Year 1, Day 283: Ruth 1

I’d like to open this blog on Ruth with two very profound comments.  The first comes from the opening section of Ruth found in the Bible Reader’s Companion, written by Lawrence O. Richards:

Ruth is one of the Old Testament’s warmest and most encouraging books. This brief book takes its name from the main character, a Moabite woman who chose to commit herself to her Hebrew mother–in-law and to Israel’s God.

The second quote is a longer quote but just as meaningful.  It comes from Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament, written by Warren Wiersbe:

It is difficult to believe that the events in this book took place during the time of the Judges, a time when Israel was a divided and defeated nation. But during the worst of times, God reveals His love and still works on behalf of those who fear and trust Him. We live today at a time when there is “no king in Israel” (Jud. 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25), for the Jews rejected their King; but during this time, a beautiful love story is taking place in this world: God is getting a Bride for His Son. The Book of Ruth is a harvest story, as the “Lord of the harvest” gathers His sheaves (John 4:31–38).

These are two phenomenal perspectives with which to begin the book of Ruth.  It is a love story.  It is a love story set in a time when the Hebrew people were divided, leaderless, vulnerable, and often at war with each other and the people around them.  It is a love story where a “heathen Moabite woman” finds a God who is worthy of worship and praise.*  This story is proof that God’s grace to the Gentiles is not out of His character, even if it feels “new” when Paul is called to include them in the story of Acts.  That’s what we get to look forward to for the next 4 days!  I’m so excited!

Elimelech’s Family

Okay, so let’s look at how the book of Ruth begins.  Elimelech takes his wife and sons to Moab because of food.  Now we know how the story ends, so clearly God is at work.  But I still claim that this decision is a mistake.  Remember, just because God works through something doesn’t mean it was the right choice or even made for the right reasons.  After all, Jesus was crucified because people hated Him and wanted Him dead.  While God absolutely works through that act, it does not negate the guilt of the Jewish authorities who demanded His death.  To apply that same line of thinking to this story, just because Ruth has a happy ending does not imply that we need at look at Elimelech’s decision as a godly one.  Ask yourself: which is better, to live in God’s promise in the midst of scarcity or to feast in a land of foreign gods?

But Elimelech takes his family to Moab and God does choose to work through that decision.  The family plans to sojourn there temporarily, but they end up staying there for quite some time.  They stay there long enough that Elimelech, Mahon, and Chilion die.  (For the record, Elimelech means “God is my king,” Mahon means “sickly,” and Chilion means “to hold fast, or to pin.”) 

Naomi’s Decision

Naomi suddenly finds herself without a man in a world where you had to have a man in your life to live.  She vows to return to her kin so that she can live.  But here we see another wrong decision.  She encourages her daughters-in-law to go back to their families and their own gods. 

Now, I certainly understand what Naomi is saying here.  Naomi can’t provide for her daughters-in-law.  From a worldly perspective she is saying the right thing.  These women will do better materialistically if they would go back to their families.  However, from a spiritual perspective it makes no sense whatsoever.  Why trade an ease of life here in this world for no true life with God?  Why abandon God just so you can put bread on your table?

It is only in this wrong decision that we see the difference between Ruth and Orpah.  Orpah leaves Naomi and sees the worldly wisdom behind her words.  Orpah knows that from a worldly perspective Naomi is absolutely correct.  I cannot condemn the decision from the perspective of this world, but I can say that she made the wrong choice spiritually speaking.  Ruth, on the other hand, tells Naomi (and us) that “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”  Ruth sees past the worldly perspective of Naomi’s words and instead finds God’s hand at work in her own life.

Wow.  I am blown away by those words.  Here is the confession of a person who has spiritual wisdom – even more spiritual wisdom than her own Jewish mother-in-law!  Ruth sees the world through spiritual eyes.  She is a Gentile, but her insight into the nature of God is absolutely profound!  Can there be any wonder that God picks her as an ancestor not only to David but even more importantly to Jesus Christ?  Here is a Gentile who is willing to give up the best chance of survival in this world for whatever God might provide. 

Of course, we know God will and does provide.  But at the time of her decision, she was making an incredible claim of spiritual faith and loyalty.  Oh, that I would be like Ruth!  She is a woman to be admired and revered!  No doubt she would tell us that we should admire and revere her God instead of her. 

So let’s do that today.  Ruth chooses materialistic uncertainty over materialistic certainty.  But she chooses spiritual certainty over spiritual uncertainty.  Let’s do that and revere God in the process.  Let’s follow Him and give Him honor in the process.  Choose this day whether you desire materialistic certainty or spiritual certainty.

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*As an interesting aside, there are two books in the Hebrew Scriptures named after women: Ruth and Ester.  In Ruth, a Gentile marries a Jew and becomes a part of salvation.  In Ester, A Jew marries a Gentile and helps bring salvation to her people.  Again we find evidence that God loves using the “unusual and unexpected” to accomplish His will.  God uses women and Gentiles in the Hebrew Scriptures in addition to the New Testament of Jesus Christ.  How long will we continue to miss the fact that the two books of the Hebrew Scriptures that speak the best of Gentiles are named after women and give evidence to the important role they play in God’s plan!  How long will we cling to our traditional understanding of what we think God is about and miss out on the breadth and depth of what He is actually capable and desiring of doing in our world?  How long will we put blinders on our eyes and follow such a narrow perspective on God’s desire for our being?  It is time we open our eyes and embrace God – not the God we want to see, but the God who wants to be seen!