April 2010 – Ruth 1:3-5

No matter how far we get into Moab,

the LORD is always drawing us back to Him.

Then Elimelech died and Naomi was left with her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion.  They took two Moabite wives – Orpah and Ruth – and lived in Moab 10 years until they also died. Naomi was left bereft of her two sons and her husband.  When she heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. Ruth 1:3-6

We left off last month’s study of Ruth with Naomi soon to experience the result of wrong choices.  Naomi’s impending widowhood followed by the death of her two sons would tax her even further and build in her heart a strong desire to return to Bethlehem.

Although the story of Ruth begins with Naomi despairing at her loss, we will see God as the one who protects widows and who rewards faithfulness with goodness.  Sometimes our circumstances become so overwhelming, that no-one but the LORD Himself can overcome them.  Yet, in the midst of our suffering, God must always been seen as good.

God’s goodness is not just something He does.  His goodness is His character; a goodness that proves Him to be generous to anyone who would turn their life and circumstances over to Him.

For You LORD are good and ready to forgive, and abundant in loving-kindness to all who call upon You. Psalm 86:5 

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

As we read, we see that Naomi had heard that the LORD had ‘visited’ His people and was lifting His judgment from them.  He was bringing food again into the “House of Bread” (Bethlehem).   It is interesting how news of God’s dealings with His people reaches into foreign lands, giving those peoples the opportunity to believe in Him.

When Joshua, Moses’ successor, began to move the Israelites out of the wilderness, over the Jordan and into the promised land, the people of Jericho were fearful of them because they had heard of the Israelites and of the miracles and the protection of their God!

Before the spies lay down for the night, Rahab went up on the roof and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” Joshua 2:8-13

Rahab is another woman of the bible, like Ruth, who was an enemy of God, but who confessed God as the one true God and who was pulled out of certain death and into life therefore.  Rahab and her entire family were spared that day.  Constantly, God shows His favor and love to all who respond to the drawing of His Holy Spirit.

It is very easy to see in our own ‘natural’ lives how we diverge from the LORD’s way.  Often we awaken from our situations to wonder just how it is that we came to be so far from the path and in the weeds.  We got here without even noticing it.

As Christian meets Master Worldy-wiseman in Pilgrim’s Progress and subsequently leaves the road he was to take that would lead him to God, so we find ourselves on foreign soil, troubled and unaware of the danger around us, carrying our own burdens without the benefit of God’s goodness and grace.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30

This scripture of the yoke is not easily understood because we think that Jesus’ yoke was an impossible burden for anyone but God to bear.  However, when we understand how the yoke of oxen work, we realize the significance of it – that when two oxen are yoked together, the stronger of the two bears the most of the weight and the burden.

When we are yoked with the world we take on the world’s ways and difficulties and we carry our own loads.  When we are yoked with God, He takes our burdens and bears them for us.

This image is perfected at the cross where Christ died for our sins, taking the weight of our sins from us – sin that results in death and permanent separation from God – and bearing for us their full weight unto death and then resurrection.

Since this work has been done for us at the Cross, God does not care where we have come from or what we have done.  When Jesus said “It is finished” – the work was truly done.  Completed.  Finished.

When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished”.  With that He bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

What God desires from us is repentance from our worldly ways and choices, our sins – so that we can be reconciled to Him and come into to His presence, His goodness and His favor.

Perverse and foolish oft I’ve strayed,

and yet in love He sought me;

and on His shoulder gently laid,

and home rejoicing brought me.

(The King of Love My Shepherd Is)

No matter how far into Moab we find ourselves, God will always draw us back.  As we study further in the book of Ruth we will see how God’s drawing of Naomi reconciled her to her people and brought Ruth into His presence and a place in history.

Hallelujah that this work is available to all who will receive it from Him.

Dear LORD I thank you for Your work completed on the cross, for forgiving me and bearing my burdens, and for leading me back to the House of Bread.  I pray LORD for the drawing of the Holy Spirit into my heart and mind, and for a renewing of Your Spirit in me.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

If you do not have access to a Bible, you can access the Bible online at the following link:  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ruth%201&version=NASB

This link will take you directly to Ruth Chapter 1.  If you want to go to the next chapter, just type in Ruth 2 in the passage lookup link towards the top of the page and you can go to the next chapter, and so on.  You can also change the translation – by scrolling through the translations at the drop-down box to the right of the passage lookup link.  This translation is New American Standard.