Ruth 1:19-22 – Hard Times and God Provides

¹⁹ So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

²⁰ And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

²¹ I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

²² So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Naomi had fallen on some hard, hard times. Now, to the surprise of all the people back home, she returns to where she is from. Naomi is what we would call today “a mess”. She even asked people to stop calling her Naomi, which means “Pleasant”, but instead to call her Mara, which means “Bitter”. Clearly, Naomi had fallen on hard times and even blamed God for it in verse 21!

What we see, however, in verse 22 is a hint of God’s guidance in the whole situation. The Bible says “and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.” Today, it is easy for us to glance over that statement and not realize its significance. During the harvest time, God told the Israelis not to pick all the plants in their fields that way the poor can come up to the side and pick food for themselves. God did not want anyone going hungry. It was during this time that Naomi and Ruth would be able to gather food and care for themselves. God will also use this situation to bless Ruth!

When we Christians experience hard times, it is important for us to remember that God is still in control and that He is still good! Even though hard times might get us down, God still loves us and honors our obedience and Godliness.

Life Step: Think about it…

What hard times are you or have you experienced that God is leading or has lead you through?

What are some ways that we can stay obedient and close to God during hard times?

Ruth 1:3-18 – Commitment

3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.
7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the Lord deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Now we start one of the most beautiful love stories in the Bible, the book of Ruth. Ruth was a woman from Moab who married into a Israelite family. As time went on, all of the men had passed away (Ruth’s husband, her father-in-law, and her brother-in-law). He Mother-in-law urged her and her sister-in-law to go back to their people, but Ruth refused to leave and told Naomi that nothing would cause her to leave except death.

What we see here is exceptional commitment on the part of Ruth. These people were not from her country, since her husband had died, she did not really have any connection to them, and she was even told it was fine for her to leave! Ruth, however, was set and decided stuck by her guns and committed to stay with her Mother-in-Law no matter what, even though it meant leaving her home, family, and friends.

What we will see this week is how God honored Ruth’s commitment and Godliness in such a wicked time (during the time of the Judges). God honors commitment, something that many people today are severely lacking in. For us Christians, we ought to follow Ruth’s example of commitment and Godliness no matter what the cost. Maybe you need to be more committed to church, reading God’s Word, prayer, witnessing, your job, your parents, your friends, or anything else God would have you to do!

Life Step: Think about it…

In what areas do you lack commitment?

What do you need to do to build up commitment?