The men’s Bible study, which I have taught for over 20 years, is also studying this very same topic. I failed to give you the important example of Jehovah’s absolute sovereignty in election in the story of Ruth. I will attempt to reveal this to you and then go back to our study on Israel. Of course, as we have studied, Ruth is a very important example of the ethnicity of Judah/Israel. Let us begin in Chapter 1.
Ruth 1:1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. 1:2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.
We will begin by identifying some very important facts.
First, we did not find any notice of Elimelech praying for wisdom during this famine. Second, Moab was off-limits to Israelites. While this prohibition was often violated, it does not nullify Jehovah’s warnings. Remember, the nations of both Moab and Ammon were the offsprings of the incest of Lot’s daughters.
Deuteronomy 23:3 "No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the LORD; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the LORD, 23:4 because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
There are numerous passages in Judges, Kings, and Chronicles detailing the long-standing battles between Moab and Israel/Judah. Moab was an enemy nation, not a place of refuge. So Elinelech ignored Jehovah’s commandments and went to Moab.
1:3 Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.
1:4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.
1:5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.
Once again, they were prohibited from marrying outside the nation, especially Moabite women. But, they ignored this command and they both died without any children.
1:6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food.
1:7 So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
1:8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
1:9 "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
This is quite a touching scene, three widows with very few options. Interestingly, Naomi stayed in Moab until she saw the economy was better again in Judah.
1:10 And they said to her, "No, but we will surely return with you to your people."
1:11 But Naomi said, "Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
1:12 "Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 1:13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me."
This is just the first of Naomi’s blaming Jehovah for all of her problems, totally ignoring that they had disobeyed Him by leaving 10 years earlier.
:14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
1:15 Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law."
This is a very disturbing statement by Naomi, especially in light of the following testimony of Ruth. Naomi, who should have firmly known that the gods of Moab were not gods. Jehovah was the only true and living God, yet she was comfortable sending these young women back to an idolatrous, child-sacrificing life. It would seem that Naomi had presented Jehovah to them, but now seems willing to send them back.
1:16 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
1:17 "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."
1:18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
Ruth’s testimony is important in contrast to Naomi’s comments and the turning back of Orpah.
1:19 So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, "Is this Naomi?"
1:20 She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
1:21 "I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?"
Here we once again find Naomi appearing to blame Jehovah for all her problems. Not once is there any indication of her recognizing any personal responsibility.
1:22 So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Let us now begin to summarize some evidences of Jehovah’s calling Ruth and how His plans are never interrupted by man’s disobedience.
First, a famine in the land led Elimelech to go to Moab, even though it was against Jehovah’s warnings.
Second, the sons married Moab women, again a violation of His warnings.
Third, all of the men died and no off-springs. Jehovah had closed their wombs. Why?
Fourth, Naomi stayed 10 years, most of which without her husband. Why did she not immediately return to her home and extended family? Just like Lot’s wife, she may have enjoyed living in Moab.
Fifth, Ruth had miraculously turned her life over to Jehovah. But, how could she grow spiritually in Moab?
Sixth, they arrived exactly at the beginning of the barley harvest. This is very significant as we will see next week.
More next Saturday.