whenever someone called your name it was a testimony and reminder that God was still Lord, even in troublesome times?
Then there was Naomi or Beautiful One. Her name suggests both inner as well as outer beauty. His was a woman who had the goods. Not only would she turn heads when she walked into a room, but her inner character shown through like a bright beacon of light in a corrupt world.
So, you have Elmelech, God is my King, and Naomi, beautiful one together. During dark and troublesome times that is what you want to know. God is Lord, and he gives strength to live with goddly character.
However, even a godly couple like Elimelech and Naomi could not avoid times of trouble. Take their children for instance. Eleimelech and Naomi had two sons. Their names were Mahlon which literally means ‘puny’ and Chilon or ‘Pining”. I will refer to them as ‘Skinny’ and “Stinky”
The Bible says that “…there was a famine in the land.” The Lord had given Isreal a clear promise, If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.
However, if they chose to disregard God’s laws, then … all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: 16 You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. 17 Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed. 18 The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. 19 You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.
As a result of ISreals rebellion, the entire nation had fallen under the judgement of God. Famine had devastated the land, and Naomi and Elimelech were not exempt. Even though they had lived righteous lives, they could not avoid the famine which plagued the land.
The famine was so severe that it even tested the faith of Elimelech. As a result, He made three fatal mistakes. He reasoned that it would be better to live in Moab. He saw that the famine had not affected Moab, and naturally concluded that this would be a good option for his family. He reasoned in his heart that he would just take his family to Moab ‘for a little while’ and would then return to Judah once the famine had subsided.
Now just a couple of things to note, Moab was a foreign nation about 100 miles to the north. Apparently while Isreal was enduring a horrific famine, Moab was enjoying a time of feasting. Their land was fertile and green. The Moabites were also the sworn enemies of ISreal. The Isrealites had been given clear commands from God that they were to have nothing to do with the Moabites.
Nevertheless, Eleimilech, Naomi along with their two boys, Skinny and Stinky left the home of their inheritance and blessing to stay what was meant to be a short vacation.
Next, he took up residence in Moab. The Bible suggests that Elimelech moved his family just across the border, into Moab. He did not go deep into the country. In fact he was probably within eyeshot of Israel. Inspite of his good intentions, Eleimelech remained in Moab.
There is a song that says, “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, it will keep you longer than you want to stay, it will cost you far more than you want to pay.”
Elimelech’s compromise took him farther than he wanted to go, and kept him longer than he wanted to stay. And finally, Elimelech’s sin cost him far more than he wanted to pay.
We are not told how long after the family moved, but Elimelech DIED. His sons married Moabite women, then ten years later they died.
Elimelech lost his livelihood, his integrity, his inheritance and his LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eleimelech and Naomi loved God. They had devoted their lives to God. They were a testimony that even in the darkest times, God is faithful. However, they forgot one other fact,
2. Your choices matter deeply ( read 6-15)
There was almost nothing worse than being a widow in those days. There was no government social welfare. There were no seniors home to care for the aged. Widows were often taken advantage of or ignored. They were almost always poverty stricken.
The law provided for the nearest relative of the dead husband should care for her. But she had no family in Moab, and her daughter in laws woud surly be rejected in ISreal. So Naomi encourages orpah and Ruth to remain in Moab, while she returned to her home anf family in Isreal.
In essence, Naomi had GIVEN UP . The pain of losing her husband, two boys, everything she had ever known had taken its toll. Notice Naomis confession in verse 13, Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD himself has raised his fist against me.”
While this was not true, how many know that depression can make you feel as if even God has forsaken you? You can almost feel Naomi’s sense of despair as she decides to give up on life and God. Her depression is voiced in her encouragement to Ruth and Orpah to turn back to their gods and people.
Orpah chooses to GIVE IN and return to her home. And who could blame her. She had no family or future in Isreal. She would always be considered an enemy of the state. During tough times the temptation is to return to what you have always known, even if it means turning away from what you know is right. The sad result of her decision is that you never hear of her again. She is gone, forever.
It is easy to give up, it is just as easy to give in, but it is difficult to GIVE IT YOUR ALL. Ruth would not allow Naomi to change her mind because she knew that she was not to abandon her mother-in-law even if it meant that she ended up being single the rest of her life. Ruth’s confession dtestifies that,
3. God Providentially guides and blesses all who choose to trust Him (16-22)
Talk about commitment. Not only was Ruth remaining committed and faithful to Naomi, but she was also remaining faithful to Jehovah God. Ruth was turning her back on the gods of her fathers, and devoting her life to serve the One True God of Israel. This would mean abandonment from her family. It would surely mean rejection even by the Israelites. No matter, she had decided that the God of Naomi and Elimelech would be her God.
Young men, That’s the kind of girl you want to bring home to mother. Young ladies, That’s the kind of woman that gets God’s attention. And as we shall see later, that is the kind of character and commitment that will get the attention of Boaz, who would eventually prove to be her ‘Prince Charming.’
( Read 19-22)
Naomi left her home for Moab, Full of God’s blessing. She returns to the House of Bread, EMPTY and bereft of blessing or hope.
Naomi is honest and to the point with her friends and neighbors -- she freely declares she’s now a bitter woman. She even wants them to call her by a different name that means bitter. I went out full -- I came back empty. She doesn’t recognize the reality that she and her husband made a huge mistake leaving. Nor does she know it, but it is God Who brought her and Ruth home. God’s not through. Getting us back where we belong is just the first step of His magnificent moves behind the scenes.
God does overrule again and again -- so His purposes will be fulfilled. Naomi’s emptiness will be filled. Her bitterness will get turned to joy.
The last verse of chapter one sounds anticlimactic, So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
There were two harvests every year in Isreal, in the spring and in the fall. The barley harvest took place in the spring around April. The Jewish calendar was built around the seasons. Each season was celebrated by a feast that would usher in the Promise of God for that season.
Each of the seasons were God’s way of reminding God’s people that He was in control of each day and circumstance of their life. Furthermore, as each season would give way to the next, so to the season and circumstances they were encountering would also pass. As they remained faithful in their season God would provide all that they needed to get ready for the next season of their journay.
Naomi and Ruth had travelled through the season of winter but now were entering the season of spring. This is the season of new life and hope for the future. It was during this time of hope and plenty Ruth and Naomi return to Bethlehem.
Some of you have been wondering where God is. You are in a winter time when God is pruning you and preparing you for the next part of your journey with him. The temptation is to give up on God and give in to your circumstances. You cannot see or feel His presence, but His promise remains that He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Let’s think about some Implications from this chapter. First,
1. Circumstances don’t define your life….God does.
Ever felt as if you were going along and suddenly you’re knocked down by some unexpected circumstance. Everything is out of focus and we begin gasping for our spiritual breath. Nothing seems to matter then except our circumstances.
• It may be a tragedy.
• It may be a physical illness.
• It may be that a relationship breaks up.
• It may be the plant where we are working is closing down.
• It may be our children are having problems.
• It may be our finances are in trouble.
• It could be one of a hundred things.
How you choose to respond to your circumstances will determine the direction you will walk.
Elimilech was a man who knew God. Yet, he chose to walk away from the security of God’s presence and provision. Elimelech chose to GIVE IN to compromise. I would like to ask Eleimilech, Why did you do it? You are a believer. Your very name says that God is your King, so how could you make such a decision and give in to compromise?
His answer would be something such as,
‘There’s a famine, and if I don’t do something now sooner or later my family will starve”
But Elimelech, God has promised to provide for His people. God’s word says ‘Not to worry about your life, what you shall eat or drink or what you will wear for clothes. God will take care of all that.”
There is a famine in the land because God has forsaken Isreal, so I might as well go somewhere else. Moab is prospering. There is no famine there. The land is rich and fertile. Besides, I am not going to be there long. I will only stay a short while.
But Eleimilech, God’s word warns us, Deuteronomy 11:16-17: “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.,
“I know God has forbidden any association with the Moabites. I know they are the enemy of Isreal. I know they are cruel, idol worshippers. But hey, God is my King. I am strong enough to withstand temptation.
Elimelech allowed the circumstances to define his life and direct his decision, rather than God.
Three verses to remember,
1 Peter 4:2-3: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed
James 1:2-3: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:12-14
No one is strong enough to withstand temptation on their own strength. Sometimes the right decision, is simply to run away. Most of the time, the right decision is harder to stick with than the wrong decision and what Elimelech simply did was give in. The devil is a master at getting us to give in. The way he does this is he convinces us that doing it his way, (which is always opposite of God’s way) is easier and is the path of least resistance.
2. Be Patient and Wait for God’s timing, because quitting is not an option
There are many in the body of Christ who are becoming of the mindset to just throw in the towel and just give up… I believe that there might be some of you in here today that are just tired of going round and round with the enemy… Tired… Tired of being tired, tired of coming out on what seems like ‘the short end…’
Tired of always feeling like you don’t have enough to make it, that you’re defeated… That you’ll never get ahead… That you’ll never be victorious… And perhaps you’ve come to that point in life where you’re just ready to give it up…! You’re ready to just throw in the towel… You just want to grab your bible and go home…
For those of you who feel like that, you need to know that God has a Word you for today… It may not make you feel good, but it’s the Word that’s for you… It may not feel good to you, but it’s good for you… For those of you ready to throw in the towel and give up, the Lord would have me to tell you today simply this: QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION…!
I know you’re tired…
You’re ready to give up…
You’re discouraged…
It doesn’t seem like God hears you…
You can’t get a prayer through…
You can’t get a breakthrough…
But Holy Spirit says: QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION…!
(Text…) And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (NKJV)… And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. (Amp)… So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. (NLT)
This means, they may drive you to despair, but mom and dad don’t give up on your kids. Your husband/wife may not understand you, but don’t give up on your marriage. It feels as if God has foraken you, but don’t give up on God. God is in control. He is moving though you cannot see Him. Wait. Be patient because QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION! Be Patient and Wait for God’s timing, because quitting is not an option
