Providence in Pain
Text: Ruth 1
Core Idea: The Book of Ruth is about the providence of God – how God’s hidden hand moves in our lives to bring all things together for His glory and the good of His people. Then no matter what circumstance you may be in today, I invite you to trust Him and count your blessings for this will guard your heart.
INTRODUCTION
Today, we’ll be starting a new sermon series in the Book of Ruth which will last us through the summer. This book has been described as one of the most beautiful love stories recorded in the Bible. And there are a lot of elements that make it exciting and engaging to read – tears and pain, devotion and sacrifice, faith and community, grace and redemption. But the reason why this book is incredibly important for us to read is because it teaches us about the providence of God – how God’s hidden hand moves in our lives to bring all things together for His glory and the good of His people. Now, here, we won’t see God performing extraordinary miracles that leave us in awe (like the parting of the Red Sea), but we’ll see His “little” provisions in the ordinary events of life that will leave us grateful and hopeful if we would just have the eyes to see. Then knowing that “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” as we focus our attention on this book next couple of months, I pray that God will open our eyes to see wonderful things here so that we will be encouraged in our trials and “be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17; Ps. 119:18). So, with that in mind, please turn your Bibles to Ruth 1. Let me read this for us.
1 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there. 3 Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband. 6 When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of His people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. 8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9 May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me – even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons – 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD’s hand has turned against me!” 14 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. 15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. 19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” 20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” 22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.
Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
I divided this passage into three parts:
· EXCRUCIATING AGONY
· UNEXPECTED BLESSING
· A GLIMMER OF HOPE
1) EXCRUCIATING AGONY
Verse 1, “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land.” Here, we learn that this story is set in the days of the judges. If you remember, after Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land, he called them to be faithful to their covenant with God by obeying the commands of God for it was promised that He would immensely bless them – beyond their imaginations. Unfortunately, the Book of Judges (which is located just before the Book of Ruth) records Israel’s total failure – how they became no different from other pagan nations. Listen to Judges 21:25, the last verse of this book, which really is a summary statement that describes what these days were like – “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Even though God had graciously rescued them from slavery in Egypt, even though God had generously given them everything they needed to flourish, the people of God did what was right in their own eyes. They indulged in all kinds of immorality and idolatry – and this led to lawlessness and chaos in the land. This is important to note because it explains why there was a famine in the land. Now, let me make it clear – not all famines are the result of our sin. But at times, it is. In fact, that’s exactly what God warned the Israelites about just before they entered the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 28:22-24 – He said, “[If you don’t obey My Word, all these curses will come on you and overtake you.] The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, with fever and inflammation, with scorching heat and drought, with blight and mildew, which will plague you until you perish. The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron. The LORD will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed.” Again, not all the time but for the Israelites in the times of the judges, famine was the result of their disobedience. But as was the case for many of the famines in the Bible, this wasn’t ultimately to punish them but to discipline them. It was meant to serve as an opportunity for them to repent and cry out for help – to turn away from their evil ways and turn back to the Lord because the Bible tells us that God is always eager to save them. Then the first sentence of this book isn’t just there to set the context – it’s also there to inform us that God wants to intervene in their lives, that a change may be coming to the people of God.
And it’s here that we meet Elimelek, his wife (Naomi), and their two sons (Mahlon and Kilion). Now, thinking about the context, they should’ve remained in Israel to repent before God and cry out for mercy with the people of God – but instead, Elimelek did what was right in his own eyes by leaving his hometown to flee the suffering that came with the famine and settled in Moab. Now, Moab wasn’t just foreign geographically but spiritually as well. They worshiped idols – and they were sexually immoral, violent, and cruel. No wonder God said in Deuteronomy 23:3, “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, not even in the tenth generation.” They were a people outside of God’s covenant – and the Israelites were not to associate with them. And yet Elimelek’s family dwelt among them. But soon after their arrival, the unthinkable happened – verse 3, “Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died.” I know it’s so easy to read through these details quickly without reflecting on them but let’s slow down to think about what Naomi experienced in just 10 years. Her husband died. Her two sons married Moabite women – which by the way was forbidden to the Israelites. It’s the kind of thing that would cause them to be cut off from the covenant of God. And if that wasn’t bad enough, her two sons suddenly died as well. Just like that, she lost everything – her family, her security, her comfort, her joy. Can you imagine how devastated Naomi must have been? To say that she was heartbroken and dejected would be an understatement – she must have been crushed and shattered to pieces knowing that the people she dearly loved were no longer with her. In fact, what may have discouraged her even more would’ve been the fact that her sons died without any children, which meant that no one was there to carry on their line – their lineage would come to an end. All that to say, she would’ve been completely destroyed.
The truth is that some of us here may feel like Naomi today. Because of the things that you experienced, because of the things that you’re going through right now, because of the things that were done against you, you feel devastated, broken, and absolutely empty inside. You feel like you lost everything and nothing seems to motivate you – so, you mindlessly go through life without direction and without purpose. Friends, does this describe you today? Are you discouraged because the life you’re living is not the life that you would’ve wanted to live? Do you wish that your life was different? In fact, is that causing your heart to be bitter against God? I wonder if that was what Naomi was struggling with because she says things like this in verse 20, “The Almighty has made my life very bitter… I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” Friends, do you find yourself echoing similar words about your life today? Do you ever feel like the providence of God has been hard on you? Do you feel that the weight of your circumstances is just too heavy to bear? Does your life feel like a never-ending famine? If this describes you, I’m so thankful that you’re here today because honestly, you could’ve walked away from God. You could’ve run after the things of this world to fill that void in your heart – but you didn’t. Sure, you might still be anxious, grumpy, angry, and maybe even apathetic. But you still came. And because you came, you were able to sing the truth of God, pray the promises of God, and hear the Word of God. God says in Isaiah 55:10-12, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” I love this passage because it tells us that there’s this life-giving power in the Word of God – it tells us that it will always accomplish what God desires. And what God desires for you is that He wants to fill your heart with joy and peace that can only be found in Christ. Then my prayer for you is that you won’t leave this place empty, but that God will use His Word to revive your heart, renew your mind, and restore your joy today.
But more importantly, I pray that God will provide you with the truth that will give you hope to rise again because that’s exactly what He did for Naomi. Because of her sorrow, confusion, anger, and bitterness, she could’ve given up on everything and just withered away in Moab. But she didn’t. Verse 6 tells us that she set out on the road back home. Why? What caused her to get up again? One thing’s for sure – it wasn’t because God answered all her questions. It’s not like God approached Naomi and said, “This is why there was a famine. This is why it was necessary for your husband and two sons to die. It’s actually because I’m working on a plan to bring a Savior into the world through your lineage.” In fact, even if God told her that, I don’t know if she would’ve been able to understand or accept that. I could honestly see her saying something like this (because that’s what I would’ve said), “God, I don’t want that for my life. It’s great that You’re securing the lineage for the Messiah – but choose somebody else. I would rather have my husband and two sons back. Let somebody else have that ‘privilege’ of bringing the Messiah into the world.” God showing up and answering all her questions was not the reason why Naomi got up again. But sadly, that’s what many of us think we need. So, we say to God, “Either remove this hardship or explain Yourself because only then will I stop grumbling and get up.” But the Bible makes it clear that that’s not how God works – in fact, that’s not even what we need. What we really need is evidence of His providence in our lives – to know that God is sovereignly working in our lives. That’s what Naomi realized in verse 6 – “When Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of His people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there.” Now, we could read this just as a transitional verse to get the story moving. But to Naomi, this was like a ray of hope – breaking through the darkness that she was in because it implied that God’s presence was with the people of God again. And this small information was enough for her to regain perspective and strength to set out again. Brothers and sisters, God may not explain why you’re going through what you’re going through right now. But this story reminds us that He is sovereignly orchestrating all things at all times to lead us and fill us with life again. Then I pray that God will give you the eyes to see that He has never let go of you even in the darkest times of your life. May He provide you with the strength you need to get up and continue in your journey of faith today.
2) UNEXPECTED BLESSING
Verse 7, “With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the LORD show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.’” As they journeyed home, Naomi simply could not bring herself to allow her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to accompany her because she saw absolutely no future for these two Moabite women in Israel. So, in a very selfless act, she insisted that they return to their mother’s home in Moab because at least in Moab, they would have the support of their family and the potential for remarriage. So, in verse 9, we see a very moving outpouring of grief and affection between these three women as they embraced each other and wept together. Just imagine the emotions in this scene. Now, initially, the daughters-in-law protested because their love for Naomi was real. They truly cared for her – and they couldn’t bear to see Naomi go on this journey alone. So, they said, “We will go back with you to your people.” But Naomi immediately responded with more reasons as to why they must turn back. First, they will have no hope for remarriage. She was too old to have another child – and even if they were able to find another Israelite to remarry, they would face a lot of challenges just because they were Moabites. But more importantly, it’s because she felt that the Lord’s favor had left her – verse 13, “It is more bitter for me than for you because the Lord’s hand has turned against me.” She was basically saying, “I am ruined. Don’t come with me lest you be subjected to His wrath as well. Distant yourself from me because I don’t want God’s hand to be against you as well. In fact, I pray that God will be kind to you wherever you go.” And at this, they wept aloud again. Now, when things settled down, Orpah kissed Naomi and began to make her way back home – but Ruth clung to Naomi. She wouldn’t let go. So, Naomi made one more appeal in verse 15, “Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” But Ruth was not about to back down – and it’s at this moment that she shares one of the most memorable words in all of Scripture. Verse 16, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” Ruth was resolved to accompany Naomi and remain with her for the rest of her life – and nothing was going to change her mind. Now, think about how costly this decision would be for Ruth. Because she was a Moabite, she didn’t belong in Israel – which meant that she’d most likely be treated like an outsider by many. She’ll forever remain as a widow which means that she’ll never be able to escape poverty. Worst of all, God’s hand may be against her as well. Logically, it didn’t make sense for Ruth to do this – no sane person would voluntarily choose this kind of life. But that’s exactly what she did. Why? Was it because Ruth was naturally a loving person? Possibly – I have no doubt that she was kind and loyal by nature. But considering the cost, it still doesn’t make sense – the cost is too high. Then how was she able to do this? I firmly believe that it’s because the Holy Spirit enabled her to do so – which means that this too is evidence of God’s providence in Naomi’s life. Because God loved Naomi, He moved Ruth’s heart to stay. Again, this is not to take anything away from Ruth – but this wouldn’t have been possible without God intervening. Think with me. Naomi must have thought that she was going to be alone forever. Maybe she blamed herself for all these tragedies – thinking that somehow, she deserved this. But God had never let go of her – and as proof, unexpectedly, His blessings came through Ruth.
Now, sadly, because of her sorrow and bitterness, Naomi failed to see this blessing. Verse 19 – when they arrived in Bethlehem, the author tells us that the whole town was stirred because of them. After more than 10 years, Naomi returned unannounced – but people couldn’t recognize her. It appears that the effects of suffering were so great that it must have disfigured her physically. So, they asked, “Can this be Naomi?” “Is that really you?” And Naomi bitterly responded in verse 20, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” Now, if you think about it, she didn’t go away full. She left Bethlehem because there was nothing to eat. If she was full, she would’ve stayed. At the same time, she certainly didn’t return empty because she was with Ruth who was willing to go the distance with her. Thinking about all that she had, she should’ve been overflowing with gratitude and joy. But because of her sorrow and bitterness, her perception of life was completely distorted, and she failed to see how blessed she was – she became blind to the kindness of God in her life.
The truth is that when we suffer, at times, we too get tempted to think if God has turned against us. Now, this is incredibly detrimental to our souls because when we become bitter toward God, we often become blinded to evidence of His kindness that are present even in the midst of our pain. Isn’t that true? But even in the darkest moment of our lives, if we would just count our blessings, we’ll come to realize that God’s sovereign hand is protecting us, guiding us, and providing for us – for without Him, we would already be dead. We would’ve given up a long time ago. So, I want us to actually do that right now – I want you to think about three ways that God has blessed you today. I’ll give you 10 seconds. For me, God has blessed me with a wonderful family. To know that I can go home to my family who will run to give me a hug and tell me, “I love you,” is a blessing that I don’t deserve. Not just that, God has blessed me with a wonderful community called Lighthouse. I know that I lack so much as a leader, preacher, and pastor – but you have never treated me as a hired hand. You’ve always embraced me as your brother – encouraging me, loving me, and sharing your lives with me. And for that I am grateful. That’s not all – God has blessed me with wonderful parents, a house to live in, a car to drive, relatively good health, and so on. I could go on and on about the ways that God has blessed me. In fact, I could think about all the ways that God has blessed me in unexpected ways as well. Because of our miscarriage, God exposed me to my idols, and it became an opportunity for our marriage to strengthen. Because of COVID, God led our family to stay in Toronto and we were able to plant this church. Because Julian was born the same month as this church was being planted (which meant that I was limited in my sleep, energy, and time), God forced me to slow down rather than overburden myself with different things – instead, He led me to reflect on the Word and pray more. I could’ve used miscarriage as a reason to stay angry and bitter at God. I could’ve allowed COVID to discourage me. I could’ve used Julian as an excuse to compromise and be lazy. But God guarded my heart, led me, and helped me to flourish and grow. Then, brothers and sisters, how has God blessed you today? Have you experienced God’s blessing from unexpected places and people? Do you have a “Ruth” at your side who is devoted to you and serving you sacrificially and selflessly? If you do, do you thank God for them, or do you overlook them like Naomi did? Do you realize that their care for you is an expression of God’s kindness to you? Brothers and sisters, don’t let your sorrow and bitterness blind you from seeing the kindness of God in your life. Count your blessings and give thanks to God because this will guard you from giving up – it’ll help you get up and fight the good fight that’s before you today. Pastor John Piper writes, “What the Book of Ruth does for us is give us a glimpse into the hidden work of God during the worst of times. One of the main messages of this little book is that God is at work in the worst of times. He is at work doing a thousand things no one can see but Him. When you think He is farthest from you or has even turned against you, the truth is that as you cling to Him, He is laying the foundation stones of greater happiness in your life. Seeing is a precious gift and bitterness is a powerful blindness.” Then, friends, believe that God is at work even in the worst of times and that He is kind to us – kindness that we do not deserve. May God give us eyes to see evidence of His kindness – even the unspectacular ones so that we would continue to live a life worthy of the gospel every single day.
3) A GLIMMER OF HOPE
Verse 22, “So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.” The story began with a famine – but this chapter ends with an anticipation for a harvest. Even though Naomi failed to see the blessings of God in her life, God was already working to bring about a change in their lives – the barley harvest was beginning. The timing of Naomi and Ruth’s return couldn’t have been better – it was perfect. So, while Naomi was complaining about her harsh circumstance, the author draws our attention to the sweet providence of God for it’s in one of these barley fields that Ruth will meet her future husband, Boaz. And because of this union, everything was about to change for Naomi – in fact, not just for her but also for us as well because ultimately, the Messiah would come through their lineage.
Thinking about Bethlehem, I wonder if you thought that this was a possible hint of something greater to come – and many scholars agree that it most definitely is. Pastor John Piper writes, “Who would’ve imagined that in the worst of all times, the period of judges, God was quietly moving in the tragedies of a single family to prepare the way for the greatest King of Israel?” The Book of Ruth is ultimately about the hidden hand of God – preparing the way for a future day in Bethlehem for it is here that Jesus Christ will be born to save sinners like you and me because He loves us, because He is committed to us. In fact, do you remember the moving words spoken by Ruth in verse 16? Jesus would live that out for us as well. Just as Ruth went wherever Naomi went, Jesus is with us wherever we are. Just as Ruth dwelt among Naomi’s people, Jesus gave up His heavenly riches and “made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Phil. 2:7) so that He could dwell among us – which by the way would ultimately cost Him everything. He didn’t just come to live with us – He came to die for us, to pay the penalty for our sins so that we would be forgiven and be freed from the chains that bind us. But unlike Ruth who was simply buried where Naomi was buried, Jesus Christ conquered the grave and was raised to life so that we could have life and life to the full. This is what God was preparing for as Naomi and Ruth made their way back to Bethlehem. Then, friends, I pray that you would have the eyes to see that though at times God moves in mysterious ways, His ways are always good.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, the Book of Ruth is about the providence of God – how God’s hidden hand moves in our lives to bring all things together for His glory and the good of His people. Then no matter what circumstance you may be in today, I invite you to trust Him and count your blessings for this will guard your heart and help you stand firm in the Lord always.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) Naomi experienced immense loss and hardship – and because of her sorrow and bitterness, she failed to recognize the blessings in her life. How can bitterness and sorrow blind us to the blessings in our lives? Take a moment to count your blessings. Can you identify three specific ways God has blessed you recently, even in unexpected or difficult circumstances?
2) Can you think of a time in your life when you saw God’s “hidden hand” at work in seemingly ordinary circumstances? Share a testimony or story where you later realized God’s kindness was present during a challenging period.
3) How can you be a “Ruth” to someone in our community who is going through a difficult time?