Thursday, June 10, 2010

God Is At Work - The Story of Ruth Part I - The Worst of Times, Part 9 of 32

TEXT: "Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband" (Ruth 1:1-5).

IDEA: Sometimes it is hard to find God in our lives.

PURPOSE: To help listeners understand that God is at work in our lives even when the evidence seems slim.

Have you ever worked with a children's picture in which objects are hidden that take work to find?

Do you think that many people look at the "picture" of their lives and have trouble finding God there?

I. The story of Ruth is about God who is not easy to find: Ruth 1:1-5.

"Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband."

The opening line tells us that the story takes place in the period when "the judges ruled in Israel." What do you think that meant to the people who read this story for the first time? The times were not "the good old days."

The period was an era of frightful social and religious chaos:

The book of Judges records violent invasions, idolatry, unchecked lawlessness, and tribal civil war. The very existence of Israel was threatened.

God raised up judges – local military leaders – who often were people of questionable morals and character.

It was a time of severe famine (Ruth 1:1-3) that forced a family to leave Bethlehem and travel to Moab (about 40 miles east of Bethlehem) to live as resident aliens.

What does "Bethlehem" mean? Do you see the irony in leaving "Bethlehem" to go to Moab?

How do you think the family was treated in Moab?

Hubbard noted: "The family left the familiar for the unfamiliar, the known for the unknown. They were legally 'strangers' and so was its world. Further, to seek refuge in Moab – Israel's enemy throughout history – was both shameful and dangerous."

It was also a time of personal tragedy – a triple bereavement.

Elimelech died.

Naomi's two sons married Moabite wives.

Ten years later both sons died, leaving Naomi with no sons or grandsons.

II. "Elimelech" means "My God is King." It seems like an ironic name for the head of a family in such dire circumstances.

You are left to wonder: "Where is God in all of this?"