Ruth 1:2-5
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| Hopelessness |
God's Story
The Proud lady Israel had produced many sons of greatness. Her family lineage began with Abraham, who God promised to give a great nation. Now their leader Joshua was dead. With no leader, the children soon lost their dreams and took matters into their own hands. Then came the judges and the children forgot the covenant the Father had made with them. . Israel was God's wife. He had woed her in the days of youth. He had with drew his blessing from them. Famine of soul and destitution of knowledge of God became their condition.
Israel's Story
Lines crept onto the face of Israel just at did ontNaomi's. She was changing from young to old. She has now laid in the grave two sons and a husband. She was in a strange land and she was alone. Stones were laid on the ones love, as heavy stones crushed her heart.
Naomi's Story
This strange land stoled her seed from her. She had wandered for ten years with her husband, now there was no place for her. They left their land and that they owned. The widow weeped with her two daughter in laws. She had nothing to offer them.
Faith Lessons
As death was silencing the bodies of her loved ones, stones were speaking loud and clear. "How did we got off the track?" I should have convinced Elimelech to stay. What if we would have stayed.?We would still be alive, Who do I trust anymore?
Who will step up and deliver her?
Principles in Relationships: The Soul and her situation
Was it right to be angry with her situation?
Who can she blame? She could blame her husband, God, the land of the enemy, the famine.
Is the answer in the midst of her?
Can she lift her head from the grief and sorrow and recognize her answer?
Was God there at the graves? If he was, why did it happen?
Was it because Elimlach had done wrong, or God had a plan which was far beyond their imagination? God will use the natural to accomplish what He does in the spiritual.
In order to teach them His providence, He had to teach them their need. Their true need was to learn the difference of self-sufficiency and God-sufficiency.
Stones were a vital sign. Joshua (Joshua 24:21,27) said about the stone." This stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us..."
When Israel crossed Jordan, they were told for each 12 tribes to leave 12 stones in the water and bring one out and place it for an alter. What and why does thast speak of Israel?
Chain of Events: Naomi was in Moab for ten years. God was blessing Bethlehem again. "The Lord had visited His people by giving them bread." Ruth 1:6
Hopelessness
Three lonely graves lie side by side
death claiming unlived years
of Israels' sons.
Distrust, sickness, and curses
ruled these sleeping men
as they gave their lives to enemy soil.
No apologies made to weeping widows
rubbing them of future arrows
shooting forth children
to the next generation.
Each woman stood side by side
silent at the graves
A bond of grief held them tightly,
questioning the darkness of dark
the bitterness of bitter
the hopelessness of hopeless
a walk of new pain.
But God is light and
His heart of love
continually beckons their faces to turn.
Hope is waiting in His hand
new life is on its way.
The Story
Hopelessness
Chapter 2
Ruth 1:2-5
(Holding to the Stone)
The Moabites, one man and two women approached the Place of Refuge. They dismounted and make a place for their mules and themselves for the night.
Naomi, her two sons and Elimelech crouched silently watching and listening to the words of the visitors. Naomi stood upright and showed herself to them. A she walked towards them, under her breath she was calling on Jehovah. “Spare us, Jehovah. Give us favor.”
Ruth was the first to stir. She looked up; there was a kindness in the eyes of the slowly approaching woman. Naomi continued to walk towards them. Naomi spoke. “We have traveled a long distance. We come from Bethlehem
“I’m Ruth, this is my sister, Orpah and Prince Hedak. Please join us.” Ruth looked over at the Prince, he restlessly nodded. He knew Ruth had a way of diplomacy which she learned from her father, King Eglon. He was summoned to escort this head strong girl. He knew better than try to convince her any differently.
“Thank you,” said Naomi, “Do you mind if I invite my sons and my husband?”
Ruth again looked at the Prince, then nodded to Naomi. “Yes, please do so. This is a Place of Refuge. It is common ground. We honor it.”
Naomi looked to the trees and motioned for her family to come. It was unheard of, the Moabites and the Israelites coming together in friendship.
.
“Where are you going,” Naomi inquired of Ruth
“We are just coming back from the place where my father was slain. He lies dead at the hand of one of your people.” Ruth offered her pain. “I am traveling to the country side for awhile with my sister and one of the king’s men.”
Naomi curiously asked. “How did it happen? We have served your father, King Eglon for eighteen years. My nation is weak. Our people have sin against our God, Jehovah. He has strengthened your country against us.” (Judges )
Ruth guarded her words; she was talking with the enemy. Her heart was breaking. Her father was dead by the hands of this people. “It was Ehud! Ehud had a double-edged dagger, he fastened it under his clothe on his right hand. He was bringing a tribute to my father. He tricked my father.”
Naomi continued to look into Ruth’s eyes. “How did he trick him?”
Mahlon broke into the conversation, “It was about the stones.”
Ruth looked over at Mahlon. There was something interesting about him. He sat quietly writing on some parchments. “What is it about the stones?”
“This is what I heard.” Mahlon continued. “Ehud and his companions left the palace. He had taken a tribute to King Eglon. When he reached Gilgal, he remembered the stones, sent his companions home and went back to the palace.”
“What about the stones?” Orpah chimed in. “News travels slow. One piece of information comes from one traveler and a tidbit of speculation comes from another.”
“I am so sorry for your loss.” Naomi was apologizing for her country Israel
“The stone images at Gilgal are a reminder to our country.” Mahlon looked up from writing. “When our people crossed the Jordan, Jehovah commanded the priests to take a stone, one of each tribe, and place all twelve stones in the Jordan and bring out one stone from the middle of Jordan and place it in the promise land and build an alter.” (Joshua 4:19)
Elimelech remained quiet but when they spoke of the stone, he propped himself up as if new life had been breathed into him. “I remember when we swore by the stone. Joshua placed a large stone under an oak for a sanctuary of the Lord. Then Joshua said, ‘Behold this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.’” (Joshua 24:26,27)
Elimelech’s words were alive which came from his weak body. He continued, “We lived under the elders of Joshua after Joshua died; now our land is under the hand of judges and our people have rebelled. Ehud judges and he is our second judge. Famine has come to us because of the evil of our people.”
Ruth leaned into hear Elimelech. “Your history and your stories are rich. You are a gentle people, our people are harsh, cruel and violent. There is hate in their hearts.”
“I heard the story of when my people refused passage to Israel
“Yes, Lot is Abraham’s nephew. Abraham fought for our great father Lot . We heard the stories of Sodom Gomorrah
Elimelech spoke again and silence fell on the lips of the others. “Joshua was a great leader. He followed after Moses, but after he died, our country came under the rule of judges. We have had forty years of rest then everyone turned to their evil ways. Away from Jehovah, and He turned away from us and allowed your country, the Moabites to bring us down.”
“It’s all interesting. My father’s servants found him dead. They wondered who did it.” Orpah questioned.
Ruth immediately hushed everyone with her strong assertive way. “My people want revenge, but I want to find a safe place to grieve. That’s why we came here for the night.” It is the only safe place.
“What are you writing?” Ruth inquired.
“Oh, about the trip from Bethlehem Moab
Elimelech reclined on a blanket and Naomi pulled another blanket close around him. “My husband Elimelech took sick at the beginning of our journey. It could be hopelessness. He has never left his homeland before, now we have no choice.”
Mahlon was just finishing staking the mules, and pulling off the last of the supplies. Mahlon, in his gentle way, bowed, taking off his dusty hat, he placed his hat to his heart as if to say, “Thank you”
Mahlon and Ruth stood looking at each other, then Mahlon looked to his brother, “This is my brother, Chilion”. Chilion turned to look at the visitors. He was rougher in appearance and also in manners.
The night finally rested in peace, words between them gave them assurance that no one needed to be fearful. Formality and stiffness began to lose its hold. The prince sat quietly. He was a man of authority and was listening and calculating everyone’s move. He slept with his dagger but even he found serenity among new friends.
Early morning Elimelech coughed and his weak body caved in to the chronic persistence of heaving and spitting up blood. Overhead vultures were summoned by a taste of death. “We must stay here until Elimelech is better.” Naomi said. She knew it was just a matter of time. He could not travel any further.
Ruth poured a hot drink and gave it to Naomi. “Take this and give it to your husband to drink, this will help. I will stay behind and give you safe passage into Moab
“Thank you so much, Ruth. How can I repay you?” Naomi questioned.
Elimelech called for Mahlon. “Come here son. I pass my blessing to you. Take care of your mother and brother. Take your mother back to Bethlehem
Ruth continued to help Naomi. Elimelech’s body lay lifeless. Naomi reached over and kissed the man she knew intimately. The memories of their love gathered up into Naomi’s eyes. “He’s gone. My beloved Elimelech is gone.”
Ruth cried, not only for her pain but for Naomi’s.
Mahlon reached down and tore his mother’s body away from his father. “Do not fear, mother, I will take care of our family. Let us bury father here in this place of peace.”
As Mahlon and Chilion reached for the stones from the river bed, the others carried them to the place in the trees. Naomi wept over Elimelech’s grave. Naomi lifted up her eyes and prayed. “Jehovah God, have mercy on us. How long will you deal harshly with us? How long will this pain persist?”
Naomi felt alone. She and Elimelech had many year, they had two fine sons and land in their country. They had no part of this strange land except the grave of her dead husband. She embraced one of the stones that lay atop her husband. His last words were, “Remember the stone.”
“I will.” Naomi thought.
Study Lesson Chapter 2
1. After reading Judges 3:12 - 30 explain what was going on during this time. _____________________________________________________________________
2. What brought the famine to their homeland? _________________________________
3. Can you see a pattern of behavior and blessing and rejecting from Jehovah? _____________________________________________________________________
4. Were their blessings determined on how they were as a people? ___________________________________________________________________
5. Read Joshua 4 and Joshua 24 and determine how valuable the stones were. What did they represent? ___________________________________________________________
6. How does it coordinate with the New Testament Stone? _______________________
7. When we look to the Stone, what happens? _________________________________
- Look for scriptures that coordinate with this period of time and how it deals with the whole picture of
Israel
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