Ruth - Your God my God

Ruth 1:16 - "Your God my God"

Naomi and her husband's decision of straying out of God's boundary, left her lonely, depressed, empty and in despair. The consequence of the wrong decision also affected her daughters-in-law. Isn't this what sin does? John 10:10 - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

 

Naomi  decides to go back to Bethlehem. But what influenced her to go back? Verse 6 - When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them. God always respond when His people return to Him. 2 Chro 7:14 - "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." But for Noami, there seems another reason for going back. Food. Even after the horrendous experience of straying out of God's will and suffering the excruciating circumstances, it was the felt needs to drew her back to the House of Bread. Wasn't it the reason why she left Bethlehem in the first place. And this is true of many Christians today. Our relationship with God is directly proportional to Him meeting our physical needs. Unlike Job who said, " Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" - Job 13:15. Yet God has been patient. Let's not seek God only for the material but for the spiritual. Even during the time of Jesus, many followed Him because "you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." But Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”-John 6:68-69.

Unlike Naomi, Ruth returned for admirable reason : Noami's God became her God

 Ruth followed Naomi, even though she knew there was no promise of physical security.   Noami was too old to produce a son (verse 12-13). The Israelite will never marry a Moabite woman, let a lone a widow. It was only an old woman and herself. And she is going to a strange land, where she knows nobody else. That takes a lot of faith and courage.

Ruth was willing to leave Moab.   Moab represented sin and the old way of life. Here is a woman, who has a new revelation after coming in contact with Noami and her family. Verse 16 -Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Unlike the Children of Israel who were always longing to go back to Egypt, here is a woman who is willing to forsake her old way of life and look forward to the promised land. No turning back. Following Christ means, leaving everything else and following Him only. Mat 6:24 -   “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 1 Kings 18:21 - "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him."True blessings come when we forsake all and follow Jesus. Until Jesus gets our undivided attention, something else will detract our perception.

She was willing to give up important relations in view of her new relationship. She gave up her relatives, her friends, her gods when she decided to follow the God of Israel. What a sacrifice. Just like Moses in Heb 11:24-25 - "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin". True blessings come when we are willing to give up relationships that will hinder our walk with God. Be bold to say NO to a relationship that will take you away from God. Ruth did. 

 "You can only,  be blessed, And have peace and sweet rest, Until all on the alter, is laid" - A song

She was willing to die for her new found faith.   Verse 17 - Where you die I will die. I wonder how many of us would be willing to give up our lives for Jesus. I am reminded of Daniel's three friends in Daniel 3: 16-18 - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” What a faith, what a commitment. 

Heb 11:35-38 - But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

No wonder God blessed Ruth. She became the great grand-mother of King David through whose lineage, came the Messiah of the world. What an honor, what a blessing.