God's Word for Me Today

Tuesday, December 18, 2001

Unwrapping a Christ-Centered Christmas!

A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today

A Closer Look at One of Jesus’ Ancestors: Ruth

The story of Ruth is one of the most amazing in the Bible. Why? Because Ruth was a Moabite, a foreigner. She lived in the Old Testament days before there were kings in Israel. She married a Jewish husband, but her life went through a series of downward spirals. Her husband, her husband’s brother and her husband’s father all died. Ruth was left with a Jewish Mother-in-law, named Naomi, who wanted to change her name to “Mara” (which means bitter) after all this loss. Naomi told Ruth to go back to her family and friends, that there was no future for her with Naomi. Ruth insisted that she was going to remain faithful to her mother-in-law, even accepting her God as her own. The story of Ruth is a compelling story of God’s provision for those who are faithful, and it is all the more compelling since Ruth is a biological ancestor of Jesus, according to Matthew’s Gospel. May we all learn to live in the same kind of faith and obedience as Ruth, even when life serves us difficult situations and circumstances!

My Prayer Today

Heavenly Father, I thank You this day for the story of Ruth, and for the opportunity to have someone of such great character as part of my spiritual heritage. I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I too may be faithful and obedient to You this day. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen

God's Word for Me Today: Ruth 1

1 In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a man from Bethlehem in Judah left the country because of a severe famine. He took his wife and two sons and went to live in the country of Moab. 2 The man's name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. During their stay in Moab, 3 Elimelech died and Naomi was left with her two sons. 4 The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her husband or sons.

6 Then Naomi heard in Moab that the LORD had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah. 8 But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go back to your mothers' homes instead of coming with me. And may the LORD reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. 9 May the LORD bless you with the security of another marriage." Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept. 10 "No," they said. "We want to go with you to your people." 11 But Naomi replied, "Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? 12 No, my daughters, return to your parents' homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? 13 Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD himself has caused me to suffer." 14 And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi. 15 "See," Naomi said to her, "your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same." 16 But Ruth replied, "Don't ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!" 18 So when Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her.

19 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was stirred by their arrival. "Is it really Naomi?" the women asked. 20 "Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty. Why should you call me Naomi when the LORD has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy?" 22 So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Questions for Reflection

What is the worst circumstance or “season” of circumstances you have had to endure in your life so far?

Questions for Exploration

What is the most significant development in today’s Scripture? (1:1-22)

What is Ruth’s response to all the difficulties she faced? (1:1-22)

Questions for Understanding

Why do you suppose that Ruth refused to leave Naomi, even though it would have been easier to return to her own family?

Questions for Application

What is one difficult situation you are facing right now? Turn it over to the Lord in prayer right now, and ask Him to give you the courage and ability to overcome it.

What's In It For Me?

Many times, when folks are faced with a tough decision, we ask a simple question, “What’s in it for me, if I do _________?” Ruth was in a terribly difficult situation. Her husband was dead. In that day, a woman was seldom able to make it on her own. Her husband had also been a foreigner in her land, and now her mother-in-law (whose husband had also died) was going back to Israel. The Israelites and the Moabites hated each other. It would have been easy for Ruth to ask, “What’s in this for me, if I go back to Israel?” From the Scripture it doesn’t even look like Ruth thought about that question. As soon as Naomi said she was returning to Israel, Ruth said, “I’m going, too!” There was nothing in Israel for Ruth. She had no guarantee of another husband, of any kind of economic benefit or security. Israel only had one thing that Moabite didn’t have: the Israelites worshiped the one, true God. For Ruth that was the key. Remember what she said, “ I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Your God will be my God. Ruth must have experienced something of the reality of God through her husband and his family. Ruth was willing to give up security, comfort and the familiar, in order to go on a journey where the one known quantity was God. She was willing to risk everything to be with God. I guess we could say that what was in it for Ruth, was the one, true God. What else would she or any of us need? As Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will be added to you, as well.” May we be willing to have Jesus be all we need, and to do whatever He tells us!

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