Desperate choice

 Ruth 1:4-18; 7/10/2022; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang

 Introduction

The biblical writer’s pen was so fast that he carried the lives of Elimelek and his two sons Mahlon and Kilion in one stroke, as if their lives had nothing to write about.  They were obviously Israelis and the people of God, but now they are not written by God, and instead He is writing about Gentiles, even Moabites.  One is named Orpah and the other is named Ruth.  Let’s look at the first point:

 Ten years of ups and downs

Ten years is not short enough to write the overview and turning point of life.  Elimelek’s ten years included himself and his two sons,  including the two daughters-in-law they married in Moab. First, bringing bad luck to the husband or to divorce the wife.  When life encounters life and death matters, it is reasonable to be confused in the heart.  But it’s hard to ask why, right?   The so-called “bringing bad luck to husbands” or divorce in our culture cannot be the explanation for life.  It is easier for men to say that this woman’s look is bringing bad luck to husband.  It’s just that God didn’t give the men in this family a chance to say this, because they are all dead. The women of this family don’t even need to divorce,  they are free and can marry again.   Even those of us today will find a spiritual way out or a reason for Ruth.   It would be better if Elimelek led the whole family to Moab in order to prepare Ruth, and even left his own and his two sons’ lives in Moab.  Do you think this is the way God arranged?

Second, bad luck or grace.  In fact, God has been giving grace and blessings in the cursed life, agree?  It is obvious that Elimelek went astray like a sheep and turned to his own way.  When Bethlehem suffered a food shortage, it was no longer as simple as a natural disaster.   To say that you are unlucky is an act of cowards!  Why not bravely come before God in prayer and petition?  There is no food in the granary of the elect, and there is an inescapable responsibility for the Judge Ehud hooked up to Moab.  The decline of overseas Chinese churches in recent years is not unrelated to the fact that some church leaders and pastors have taken the lead to collude with the Antichrist regime.  People are doing it, and God is watching!

Lastly, escape or return.  The wages of sin is death, and Elimelek, who turned away from God and dishonored the Lord’s name, paid the price with his life, along with his two sons.  How to do? What is Naomi, the remaining widow, going to do?  With what kind of mood?  An Israeli woman married an Israelite,  in the land of Moab, which God displeased,  “heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them.”  Should this information be what she had been taught at home by her parents since she was a child? Or should it be taught from the mouth of Elimelek, the head of the household and spiritual leader?  Apparently, Naomi is still lost in their family’s 10 years of ups and downs.  Is it to escape or return, who can say clearly?  But isn’t the desperation of man an opportunity for God to bestow grace?  Let’s look at the second point:

 Common choice

In people’s eyes, Naomi’s return to Bethlehem is a natural choice, right?  But it is easy to go up the mountain and difficult to go down.  Likewise, going out is easy, but going home is hard!  How will Naomi get home? First, leave the land of Moab.  If she doesn’t leave the sad place of Moab at this time, when will she wait?  Of course, we don’t see any change in Naomi’s spiritual life.  I believe the Holy Spirit was at work in Naomi’s heart, causing her to leave the place where she lived with her two daughters-in-law and go back to Judah without saying a word.  It’s not terrible for people to make mistakes, but it is horrible if not turning back.  It is normal for people to sin,  but it is serious if they do not repent.  The most important thing in repentance is to leave, to leave the place of sin, to leave the origin of sin.  Since it was a mistake to come to Moab in the first place, of course the first step in repentance is to leave Moab!  To stop, to leave the point of sin, and to go in the right direction is the way of repentance.  Dear brothers and sisters, where is your land of Moab?  Where is your point of repentance?  Where is your Bethlehem?

Second, go back to your home.  As soon as Naomi went out, she realized that things were not that simple.  When they went out, they were all chosen by God,  but when they returned home, there were two more Gentiles, the two Moabites who were not pleased by God. Then go back to your own home and find your own mother!  Naomi was obviously a good mother-in-law and was very considerate of the situation of her two daughters-in-law.  She said to them: “Return home, my daughters; Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?  Would you remain unmarried for them? (Ruth 1:11, 12, 13)” The mother-in-law does not speak, and the daughter-in-law proposes to leave.  Although it is understandable, it is emotionally difficult after all.  But today, the mother-in-law put all her words into consideration, and every word is on her mind, so what are you waiting for?  The eldest daughter-in-law kissed her mother-in-law and said goodbye.

Finally, go to your own god.   It stands to reason that the youngest daughter-in-law, Ruth, had no reason to stay.  However, Naomi’s words stirred Ruth’s sensitive nerves. she says: “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” (Ruth 1:15) ”  ”That’s right, it’s the phrase “Go to your own god!” Who is my god?  The question of this ultimate concern came to Ruth, and she had to face it!  Before she got married, she and her elder sister-in-law, Orpah, worshiped the gods of Moab together, and belonged to the idolatrous race.  However, after ten years of marriage, although Elimelek’s family was not necessarily godly.  However, Ruth actually met God from this family with imperfect faith. This explains that although the church is not perfect, it can still preach the gospel and testify for God!   Let’s look at the third point:

 Unique spiritual quotient

The so-called spiritual quotient is because after encountering God and believing in the Lord, the Holy Spirit and our heart testify together that we are God’s children and have a sense of identity and belonging. First, Ruth had a direction in her heart.  A Gentile woman, especially born in the land of Moab, a nation that will never be allowed to join the assembly of Jehovah,  should have no chance of being saved in her lifetime.  I also seem to be like this.  I was born into an atheist family, nation, country, political party, and growing environment.  My childhood friends, and my circle of friends in the same year, few people believe in God, and they think it is strange that I believe in the Lord.  But God just opened a gap in the wall of my life and showed me the light of eternity.  Seeing that there is light and taking the light as the direction of life is a blessing! Just like ”But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. (Ruth 1:16a)

Second, Ruth had the true God in her heart.  How did that happen?  There was only one reason, and that was Ruth had God in his heart.  She went on to say to her mother-in-law Naomi: “Your people will be my people and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16b)”  Don’t believe that there is eternal love in this world, and don’t be superstitious about love, family, and friendship. Unless, unless the love of man is connected with Jesus Christ.  After ten years of marriage, Ruth had no children, no money or wealth, but the only thing he got was the true God!  For this reason, our trust in her can be fulfilled.   A promise without God and not of God cannot be trusted either.

Lastly, Ruth has a decision in mind.  Because Ruth has God and direction in her heart, her decisions can be trusted.  She said to Naomi: “Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”(Ruth 1:17)”  This sentence refers to an oath before God, which is like a marriage covenant, and also seems to be a testimony of baptism:  “I have decided to follow Jesus and never look back!”   In fact, every child of God has a unique vision, A person with high spiritual quotient.

Conclusion

Thank God!  Life is full of opportunities to make choices, do you agree?  In the confusion of culture, in the entanglement of the world, everyone needs to make a decision!  Wars are coming, plagues are ravaging, earthquakes are frequent,  will the day of the Lord’s coming be far behind?

Let us pray……

 

Ruth 1:4-18

4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 

7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 

9 May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”  Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 

10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?

12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 

13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!”

14 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”

16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to 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. 

17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 

18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.