May 16 – Ruth 1, Ruth 2 John 9:1-34 Proverbs 12:8-17

Ruth 1:3-5

But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Welcome to the book of Ruth and this is…. not a good start.

Elimelech made a bad call. They moved away from Bethlehem because there was a famine. (Incidentally, Bethlehem means “house of bread” – a famine in the house of bread… ironic, isn’t it?) His response was to move his entire family out of the region. This was a mistake. 

Why? Well, first of all – as we read later when Ruth and Naomi return, Bethlehem came through the famine well – Boaz is doing well. If they had stayed there is nothing to say they would not have also done well. Also, when tragedy hit – when he and both his sons died it left Naomi in a difficult position. 

Can you imagine how Naomi felt coming home to find she didn’t need to move? Everyone they’d left was doing fine.

She’s bitter. She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” Mara means bitter. She blamed God, but this mistake was on her husband. 

There are times when out of panic or alarm we make a decision we think will be right, but actually is not. It pays to take your time with these big decisions. Sometimes the immediate solution is not the best one and to make sure we don’t blame God when our rash decisions cause us harm.

Ruth 1:16-17

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

This story is set during the time of the book we just read, Judges. 

It was a time of national troubles and moral degeneration. But it’s good to read that there were times of peace during that period and also people who did do good and chose to be morally right in the midst of it. 

Both Ruth and Boaz are good, moral people. Even when a nation turns away from God, good people can be found. 

We’ve looked at a lot of stories on a national scale, but this is about one family. Not a significant family really although they’d certainly become significant. Ruth, an outsider from Moab will become part of the line that would bring David and then Jesus into the world. 

The Book of Ruth was written to the Israelites. It teaches that genuine love at times may require uncompromising sacrifice. Regardless of our lot in life, we can live according to the precepts of God. Genuine love and kindness will be rewarded. God abundantly blesses those who seek to live obedient lives.

John 9:16-17

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”

This was undeniable – a man who was well known for his blindness was healed. Yet they couldn’t believe what their own eyes had seen. There must be something up, they tried time and again to get a different story from this man or evidence Jesus was up to no good. 

Some people will see sign after sign and still not accept. That wasn’t the healed mans fault, it was theirs. Just as it’s not your fault when people do not believe even in the face of overwhelming audience. 

But I LOVE this guys reply to them. It’s the best comeback;

 “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

Love it! Why so interested? It sound like you want to follow Him! So cheeky and so on point. 

Prov 12:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

but a wise man listens to advice.

It takes a wise man to realise he is. It the font of all knowledge and wisdom in the universe. People who think they are always right usually are not. People open to guidance go far. 

Which one are you?