Sermon Series on Ruth

“Pictures of Christ: The Book of Ruth”
Ruth 1:1-5

The Book of Ruth

- during the Judges
- estimated to take place between the Judges Gideon and Tola
- Moabites were descendants of Lot
- attributed to Samuel but author unknown


Crisis creates conflict. Conflict calls for response.

Crisis moments in our life come from something outside of our control. Whether it is weather related or it comes from relationships with people, there are just some things we can not control. However, these crises seem to have a way of causing us great internal conflict. We lose sleep. We become anxious. Whatever we may do, the conflict remains and it calls for a response of some sort. Here is where people show their differences. It’s in how we respond. If it was just something happening outside our control it would be easy not to respond. But we are human. We care. We hurt. We want recognition. We want peace. We want stability. Crisis attacks these fundamental desires that we have. Crisis creates the conflict. The Conflict calls for your response. I have the tendency to handle most things fairly well, but when it all quiets down, I vent. Others seem to never get worked up. Others admit to being like a duck, calm on the surface but the feet are going a million miles and hour under water, while others completely lose their minds in situations.

Here’s what we fail to understand in the midst of crisis, conflict and our response, “How we respond often has ripple effects that go far beyond our limited understanding.” How often do we take the time to really think about how this may affect our family weeks, months and years down the road? I know I seldom do. Of course, with the big decisions we think about the outcome, but what about the daily mole-hills that we make into mountains? Do you stop and think about how your response will affect your family, coworkers or neighbors? Of course we don’t and we don’t because it is so much a part of everyday life it is almost like breathing. We don’t think about it. This is how the Book of Ruth begins. There is a crisis a conflict and a husbands response.
Crisis #1 - Famine

Famine causes Elimelech to move family to Moab. As a husband and a father I can understand the decision to move where food is. It is a decision that many of us would make I believe. I understand the conflict taking place. However, let’s look at the response more closely. Why move to Moab? Did the Israelites NOT, just move into the promised land? How quickly we forget the mercies and promises of God. Was all of Israel in famine or was Moab just closer than Galilee?



Crisis #2 – Death

Elimelech dies in Moab, leaving Naomi a widow with two sons. This presents a slightly different conflict. Should Naomi return home to Bethlehem, or remain in Moab? The sons can reclaim the family land and take care of each other if they return. The response is to marry her sons to two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth and stay in Moab.



Crisis #3 – More Death

Mahlon and Chilion, Naomi’s two sons, die, leaving three widows. Naomi tells Orpah and Ruth to return to their mother’s houses, and god’s. She is returning to Bethlehem.




Human Crisis

The reality is we are an outcome of our decisions and responses. Seldom are we shaped by one lone individual crisis. They are often compounded one on top of another. Our decisions often clearly reveal that we are indeed selfish sinful people.



Human Conflict

Someone tells us of the sin that we have. They explain why it is we do the things we do and how we can overcome that and more importantly who overcame it for us and made it possible. Just like the people listening to Peter on the Day of Pentecost, we are cut to the heart and convicted of our sin. How do we mange this sin problem? Why are my view points changing? Why do I desire to learn more about this? What do I do?


Human Response

Do you ignore the sin problem? Do you do your best to change some of your decision making processes? Do you repent and believe the Gospel?


These first five verses just clearly demonstrate life outside the promise of God. God never intended for His people to leave the Promised Land, but they did anyways.

They also illustrate the whole of humanity. How we once lived in paradise, a land flowing with milk and honey. Sin took us out of that land. It took us to Moab and death. But praise God for the rest of the book. He provided a redeemer for us to bring us back into the country. I say us as a Gentile. Not just one nation, but all nations. God used two different Gentile women who had faith, and demonstrated His goodness and sovereignty.

Friends, what crises are causing conflict in your life today? How are you responding? Is your crisis sin? Is the Spirit calling you to repent and believe and follow Christ? How will you respond?