Redemption in Ruth

Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there.

1. Why Moab

Moab, east of the Jordan River and Dead Sea, received an annual rainfall of about sixteen inches a year, which provided a number of springs and rivers.

The sudden rise of the winds from the Jordan Valley could get more moisture out of the clouds.

so, Moab often sustained or escaped a famine.

2. The Journey

they travelled bout 30-60 miles, depending on the route taken.

the maximum rate of travel on foot was about twenty miles a day.

As the terrain is rugged and steep, the trip is estimated to take 7-10 days on foot.

here we see taking matters into your own hands and not giving them to God

(which will not go well)

In fact they are now leaving God to seek comfort and rest from an evil nation.

Just a few generations before (in

Numbers 14:4) the Israelites were complaining about the dificulties of the wilderness and wanted to go to Egypt.

However God stayed faithful and eventually Israel entered the promised land through Jericho.

Now Elimelech is passing back through Jericho to go back to the world.

and God is letting him....

but just like Israel with Egypt, Judah with Babylon, and the 10 tribes with Assyria, God will bring them back to the land.

Even in 1948 God brought back the Jews to Israel after about 1800 years being away from the land.

Even in the last days God will bring Israel back to their land. Rev. 14

Teaching us that even when God’s people leave, that if we repent and seek Him

He is faithful to bring us back!

But here we see them leaving.

The New King James Version Ruth 1:3

3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.

3. The dangers of being a widow

In most rural areas, women had no political or economic status so there was pretty much no way to make a living

(they were pretty much dependant on the husband.

After her husband’s death, normally a widow had to rely on her sons for support;

when that happens if she had none, she might have to sell herself into slavery, resort to prostitution, or die.1

you actually can read about this in Amos 7:17 (judgement) (Israels wifes will be harlots)

Psalm 68:5; Psalm 146:9; Jer 49:11 - God is a defender of widows.

Psalm 68:5 NKJV

A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation.

Psalm 146:9 NKJV

The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked He turns upside down.

Jeremiah 49:11 NKJV

Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; And let your widows trust in Me.”

read

Ruth 1:4–15 NKJV

Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread. Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!” Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

4. Summary of it All

From Bethlehem Naomi and Elimelech& and their 2 sons (Mahlon, and Chilion) leave because of a famine to Moab.

Naomi probably had married in her mid-teens and had likely borne her two sons by age twenty.

The two sons marry Moabite woman (Orpah, and Ruth) (in mid teens)

The Father, Elimelech and the two sons ((Mahlon, and Chilion) die.

Leaving Naomi in a difficult position as a widow without sons to take care of her in a foreign land.

So Naomi being a widow struggles to provide and survive, and is responsible for Orphah and Ruth.

Naomi decides to return to Judah (mid 40’s), and gives permission for Orphah and Ruth to return to their own mothers house.

read

The New King James Version Ruth 1:16

16 But Ruth said:

r“Entreat 5me not to leave you,

Or to turn back from following after you;

For wherever you go, I will go;

And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;

sYour people shall be my people,

And your God, my God.

5. Submission from Ruth to Naomi:

Many confuse this to think that Ruth has acknowledged that the God of Israel is the true and living God.

and that she is denouncing her god: which would be Chemosh

The national god of Moab was Chemosh- likely a god of war.

Mesha, a later Moabite king, commented that Chemosh had been angry with the land and permitted Omri to subdue the country

However Ruth is just simply submitting to Naomi

her submission actually continues through verses 17-18:

Ruth 1:17–18 NKJV

Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.” When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.

5. Submission from Ruth to Naomi:

Ruth (mid to upper 20’s) basically is saying that she will not leave Naomi’s side.

Perhaps she had no where else to go…

maybe she loved Naomi that much

maybe both

Whatever it is she is about to be used as a tool in God’s hand to redeem and restore.

Teaching us that God take our situations, circumstances, and how we feel to lead us to where He wants us.

Ruth 1:19–21 NKJV

Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”

6. Their Bethlehem Arrival / Poor Naoimi

Here we see us that Naomi was pretty well known, she was popular.

Maybe because of the great land they once owned?

Maybe selling that land was a huge deal?

it many jobs laid off?

Anyways Naomi, and Ruth get to Bethlehem and the woman were excited to see her back

But Naomi (“pleasantness”) says call me Mara (“bitter”)

because ever since the famine her life had been empty, and still is.

Here we see poor Naomi.

She gets married to a Elimelech who owns a field in Judah

A famine hits the land so Elimelech sells the field and moves to Moab

Based on what we read their time in Moab was not a good one

she says that she left empty and came back empty (v.21)not only that but her husband and her two sons died.she also is left with the responsibility of Ruth and Orphah

Ruth hasnt had an easy life.

It has all fallen apart.

The New King James Version Ruth 1:22

22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem yat the beginning of barley harvest.

7. Barley Harvest:

This would be during Spring which is when Passover, Feast of unleavened bread, and Pentecost is celebrated.

The main produce of the area includes grain crops (wheat and barley) as well as olives and grapes.1

It possible that Ruth also is extra upset because she is seeing the land she once owned doing great.

Conclusion

here we see loss, pain, bitterness,

it all came from Elimelech taking matters into his own hands

and it took God to bring them to nothing....

so he can redeem them so that later they can have more than they could ever imagine!