Who Am I Ruth 1 6 -22 Jessica

Who Am I Ruth 1: 6 -22 Jessica Wang

Naomi’s situation • Naomi was left with no sons and no husband. This was a great tragedy.

There are Chinese sayings about tragedy : • When a person is young, she loses her father or mother. • When a person is middle-aged she loses her spouse • When person is olds she loses her son. • When something getting worse.

Everywhere in the Bible, God is described as: • good, loving, righteous, merciful, all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing, compassionate and holy.

• But sometimes we go through pain, tragedy, sadness, and disappointment, such as:

• • • The loss of a loved one, The loss of financial security, The bankruptcy of a business A rift within a family The death of a child…

• We can be quick to question God or blame Him, rather thanking Him for carrying us through it all.

• Sometimes these circumstances are painful for the moment. • Sometimes we do not understand. But the end result is always rewarding

• In all things God works for the good for those who love him, who have been called according his purpose.

Naomi’s attitude ——return by faith • Naomi did not blame and question God. Instead she had faith in Him and returned to Him.

There at least two reasons for this • First, Naomi realized that God kept working in His people. He had provided food for them after the famine. • He was faithful. • Second, she accepted what almighty God had done in her life, even though it was bitter. • He was in control.

The result • Naomi’s soul was restored. • She was rewarded by God. • God had an even higher plan for this family when they even did not know.

• Ruth 4: 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

• Ruth 4: 14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! • Ruth 4: 15 He will renew your life and sustain your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.

• 17 The women living there said, 'Naomi has a son. ' And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Ruth and Orpah’s situation • They had a choice : to go with Naomi or stay in their home country. (vv. 6 -18)

• To go back to their families (v. 8) • To get remarried (v. 9) • To go back to their gods (v. 15)

• Naomi wanted Orpah and Ruth to remain where they would be comfortable, • where they were familiar, • where they were most likely to find acceptance and protection.

Ruth’s attitude : go by faith • 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 anything but death separates you and me. ' •

Ruth faith also brought her into action • she chose to go with Naomi even though she was free to stay behind. • she chose to go with Naomi even though Orpah didn't. • She chose to go with Naomi even though it meant taking risks.

Ruth’s Risks • She might not be accepted by the Israelites • She might never get married again. • She would to take responsibility as breadwinner

The result : Ruth had a rich reward for her faith • She received God's provision of her food. • She had a romantic love story • Ruth 4: 13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife.

• She was in the family tree of Jesus • Then he went to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son named Obed. . . 22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

Orpah’s attitude: • Stay behind for an easy comfortable way. • She chose – the way which was comfortable, – the way where she was familiar, – the way where she was most likely to find acceptance and protection.

Orpah’s Result • Orpah chose the easy way, but in the end she got nothing.

Summary Name Situation Attitude Result Naomi Suffering Faith Restoration Ruth Choice Faith Reward Orpah Choice Comfort Nothing

Am I like Naomi? • • • Am I in a trial, suffering, disappointed? Have I lost a loved one? Have I lost financial security? Is my business bankrupt? Is there a rift in my family?

In that case, what is my attitude to God? • Do I blame Him? • Do I run away from Him? • Or do I still have faith in Him, trust in Him and faithfully follow Him?

Am I like Ruth and Orpah? • Do I have freedom to choose either God’s will or my desire? • Are there important choices in front of me?

In that case: • Will I act like Orpah to choose the easy comfortable way? • Will I choose my way rather than God's?

• Or will I act like Ruth to choose God's way? • Will I choose God's way, even if it seems more difficult? • Will I choose God's way even if it mean taking risks?

Who Am I Ruth 1: 6 -22 Jessica Wang