Pastor Martin Chappell - June 26, 2022
God’s Sovereignty/Our Faith
Ruth 1:6-9
June 26, 2022
Ruth 1:6-9 CSB
6 She and her daughters-in-law set out to return from the territory of Moab, because she had heard in Moab that the Lord had paid attention to his people’s need by providing them food. 7 She left the place where she had been living, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, and traveled along the road leading back to the land of Judah.
8 Naomi said to them, “Each of you go back to your mother’s home. May the Lord show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me. 9 May the Lord grant each of you rest in the house of a new husband.” She kissed them, and they wept loudly.
There are some important themes in this passage.
- Sovereignty: God is always at work in our life/world.
- Faith: living daily with God in a personal relationship.
- We don’t always see what God is doing.
- Faith is a struggle: trust God when we can’t see what He is doing.
- Love: Hebrew word hesed – loyal, consistent, active, caring, committed, selfless.
- Bible translations: mercy, compassion, love, grace, faithfulness.
- Return: repent, turn and go back to God/righteousness.
Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, vv. 6-7.
6 She and her daughters-in-law set out to return from the territory of Moab, because she had heard in Moab that the Lord had paid attention to his people’s need by providing them food. 7 She left the place where she had been living, accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, and traveled along the road leading back to the land of Judah.
- Poor decisions had left the women in a bad situation.
- Naomi heard that God had provided for His people in Bethlehem.
- The famine was over because of God “visiting” His people.
- We see the same idea in the coming of Jesus to redeem mankind, Luke 1:68.
68 Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people.
- Notice the struggle/conflict in Naomi’s faith.
- Trusted God to care for His people/blamed God for her current situation.
Naomi urged her daughters-in-law to return to their homes in Moab, vv. 8-9.
8 Naomi said to them, “Each of you go back to your mother’s home. May the Lord show kindness to you as you have shown to the dead and to me. 9 May the Lord grant each of you rest in the house of a new husband.” She kissed them, and they wept loudly.
- Naomi had genuine concern (hesed) for her daughters-in-law.
- Moab – family to provide; Bethlehem – live as foreigners with no protector.
- Naomi’s blessings to the two women reflect her faith in God.
- Prayed for God to shower them with love (hesed) as they had shown.
- Prayed for God to give them husbands to provide and protect.
- Notice again the struggle/conflict in Naomi’s faith.
- She expected blessings for Ruth/Orpah yet not for herself.
Live It Out
- Living by faith is a struggle, Hebrews 11:1-3.
11 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. 2 For by this our ancestors were approved. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
- God does not give all the answers we want.
- Faith is hard when life is going wrong.
- One of the keys to a life of faith is trusting in God’s sovereignty.
- Don’t trust what is seen: God is at work even when we can’t see it.
- Leave room for mystery: God works in ways we don’t understand.
- Accept that God’s way is always the best way: He has perfect knowledge/power.
- Trust God to have perfect, active, consistent, faithful love: hesed.
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