Ruth 1

I. Naomi'sDeparture--Ruth's Devotion

II. Naomi's Return and Ruth's Response

III. Naomi's Revival- Ruth's Redemption

Ruth chapter 1
Naomi's Departure & Ruth's Devotion

"The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up." 1Sam 2:7

At the time it seemed like the only rational thing to do. There was a famine in the land! If they stayed they faced possible starvation! And her husband made the decision that they should go. Naomi may have known in her heart that going to live among the Moabites who worshipped false gods was not a wise thing to do, raising children in an ungodly environment was not the best choice. But they were strong in their Jewish faith. Surely they would have more influence in the life of their sons than society would?

Living in Moab had devastating results. Sure they were saved from physical starvation...but spiritually they were not fed. There was no corporate worship. There was no fellowship with other believers. They lived in a society that worshipped and made sacrifices to false gods. (Read more about Moab *) And then to add to her pain, both of her sons married Moabite women. Naomi determined in her heart to be a good mother-in-law and to teach them about the one true God.

Running away from the famine did not save them from death, either. Elimelech was the first to go. Naomi's pain as a widow was great, but she had two sons to care for her...she was more fortunate than the widow who was alone and without support. But then the unthinkable happened, both of her sons died. Naomi felt abandoned and forsaken.

She was completely alone in a foreign land. How could she survive? How would her daughter-in-laws survive? Why had God let this happen?

The famine was over in Bethlehem. While the idea of returning so empty and broken did not appeal to her, what other choice did she really have? There was no kinsman redeemer in Moab. Her womb held no more sons for her daughter in laws to marry. The future in Bethlehem might be hard, but a future in Moab was basically non-existent. She would humble herself and return to her own country- throwing herself on the mercy of those who knew her.

Naomi thought about her daughter-in-laws. She had tried to share with them about the one true God. They seemed to understand. How could she bear to leave them?

But she had no way to care for them. She had to leave.

When Orpah and Ruth insisted on coming along, Naomi was grateful. They would be good companions, they would be a source of comfort to her and a help along the journey home. But as they traveled along, Naomi began to doubt her decision. How would she feed two extra mouths? They were foreign women, everyone would know that her sons had married foreigners! How would they respond when they saw her with two Moabites? It would be better to send them back. Back to their own people...their own gods.

It didn't take much to convince Orpah, but Ruth proved to be as stubborn as she always had been. Ruth who eagerly embraced the God of her people...who always had questions about her beliefs. It really was no surprise when Ruth clung to her and with tears proclaimed:

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. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.

There was no changing Ruth's mind. It was made up. So Naomi stopped trying. Days later that they entered Bethlehem creating more than just a little stir in the marketplace.

Can it be...is it possible...is that really you, NAOMI?

Naomi! Where's Elimelech?

Naomi, let me see those boys of yours...I can't wait to see the fine young men they've become!

Who is that with you Naomi?

They kept on and on with their ridiculous questions until Naomi finally stopped still in the dusty streets and cried out for all to hear,

Stop it!!!! Stop it all of you! Don't call me NAOMI! You all know that Naomi means PLEASANT! Call me MARA instead...for that is what I am....I am bitter like mara. For God Almighty has dealt severely with me. Where is Elimelech? He's dead! Where are my sons? They are DEAD TOO! I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty...so don't call me Naomi! The LORD God has disciplined me and brought me nothing but great misfortune.

One by one the people in the street began to drift away, stunned into silence by Naomi's bitter words. Ruth stood quietly beside her mother-in-law. Tears stung her eyes...not for herself, but for this dear woman who had shared with her about the one true God. Silently she prayed that the God of Elimelech and Naomi would help her mother-in-law not only return to her land of birth but also to her first love...her love for Jehovah God who longed to bring her comfort in her pain.

Do the Bible Study on Ruth Lesson 1

* While the Moabites adored Chamos as their national god, they also worshipped Ashtar as his consort. Besides these two divinities, the Old Testament mentions another local deity of the Mobaites, viz. Baal of Mount Phegor (Peor: Beelphegor) (Num., xxv, 3; Deut., iv, 3 Osee, ix, 10; etc.). The Moabites were therefore polythiests. And although their religion is not fully known, it is certain that human sacrifices and also impure rites formed a part of their worship (IV Kings, iii, 27; Num., xxv; Osee, ix, 10). (Bible Encyclopedia)

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