MPC
13th January 2019.January 13 - Ruth 1 - "Building the Good Life"
MPC
13th January 2019.
Dan Wilton
Over the last couple of years there seems to be a rise in the DIY movement.
There's countless TV shows cashing in on out inner handyman. Trying to keep the price down. And fix things around the house yourself. With mixed results.
Whether it be installing a few new light switches in the house.
Baking an impressive cake for your daughter's birthday.
Or a home made extension device!
The rule is, I guess, that often when you think you can fix things yourself, you end up in a bigger mess than you started with. Especially if there are some obvious ground rules that you overlook. Or decide to shortcut.
This morning we meet a do it yourself home-handyman type guy at the start of Ruth. His name's Elimelech, he's a family man; his wife's Naomi, and they've got two young sons. And the sad news is, Elimelech's heading for a large scale disaster. A disaster that not easily solved!
Let's jump into it. Because as we read the first verse. We're faced with a huge problem.
Verse1 of Ruth: In the days that the judges ruled there was a famine in the land.
There was a famine. No food. Which is disturbing, because of where they are.
This is an Israelite family. Living in the promised land. A land that was supposed to be flowing with milk and honey!
And more disturbing. This family is from Bethlehem. Which literally means 'house of bread'.
And so here, Ruth is set in the place of bread. In the land flowing with milk and honey. And yet it starts with a famine.
And it raises the question. What do you do when God doesn't appear to be doing his job? Or worse still, when it seems God might actually be against you?
When he's not coming through on his promises? When God doesn't seem to have your best interests at heart? how do you respond?
Because that's the situation facing Elimelek here. And it's a question I'm sure many of us have. How do you respond when life gets tough? And God doesn't seem to have your back?
Well for Elimelek. If there's one thing the famine seems to be shouting loud and clear, it's that God doesn't care.
He takes the approach. Well if God's turned his back on me. Then I'm finding my own solution. Take matters into my own hands. DIY my own future. He's sees it as a good time to give up on God.
But here's the problem. Elimelek hasn't read the user manual. For living in the land. Which seems to be a common issue for a lotta guys.
I remember last year. We'd just purchased a lawn mower. And I was setting it up. Something wasn't fitting together. But instead of getting out the instructions. I tried brute force. And ended up breaking the catcher. Before we'd even had a chance to use it.
And it's the same with Elimelek. Instead of carefully reading the user manual. The first problem he encounters. He decides to take matters into his own hands.
See, God gave some very clear instructions about what it to meant to follow him.
When God brings the nation of Israel into this land, the promised land. God lays out for them two paths - and it's pretty straight forward.
On the one hand, if they continue to depend on him as their God and their King - they'll find blessing. So Deuteronomy 28, verse 4 says:
The fruit of your womb will be blessed and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock.
Or down in verse 11:
The Lord will grant you abundant prosperity - in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock, and the crops of your ground - in the land I swore to your ancestors to give to you. The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouses of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.
You see how this works? If the people of Israel depend on God, it will go well for them in the land. There will be no hardship. No lack of prosperity. No unemployment. Their children will grow tall and strong. Their towns will be safe from violence and disease. This is a picture of peace.
And this comes about when people dwell in the place God has given them. Under His rule. And in his blessing.
They're some amazing promises. But it's a sad reality that it's often in the midst of blessing that we begin to forget God. Once rescued out of slavery, we're quick to forget the one who rescued us.
And so God also gives a clear warning. God warns Israel what will happen if they turn from him. If they choose to take matters into their own hands.
See, God says to Israel if they stop trusting Him. Stop living under his rule. Then He'll withdraw his blessing from them. And the world will come rushing back in.
The fruit of your womb will be cursed - He says in Deuteronomy 28 verse18. And the crops of your land. And the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
This is God withdrawing his blessing. Often the worst thing God can do is to hand humans over to their own desires. The worst thing God can do, when we say no to him, is say okay! And let us go our own way. Which is happening a lot during the time of the Judges. Which is when verse 1 tells us the story of Ruth is taking place.
Now if you're not familiar with the time of the Judges, let me give you the 60 second summary.
The book of Judges describes a really rough time for the nation of Israel. They've just entered the Promised land. Where a certain cycle of behaviour starts. And it looks like this.
Despite the wonderful gift of the Promised Land, Israel rejects God. They do evil in God's eyes by chasing after other gods.
So God leaves them to their own devices. And without his blessing they inevitably end up at the mercy of some local king. They're oppressed and life's hard. Hard enough that at some point they realise their foolishness and cry out to God to have mercy on them.
God listens and sends a judge to defeat their enemies and save them. And for a time they enjoy peace. Until the cycle begins again. Like a recurring nightmare
Which brings us back to verse 1. Right in the middle of another cycle. Where there's famine. Which is an indication that the nation of Israel have rejected God. And God's removed his blessing
And we zoom in on one man and his family. Elimelek. Who's a bit of a DIY man. Who takes matters into his own hands. With disastrous consequences. Which perhaps isn't all that surprising when you realise the tragic irony of what he's doing.
Because instead of facing up to God's displeasure. Acknowledging that they had turned their backs on God. And acknowledging that God's rightfully angry. Instead of turning back to God. Elimelek runs back to Moab. Back to the place Israel came from. Back outside the land of promise.
And so. Verse 2. Elimelek and his wife, Naomi close shop. Sell the house. And move abroad. Looking for a new start. Somewhere with a bit more food. There's no way he's staying in Israel.
But they're not just making an economic decision. It's not just a sea change. They're making a massive spiritual statement. Saying that they'd rather go back to the days before God gave them the land. That they'd rather step away from God's promises and fend for themselves. Fix things up without God's help.
And so Elimelek - who's name actually means 'God is my King' - leaves the promised land behind. Abandons his king. In search for security somewhere else. In search for, what he thinks is, the good life. without God.
But have a look at verse 3. Because it doesn't turn out too well.
Instead of finding life and fullness. They find death and emptiness. Have a look, verse 3:
Now Elimelek, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about 10 years, both her sons died. And Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
Elimelek dies. Mahlon Dies. And then Killion dies.
And in a world where family meant everything. Their family had come to an end. Because what they now have are three widows and no children.
In a world with no pensions. No social security. In a place that wasn't known for its concern for foreigners, or for widows.
Now Naomi is completely destitute! Her back's really against the wall! She thought she was in a bad place before. Well now, she's really doing it tough. She's had to endure. Not one, but three funerals. Two of them her own sons.
And it's a bitter irony. Elimelek and Naomi fled from God in search for life. But they found only death. While those who trusted God and stayed in Israel. Found life. Check it out verse 6:
When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people, by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home there.
Naomi hears that the Lord has come to the aid of his people; and now there's plenty of food. So Naomi decides it's time to go home. The promised land is the place to be. The idea that the grass is greener in Moab doesn't have the same appeal it used to.
And so Naomi and Orpah and Ruth pack their bags and set out on the long road home.
You see those who trusted in the Lord are full. But Naomi who put her trust in other things is empty. Those who trusted in God. Obeyed God. Even when things were tough. Were not disappointed.
But everything Naomi put her trust in. Family. A new horizon. The gods of Moab. The search for prosperity. It all turned to dust and slipped through her fingers. And so when she finally gets back to Israel in verse 20. She's a shell of her former self.
She went away sweet. And she's returned bitter. Went away full and returns empty. Angry at God. So angry. That she goes public with it. Has a rant about it on Facebook. She wants everyone to know. Have a look at what she says. Verse 20:
Don't call me Naomi, she tells them. Call me Mara - which means bitterness - because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full but the Lord brought me back empty.
She gets back to Bethlehem and she says: I have come back empty. God has stripped everything from me. I have nothing! Only bitterness.
And it's a sad place to be isn't it? Angry at God. Bitter. Because God didn't give her what she thought she deserved. And it's tragic! But in the face of that bitterness. God chooses to do something about it.
And the rest of the book is about God bringing a real solution to the problem. Through a very unlikely person. Through Ruth the Moabite. Who we meet in the rest of the chapter.
Come back with me to verse 7. As these three widows make the long journey to Bethlehem.
They've been on their road trip for a couple of days. And Naomi's being stewing in her own bitterness, when suddenly it dawns on her that Orpah and Ruth shouldn't be coming with her. I mean it's not fair on them.
And so Naomi turns to them, and she says, verse 8, go back. She says, this isn't something we're going to do lightly. Go back to your own home in Moab. To your own people. To your own mum and dad.
She says, I'll be alright. You've been kind to me. But leave me. And you head back to Moab and look after yourselves, because I have no future to offer you.
At which Ruth and Orpah burst into tears and say, no, no, we're sticking with you. Verse 10, "We'll go back with you to your people."
And at the point where Naomi's saying turn back and go home, she's saying as well, even though I'm heading back to the promised land, I'm not holding out a whole lot of hope. Still not convinced that God's going to follow through with his promises. And so she tells her daughters-in-law, go home!
Well, Orpah's convinced. And who could blame her? I mean it seems like the sane thing to do. She's a Moabite choosing to stay in Moab. The grass looks a whole lot greener on her side of the fence... she even has her mother-in-law's blessing to stay. If you were tallying the pros and cons, you'd say she's clearly made the best decision.
Which of course makes Ruth seem a little crazy. Because she can't be persuaded. Naomi's had success with Orpah. She's got momentum. And so tries to press home the advantage. "Look," says Naomi in verse 15:
Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.
But Ruth won't budge. And her reply makes it clear she's committed to sticking with Naomi. And with Naomi's God. Have a look at what she says, verse 16:
Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go. 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.
Ruth knows Israel's God is worth following! Which is remarkable! Here's a foreigner who has more faith in Naomi's God than she does. Ruth is absolutely determined. She's made her choice and she's sticking with it.
And if that choice involves leaving behind the gods of Moab and the people of Moab. And trusting her whole future to the God of Israel. So be it! Entrusting her life to another God.
And so the turning point on the road sees two very final decisions. Orpah one way. Ruth the other. Orpah looking for rest in Moab. Ruth looking for rest with the God of Israel. With absolute determination.
And so the chapter finishes with a foreigner entering the promised land. Ruth, clinging to Naomi's shirt-tails. Throwing her future into the hands of another. Without knowing how it will end.
And you'll have to come back over the next couple of weeks to see how it all pans out.
But throughout this opening chapter. We're left with two very different responses to God.
Ruth. Determined to entrust her life to God. Come what may.
Compared with Elimelek and Naomi. Determined to take God out of the picture. When things got difficult.
It's a gradual turning from God. A gradual erosion. Placing confidence elsewhere. That leads them there.
See Elimelek and Naomi may have left Israel when famine struck. But it seems they had left God a long time before that. Not confident in God's goodness.
When God takes Naomi's husband and sons. Naomi goes public with her disgust of God. She gets back to Bethlehem and she says: I have come back empty. God has stripped everything from me. I have nothing! And you're thinking really?! Ruth is standing right beside her!
There's a hardness. Because Ruth is not the blessing Naomi wanted. Even though as we'll see over the next couple of weeks. She's exactly the blessing Naomi needed.
And I think this gives some insight into what was going on in her heart well before they left God geographically. A life of intimacy with God was not something Elimelek wanted. Naomi wanted a family. Elimelek wanted financial security.
They didn't serve the God of Israel. They wanted a vending machine. Where they determined the shape of the blessing. Choose the blessing God would dispense for them. They knew what they wanted. And they'd follow God as long as God gave them exactly that.
They were in the land because the land was a great place to be. When God brought prosperity and peace. But when things got hard. They were out! And became bitter. Bitter is what you become when you think God owes you something and he hasn't delivered. When you think God owes you happiness. Satisfaction. Prosperity. Right now!
And when you don't have it. You start looking elsewhere. It's how Elimelek and Naomi made their decisions. God might have promised blessing here... but I can't see it, so I'm going to go look somewhere else.
Give up on God when the going gets tough. Search for security and blessing elsewhere. Somewhere less difficult.
Maybe you're here this morning. And the subtle temptation to give up on God may be very real for you. Life's tough. And maybe there's not a whole lot of joy for you in following Jesus. In fact. It might be making your life more difficult.
Maybe you've hit hard times. financially. And it's not like you're consciously leaving God out. But the extra hours you've got to work to secure your financial situation... that pressure means God just doesn't quite fit into the picture any more. Slowly but surely there's no room for trusting God.
Or perhaps your tough times have more to do with family. The realisation your kids aren't doing as well as you hoped they would. Or that one of them is really struggling academically or socially. And probably always will. And you start to resent God.
Or maybe you know someone who's recently been given a life shattering prognosis. And you've been praying for them. Pleading for God to intervene. But he's remained silent. How do you respond to that?
Just a couple of years ago. I had friends who found out they were pregnant. But after their first scan it was discovered the baby had a serious health condition that meant it wouldn't survive outside the womb. They carried that baby for the full 9 months. Knowing it wouldn't survive. Desperately pleading for God to do something.
Nicky and I went to the funeral. And despite their grief. They kept trusting God. How is that even possible? How can you keep trusting God, entrusting your life to him, when things are so hard?
How do you do it?
You know there's a point in John's gospel where Jesus' own closest friends are faced with the same question: Will you follow Jesus? Even when things get difficult.
It's a point where there have been huge crowds following Jesus. But the going gets tough. And his teaching gets controversial. And in John 6 verse 66, it says "From this time many of his disciples turned back... and no longer followed him."
It's that same point that both Naomi and Ruth faced. And maybe a point you've been at yourself. Do you stay with him? Or do you leave? When things just aren't turning out the way you wanted them to.
Well, Jesus turns to the 12... his closest disciples. And he says to them in the next verse, "You don't want to leave me too, do you?" And Simon Peter answers him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You... have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the holy one of God."
We're committed. We're staying. We're sticking with you. Through thick and thin. Because there's no other option. Which could be just the reminder you need this morning.
If life's pretty dry... and sticking with Jesus feels too hard. Because Jesus has the words that give real life. Lasting life. Life that can't be found anywhere else. It's only in Jesus that true and lasting Blessing can be found. That's what it means to follow Jesus. Entrust your life to him. No matter how hard the circumstances may be.
Because it's only in him that God works to bless us. It's only in him that we find life. And security that will last beyond the grave. It's only in him that we can know God's goodness. And have confidence that God is in control and present. Even in the hard things. Working out his good purposes for our lives!