SHE WAS LEFT. Ruth 1:3-5 We often fail to recognize the value of what we have until it's gone. We can learn from Elimelech, who lived in Bethlehem, the "house of bread." Despite a famine in the land, he must have forgotten that God remains the same and His promises never fail. Whenever a person, community, or nation turns to God in repentance and forsakes sin, He is there to listen and respond according to His sovereign will. Elimelech's decision impacted Naomi and his two sons for the rest of their lives, as well as his own. We are always influenceable — for good or bad. This should make us pause and consider the cost of our actions before we act.
It might not have seemed wrong to go to Moab since the Moabites were not living in Canaan. However, they had prohibited Israel from passing through Moab on their way to the promised land. The Lord's decree was that no one from Moab could "enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation." Not only had their leaders failed to provide the Israelites with bread and water, but Balaam was also hired to curse them. Yet, the Lord turned that curse into a blessing, even though the Moabites' goal was to destroy Israel.
For our understanding, the fact is that those who are children of God through faith in Jesus Christ do not easily fit into a worldly society. Our new nature makes us uncomfortable with all that we observe in business, entertainment, and even among religious activities of those who claim to follow the rejected Lord. The moral standards of a believer should be higher than those of the world because God sets the standard by which we are to live.
When we leave our proper place because God has placed us there, no matter how weak the situation we face, we are on our own in a social system where we do not fit in. To "sojourn" in a foreign land means that you truly don't belong there among those people, society, and culture. You stand out as a foreigner in speech, lifestyle, and no matter what you do, "you are not one of us." Conversations stop or shift topics when you try to join the group. Questions arise about why and how long we plan to stay there. No matter how hard we try, there is always the "them and us" attitude that separates the stranger and pilgrim from those born there.
While he was alive, Elimelech was responsible for his family and may have been able to care for them as he wanted when he moved. Elimelech apparently didn't live long after relocating to Moab, but the other family members faced difficult times because of his decision. His widowed wife lacked support from an extended family. His two sons married women from the area where they lived, even though that practice had been forbidden. Fortunately, the women maintained a good relationship during those ten years, even though all were widowed. In that foreign land, there was no family support to rely on during tough times.
There are consequences to our actions that others may have to endure when we run away from our problems in disbelief. My disobedience and lack of faith affect my family and possibly others as well. What some people accept as Christianity today is not biblical Christianity. There is no biblical support for the idea that God wants all His children to be wealthy and successful in worldly possessions.
Actually, the lifestyle and teachings of the Lord Jesus are quite different from that. It is not a promise from God that all of His children will be healthy. John was concerned that Gaius' physical well-being would be prosperous "even as thy soul prospers." It is not wrong to be optimistic about life and how God will use us, but that doesn't mean we will not suffer. "All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
It would be difficult for a dutiful wife to oppose her husband's leadership. However, God, in grace, gave Naomi a special daughter-in-law who was of a kindred spirit. Naomi and Ruth were remarkable individuals in their own right, but they could combine their different backgrounds, ages, and cultures into opportunities for growth. We may find ourselves in a situation where we shouldn't be for some reason, but we can learn from Naomi that there are principles we should always uphold. Even after the death of her immediate family and her deep bitterness, she maintained her integrity. In doing so, we commit to being honest and genuine despite the circumstances we face. God cares about our character far more than our comfort.
The moral standards that Israelites were to follow were high. God had given them to the Jews in written form because they were His chosen earthly people and were supposed to represent Him among the nations. However, the times were grim in Israel during the period of the judges, and spiritual darkness was everywhere as people “did that which was right in their own eyes.” Naomi and Ruth exemplify women who have moral guidelines by which they live. Naomi’s faith was strong enough to lead Ruth to believe in God. She wanted Naomi’s God to be her God. Personal faith in God influences others, even in times of sorrow and despair. Naomi and Ruth illustrate friendship, commitment, and loyalty.
Morality and righteous living are not limited to believers, even if they do not know God or believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. What we are inside is more important than what we have or claim as our own. Many of God's people who face difficult circumstances are mentioned in scripture as examples for us to learn from. Job lost everything he had but remained confident in God, even though he didn't understand his great losses. Paul had to live without being healed so God's grace could be demonstrated through his life and words. Hosea had to endure life with an unfaithful wife in a shameful marriage. We read, "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations."
People have persevered through trials without ever knowing the reason. They just trusted God and remained faithful to Him under the extreme pressures of life. When a child of God can truly say, "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord," that person of faith is a testimony to all of us of God at work behind the scenes of ordinary life. Naomi was left without family and support but was graciously supplied by the sovereign God with the perfect daughter-in-law who was free from the corrupting, immoral lifestyle of idolatry.
When kindred-spirited persons meet, they establish a commitment to integrity that keeps both honest and upright with each other. It's wonderful when the Lord brings upright people committed to purity and a genuine attitude toward us and God into our lives. Integrity is essential for anyone who is godly. We must protect our testimony with integrity and all our strength. Then, when someone with the same dedication to God enters our life, we find ourselves connected and able to serve God wholeheartedly while allowing the other person the freedom to be themselves before the Lord.
Ruth was willing to leave her homeland to go to Israel, and Naomi was willing for Ruth to return to Moab. When someone is "left" by her husband's death, it is hard enough. When she is "left" by her two sons, that is almost more than one can accept. The disobedience of one person has long-lasting effects on others. We must take plenty of time to consider any action we think about, with the goal of understanding what the Lord our God says. We may not only be "left" ourselves, but others may be "left" as well.
Being ten years away from God's will and His chosen place not only isolates us from fellowship with God and His people but also impacts our testimony and that of others we've influenced, in ways from which they may never recover. We must commit to persevere, even when the trials we face seem overwhelming. It may not appear difficult at first when we decided to leave the place where God had put us, driven by a desire for something we thought we wanted. We forget that every ambitious plan and desire carries a cost. Later, we realize that the path we chose had a very bitter pill hidden within it.
Very little provides lasting satisfaction when the price of disobedience must be paid. What we wanted has already been done and passed. There is no recovery for the lost years that the "locusts and cancer" have eaten. Now, scars remain on our hearts that no doctor can heal. Naomi was "left" somewhere far away. She was "left" with nothing of her own. She was "left," but God shows great grace. She was "left" with someone better than a son. She was "left," and through her, people saw God. She was "left" with someone eager to learn more. She was "left" with nothing to hold onto. She was "left," not knowing what was coming next.