Ruth: A Story of God’s Redeeming LoveSample

In Ruth 1, God shows His faithfulness to us:

·God is faithful when we are not

·God is faithful when we are hopeless

·God is faithful when we forget His promises.

Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons lived during a time when Bethlehem was experiencing famine. Frequently, famines resulted from Israel’s great disobedience to God. In those times, God allowed His people to suffer through famines to encourage them to repent of their sins. Instead of returning to God, Elimelech turned his back on the Lord and took his family to Moab. They tried to escape God’s punishment rather than repent. It is as if Elimelech said, “If God will not provide for me and my family, then I will have to take things into my own hands and do it myself.” But God hated Moab and their worship of the false god, Chemosh. He had explicitly told His people not to have anything to do with Moab. Elimelech chose survival over obedience. Taking care of his family was not justification for breaking God’s commands. But God does not return our faithlessness with the same (Romans 3:3-4). We will see that God will remain faithful even though they were not.

While in Moab, Elimelech and his sons died, leaving Naomi with her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Can you imagine what Naomi was experiencing? Standing in front of the grave of a third loved one, Naomi hit rock bottom. She was hopeless. And her loss of her husband and sons went beyond family. They were three destitute widows in a hostile land with no means to support themselves.

Adversity frequently results in doubting God. Naomi was blind to God’s greater plan but did not doubt God’s existence; she doubted His love and tender care. However, when things seem darkest for God’s people, there is often an approaching day of God’s mercy. God is with us in our afflictions. We must remember God will remain faithful even when we feel hopeless.

When the overjoyed townspeople greeted Naomi, she told them to call her Mara. Naomi felt she had been the target of God’s wrath because “He had dealt bitterly with her.” As such, she had exchanged her God-given name (Naomi, which means “pleasant”) for a name based on her circumstances and feelings (Mara, which means “bitter”). Naomi couldn’t see that God had “pleasant” things in store for her. She changed her perception of truth, and along with it, she redefined her concept of God. Naomi no longer saw God as faithful and loving toward her. She couldn’t even “see” the person of Ruth standing next to her. Ruth, who had declared undying love and devotion to Naomi, might have thought, “I’m standing right here!” Naomi had forgotten the promises of God (Deuteronomy 31:8). Naomi forgot God promised He would be with her and never leave or forsake her. However, God is faithful, even when we forget His promises.

Throughout Scripture, we are reminded of God’s steadfast love. Through the different situations in Naomi’s life, God’s love for her was unchanging. When Elimelech and Naomi turned their backs on God, He remained faithful. God stayed faithful when Naomi felt hopeless after losing her husband and two sons. When she had forgotten God’s promises, God remembered His. No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, we can also count on God to be faithful to us. He will not forsake His children.

Have you ever felt bitter or hopeless like Naomi? Have you missed the blessings around you because you were focused on your pain? We all tend to forget God’s promises to us and live like orphans instead of heirs to His kingdom. What are some things that you can do to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness?