The Tale Of The Unexpected Series

I. The Return to Bethlehem Ruth 1:6-9

1. Naomi has had good news from back home.

a. The Lord had visited His people in giving them bread.

2. Three elements are revealed in the initial moments of the return.

a. Naomi tells the girls to go back to Moab and return to their Moabites families.

b. The concern for their rest, verse 9, she wished them “rest”

1) Is Hebrew “menuchah” and means love, security, peace, form a loving husband.

2) She is encouraging these girls to find another husband.

c. The compassion for relatives. Verse 9

1) They lift up their voices.

2) They wept and kissed one another.

3) Naomi finds herself in exceedingly difficult circumstances. Being chastened by the Lord.

3. When we find ourselves in difficult circumstances because of God’s discipline or the disobedience of another. We can deal with that circumstances in one of three ways.

a. We can smother our sin and try to conceal it like Naomi was doing.

1) Proverbs 28:13

2) Saul, ½ hearted obedience

b. We can surrender and just quit like Orpah did.

c. We can stand up and trust God with our life. This is Ruth’s response.

4. Naomi decided to smother or cover up her disobedience.

5. Our fellowship is restored with the Lord by repentance form our sin returning to the place where we left God’s will for our life.

a. Isaiah 55:7

b. Revelation 2:4

6. The place you get out of God’s plan for your life will be the pace you will return to His will.

7. The return to Bethlehem was a good decision.

8. Why was Naomi strongly urging the girls to return to Moab?

a. May have bee she knew it would be hard for these girls.

b. May have been to cover up her disobedience. She allowed her sons to marry Moabites.

9. Naomi’s counsel is a warning to us that it is dangerous to listen to a backslidden Christian.

II. The Reply of the Girls Ruth 1:10

1. They were intending to return with Naomi.

a. No doubt they had a great love for one another.

b. They were content to stay with her.

c. They were loyal to her.

III. The Reasoning of Naomi Ruth 1:11-13

1. Naomi explains they cannot return with her for she has no more sons that can care for these two young widows.

a. She is referring to the law of Levitical marriage.

b. Deuteronomy 25:5-10

2. Three times she urges them to return to Moab for the Lord’s hand was against her.

3. In verse 12, is the 1st time the word “hope” is used in the bible.

IV. The Responses of the Girls Ruth 1:14-18

1. Look at two different responses of these widows toward Naomi’s counsel.

2. The compliance of Orpah. 1:14-15

a. Orpah was a woman of indecision.

b. Naomi had appealed to her sight, but not her faith.

c. Naomi pressured the girls to go back.

d. Whatever happened to Orpah after this?

3. The defiance of Ruth. 1:16-18

a. Ruth responds different under the same circumstances.

b. Her focus was upon the Lord. Psalm 62:5

c. Ruth determines no matter what the obstacles in life we can trust the Lord.

4. Her statement was one of absolute commitment.

5. As Christians, we should be as committed.

6. The decision Ruth makes here is a crucial one for the history of mankind.

7. Her choice determines the birth of David.

a. We never know what effect our choices have on us and the lives of others.

b. After Ruth invokes the name of God, Naomi lets her alone.

c. She knows now Ruth has made up her mind.

V. The Reactions at Bethlehem Ruth 1:19-22

1. Two different reactions are recorded upon Naomi’s and Ruth’s arrival at Bethlehem.

2. The bafflement of the people. Verse 19

a. The word “moved” about them, means “stirred, noisy commotion, buzzing like bees.

b. It’s been ten years since they have seen her.

3. The bitterness of Naomi. Verses 20-22

a. Naomi tells her friends, “don’t call me Naomi.” Which means pleasant one.

b. She is now a bitter broken woman. “Call me Mara”, bitter or troubled one.

c. Her life goes from pleasant to bitterness.

4. Sin robs us of the sweetness of life.

5. She is blaming God for her circumstances.

6. She tells the people that God brought her back empty.

7. Naomi felt her life was empty.

a. Was Naomi really empty?

b. She failed to recognize the treasure and wealth she had in her daughter in law, Ruth.

c. Are you and I loved and beloved by friends and family?

8. As the curtain closes on chapter 1, we see it is a chapter full of problems that robbed Naomi of her joy.