This month we've been looking at the story of Naomi and Ruth. And you know, when we experience disappointment in life, we often feel God is the one who is failing us, and we blame him. Or sometimes we blame ourselves. We tell ourselves, "I'm a loser, why would God ever show his favor to someone like me? I don't deserve it."
Maybe you have been unable to provide comfortable life for your family (1:1)
Maybe you feel all of your opportunity has run dry, and that your only option is to move away from everyone and everything you've ever known, and start over. (1:2)
Maybe a spouse you loved dearly, and built a life around, suddenly died. (1:3)
Maybe tragedy struck, and you lost a child at a young age, or even second child. (1:5)
Maybe your family has been struck by the crisis of infertility, and your hopes of having children, or grandchildren, seem all but lost (1:5).
Disappointments are common. They test our faith in God as much as ourselves.
Maybe you look at your life, and God seems to provide for others, but not you (1:6).
Maybe you feel like a burden to others, because people feel sorry for you, and they feel they have to somehow care for you. (1:8)
Maybe you've started feeling resentment toward a loved because they have their whole life ahead of them while your options are running short (1:9)
Maybe you feel unlovable, because you have so little to offer others (1:11)
Maybe you feel your too old, that there no hope for circumstances to change, that there is no possible way you could ever make up lost time? (1:12)
One game we love to play with God is the "EVEN IF" game. "God even if this... Even if that.... you still wouldn't be able to help someone like me..." (1:12). Our emotions tip people off to the disappointment we feel. Bitterness is common emotion.
Do you ever feel things are so bad, even God's hands must be against you? (1:13)
Do you ever just feel so defeated, you can't stop weeping, even sobbing (1:14)
Have you ever felt you were being abandoned by someone you loved, because they had other family obligations, or didn't worship your God? (1:15)
Bitterness can grow into an all-consuming fire, so much that people no longer sense your "pleasantness" but know you as person full of bitterness? (1:20)
Here is a common disappointment. Maybe you had a dream. You made plans. You were so full of hope. But years later, you returned empty, hanging head in shame. Your plans didn't work out. You feel you squandered all that time and energy. (1:21)
If we're not careful our circumstances can deceive us into believing the lie that God isn't for us, that God isn't gracious, loving, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, an ever present help in times of trouble (1:22). That was NAOMI! Every thing I've just described, seemed true about her life. She was disappointed, bitter.
Be careful the conclusions you draw about God during times of disappointment. God works out his plan in the "fullness" of time. His timeline might be today, tomorrow, next week, a year from now. His plan might extend to future generations. If you're a believer, the Bible says you can be assured. God is working for the good of those love him (Rom 8). But sometimes we're not willing to see it, nor believe, nor trust God. That was NAOMI! Her disappointments mounting. Her bitterness growing. Still, God was working for her good. God is working for your good, even when can't see it.
God Works for Our Good.
It's amazing the way God works for the good of those who love him. What are some ways that God works in the face of extreme disappointment? We need look no further than the story of Naomi and Ruth.
God brings new people, new relationships, into our lives, people that stand stubbornly love us despite how impossible we can be (1:16)
God brings people back into our lives, that we'd long forgot about, or never imagined God would raise up to help us (2:1)
God has a way of giving us gracious opportunities--opportunities we certainly don't deserve, but in his love, is compelled to give anyway (2:1)
God allows us to find favor in the right people's eyes (2:1)
What some attribute to "good luck" is the providential hand of God, ensuring we end up in the exact place, just the right field, where he'd have us be (2:2). God causes just the right people to notice us (2:5).
God puts people in our path who bless us, and remind us God loves us (2:4)
He gives us labor, so we can become productive, and make up lost time (2:7)
He protects us, an keeps us safe from physical harm (2:9)
He moves people to really care, and become responsive to our needs (2:9)
We might be puzzled by this new found favor of God. We might ask, "What have I done to earn such favor from God?" (2:10). It's true that God helps those who help themselves (2:11a). It's true that God honors character, obedience (2:11b) But its also true that God is a God of refuge, and he richly rewards all who come to take refuge and shelter under his wing (2:12).
It doesn't matter what our standing may be (2:13). We can find favor with God just by turning to him, and trusting him, and seeking him with all our heart. We don't have to earn God's favor. No matter what we've done, no matter where we've been, what matters is that seek God as our refuge and shelter. The world has left us battered, but God graciously provides for those who seek him.
Naomi couldn't believe the goodness of God being shown Ruth. Not only did God give her favor, he abundantly provided for her needs. He provided so abundantly Ruth even had leftovers (2:14). He gave her a stress-free work environment (2:15). He made Ruth's work easier, lighter (2:16). He gave Ruth margin's even to care for her mother-in-laws needs (2:18).
Maybe you have a testimony of how God has provided for you. You were disappointed. Like Naomi you were growing bitter. But then God provided.
God Richly Blesses Us.
But God doesn't have in mind to "bless" us. We serve a God who "richly" blesses (2:12). Do you believe God wants to "richly" bless? You never know exactly what God is up to. We walk by faith not by sight. But at just the right time, in his exact way, God shows himself to be extravagantly generous.
Ruth didn't have a home to speak of, nor did Naomi (2:1). What a dream to have your own home, a place to hang your hat, feel safe?
Ruth and Noami didn't know how they would be provided for (2:2). Was it too much to think at their age, both widowed, God could provide for their every need?
Ruth and Naomi began to realize that God was raising up Boaz, and that Boaz was a real keeper! Naomi devises a plan to pressure Boaz (3:3), so that he would see Ruth's interest in him. Naomi's plan seems to unfold perfectly (3:6). Boaz is pleased to learn Ruth has affection for him. But there is one problem. Noami and Ruth are legally obligated to another relative (3:12) whose responsibilities it was to care for them. No matter what they dreamed their lives might become, Boaz and Ruth's relationship could never become a reality. There were legal issues. In fact, Ruth's gesture to Boaz jeopardized her character, and that of Boaz (1:14), by creating the impression they'd slept together, when in fact they had not. With good intentions, Naomi was trying to force something according to her timeline instead of trusting God's timing.
Still God was at work, not just blessing but richly blessing Noami and Ruth. Boaz goes to their nearest relative, and expresses his desire to both care for Naomi and wed Ruth (4:4). Providentially, the relative feared caring for Naomi and Ruth would be a huge financial burden, so before the Elders of the city, he releases Naomi and Ruth to be redeemed by Boaz. This clears the way for Boaz and Ruth to get married, form family.
In Ruth 4:11, the Elders declare the Lord's hand in their marriage. In Ruth 4:13, Ruth becomes Boaz's wife. They make love. The Lord enables her to conceive (which she had been unable to do), and they gave birth to a son. The women also acknowledge the Lord's blessing in this (READ 4:13-15). And of course, no one was more amazed than Naomi herself (READ 4:16-17).
This past week Jimmy Carter shared some very disappointing news. His melanoma has spread to his brain. He explained to the press how he's had to change his plans, reduce his humanitarian workload. But President Carter isn't bitter. He's filled with hope and joy. "I think I have been as blessed as any human being in the world... So I'm thankful and hopeful." "I'm perfectly at ease with whatever comes... I do have religious faith which I am grateful for."
He explained that in whatever happens, "his life is in the hands of God, whom I worship... I'm ready for anything and looking forward to the new adventure." In his press conference he joked about people coming to his little Baptist church for the "curiosity of seeing a politician teaching the Bible." He plans on teaching Sunday school as long as he is able. He rose from being a peanut farmer to serving in the highest office of the land... He's met some of the most powerful people in the world but considers meeting his wife of 69 years, the best thing that ever happened to him!
What's my point? Be careful the conclusions you draw about God during times of disappointment. Don't' let circumstances deceive you into believing the lie that God isn't for us, that God isn't gracious, loving, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, an ever present help in times of trouble (1:22). Learn from Jimmy Carter. Learn from Naomi and Ruth. God loves you, and works to good of those who love him!
GOD RICHLY BLESSES WORLD
The larger headline in the story of Naomi and Ruth is that God wasn't just blessing these two women. In fact, God was blessing the entire nation of Israel. Boaz and Ruth would marry. They would give birth to a son named Obed. Obed with give birth to son named Jesse. Jesse would give birth to a man named David, who would rise to become the great king and deliver of Israel.
But God wasn't just looking out for nation. You see, after David, one would be born through whom God would bless the world. The Gospel Writer Matthew connects the dots.... Matthew 1:5-6... Matthew 1:16.
Every dream of Naomi would be fulfilled... not just through Boaz her new found son, but through Obed, and David, and Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. The Bible says all of God's promises are YES in Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God."