Christ Wesleyan Church
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Ruth 1:16 NLT
A. Elimelech chose to leave Bethlehem…
Ruth 1:1 NLT
1. Elimelech chose to expose his family to the false god of Moab rather than remain in Bethlehem and trust God. Moab’s beginnings were shameful.
2. It is apparent by Naomi’s welcome home to Bethlehem that many survived and some even prospered.
3. As a result of Elimelech’s choice, Naomi ended up being left alone with no husband and no sons.
Ruth 1:5 NLT
B. Naomi and her daughters-in-law set out…
Ruth 1:6-7 NLT
1. Naomi told her daughters-in-law to go back.
Ruth 1:8-9 NLT
2. Again, Naomi told her daughters-in-law to go back.
Ruth 1:12 NLT
3. For the third time, she told Ruth to go back and Ruth made her declaration.
Ruth 1:15 NLT
C. Ruth’s commitment to faithfulness…
Ruth 1:16-17 NLT
1. Ruth was willing to stay with her widowed mother-in-law. Ruth was willing to accept the fact that she may remain a widow without children.
2. Ruth was willing to give up her national identity.
3. Ruth was willing to leave her family.
4. Ruth was willing to leave the god of her people for the one true God.
5. Ruth was willing to never return to her home, not even if Naomi died. Ruth was even willing to be buried with Naomi.
Ruth 1:18 NLT
D. Naomi and Ruth were welcomed back…
Ruth 1:19 NLT
1. They were welcomed with excitement.
“…the entire town was excited…”
2. Naomi no longer wanted to be called Naomi, or pleasant one, but Mara, meaning bitter.
Ruth 1:20 NLT
3. Naomi believed her life was now empty.
Ruth 1:21 NLT
4. They returned at the harvest! God’s timing!
Ruth 1:22 NLT
E. How do we apply Price and Providence to our lives?
Psalms 34:19 NLT
1. Naomi had fallen into a mindset of reason over faith. “did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.” How often do you make decisions based on circumstances and what you think is right, rather than prayer and by faith? Choose faith!
2. Naomi had fallen into a mindset based on counsel of the present times rather than biblical principles. When you are seeking direction, do you follow the culture, the counsel of others, or biblical principles? Choose biblical principles!
3. Ruth chose to remain faithful despite all the discouraging picture that was painted and the disappointing circumstances she had faced. What if Ruth had not chosen a steadfast faithfulness? What if Ruth had not chosen the more difficult path? Are you willing to wait despite the circumstances? Are you willing to let God fulfill the promise rather than seek to fill it yourself? Choose faithfulness!
4. Ruth counted the cost and was willing to remain faithful and to go with Naomi to a strange land, serving a new God! Choose to count the cost!
5. God’s intervention was coming…despite all that seemed to be going wrong. Ruth was willing to wait to see…Naomi presently chose to remain bitter based on the circumstances. Are you waiting for God’s intervention…His providence to bring to reality His promises? Don’t give up! God is working in spite of the circumstances! Choose to wait on God!
2 Peter 3:9 NLT