Empty but Full

Ruth 1:19-22

Lesson 5

Empty But Full

Empty hands ready to be filled

only when knowing its emptiness,

full hands have no need

indulging in plenty.

God's plan is to show the emptiness

of World's praise and self satisfaction

so one might drink

of the ocean of life

rather than drink a drop of water

from a dirty cup.

Hold empty hands today

let God fill the needy soul

This water of life

cannot be bout or sold.

Lift them to Heaven's rain

water that will give perpetual life

Losing yourself will give you gain.

God's Story

Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem just as Naomi and Ruth entered Bethlehem. Israel questioned who Jesus was? God had brought Jesus to this hour. John 13:1, Jesus knew his hour. It was time to glory the Father.

Now God had brought two grieving widows to their hour. They had come to the house of Bread.

John 6, Jesus said, I am the Bread. The people saw the miracle of feeding 5,000 men plus women and children, they wanted Jesus to continue to give them bread and took Him by force.

Matthew 21:9 "Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"



Matthew 21:10 - "And when He had come into Jerusalem all the city was moved saying, "Who is this?"

Ruth 1:19 - "Now when the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, "Is this Naomi?"

Return, O Israel. You who are barren and desolate will bring more children than those who are married.

Isaiah 54:1-8

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. Isaiah 54:17.

"Naomi, even your own tongue has risen against you in judgment. Condemn yourself. I have a plan,

Isaiah 49 I have called You from the womb, to be a light to the Gentiles.

Naomi's Story

I have nothing, I went away full and have come home empty. I have come home helpless and hopeless. I brought with me, Ruth, a friend and a Moabite She has nothing either.

Ruth's Story

I have no history; I have nothing, but a belief in someone else's God and history. I can show kindness to the one who has become my friend.

Principles and Relationships:

1. How did Naomi see herself?

2. How did God see her?

3. Is Naomi's story over or just begun?

4. Why?

5. Why would God use a Gentile in the line of Jesus?

6. Was it necessary?

7. Could Naomi ever regain her property and seed by what she had to offer?

8. Was there a respect in Ruth for Naomi even if Naomi had no respect for herself

9. Have you ever had someone believe in you when you can't believe in yourself?

10. When did God's plan start?

Chain of Events: The law was set in place. Even though Naomi had nothing, the law protected her through a near kins-man. His provision began at the beginning, when the law for gleaners was put into place. The law for redemption had been put into place. God crossed over lines yet, he used lines to protect his plan.

Leviticus 25:3. God is the ultimate owner and God alone has the right to rule over and dispense the land.

Leviticus 25:25

The manna ceased the day they ate the food of the promised land. In John 6, Jesus was saying my Father's kingdom gives bread you labor not. Ruth and Naomi crossed over the Jordan from Moab into the promised land. They crossed the Jordan just as the ark crossed the Jordan under Joshua's command. (Joshua 1:3,5)

The Story:

In the sunset, Bethlehem stood out as an oasis for Naomi and Ruth. They were finally there. The trip was long and hard; they made their way along the coastline of the Jordan, going through Moab.  Naomi could finally rest in what she remembered and Ruth had gathered excitement as to what she had heard.

Naomi looked down at her empty hands, they were dirty from the trip, she felt she not only traveled with a Moabite, but the dust of Moab had covered her in shame. They had passed the god of Moab in Hesbon and the ugliness of the statue bore into her memory. She had brought the heaviness of Moab with her.

Ruth was coming from a different place. She knew only Moab and the cruelty of her people and land, but her hope was in Mahlon's God. She felt the fullness of promise and Naomi felt emptiness.

Ruth reached down into the pocket in her skirt and touched Marlon’s parchments. Ruth whispered to Mahlon in her heart. “I am bringing your heart and words home. Now you can rest, my dear. I do not know what we will do, but I believe in your God, my darling."

When they entered in to Bethlehem, all the city was excited because of them. All the women said, "Is this Naomi?"

Naomi responded to them, "Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?"

The women talked among themselves. "Is that aMoabite that is with Naomi?"

"I hear she was married to Mahlon. That's what happens when you go to a foreign country, you don't see anything wrong in marrying outside of your people."

"It was Elimileck's  fault. He should have stayed, his sons should have married the young women of our people. They are dead and now here is a Moabite with Naomi. What are they going to do? Naomi is too old to produce a son, and Ruth is not one of us."

The talk continued among the idle tongue. The women meant well, but their self-righteousness and prejudice colored the situation.  They were right; it wasn't the way God had worked in the past.

Empty but Full Lesson 5

Study Book

1.     Have you ever  been a place where your glass looked empty? But your spirit said, “But its full? ____________________________________

2.     How did Naomi see herself in God’s eyes? _______________________

3.     Did she feel like their trip to Moab was a detour and was making God angry with her? ______________________________________________

4.     Could she see beyond her bitterness? _________________________

5.     How was she looking at things? ________________________________

6.     How is Naomi (Israel) looking at things today? _______________________

7.     Do they see any benefit in the Gentiles? __________________________

8.     What are we doing for Israel in the disposition when we as Gentiles have been grafted into their lineage? ___________________________________

9.     Look at Gal 3:28;29 and see how Ruth’s obedience brought us into the heirs of promise. ___________________________________________