who am i ruth1:6-22 jessica wang. naomis situation naomi was left with no sons and no husband. this...

Who Am I Who Am I

Ruth1:6-22 Jessica Wang

Naomi’s situation • Naomi was left with no sons and no

husband. This was a great tragedy.

There are Chinese sayings about tragedy :• When a person is young, she loses her

father or mother.

• When a person is middle-aged she loses her spouse

• When person is olds she loses her son.

• When something getting worse.

Everywhere in the Bible, God is described as:

• good, loving, righteous, merciful,

all-powerful,

all-present,

all-knowing,

compassionate and holy.

• But sometimes we go through pain, tragedy, sadness, and disappointment, such as:

• The loss of a loved one,

• The loss of financial security,

• The bankruptcy of a business

• A rift within a family

• The death of a child…

• We can be quick to question God or blame Him, rather than thanking Him for carrying us through it all.

• Sometimes these circumstances are painful for the moment.

• Sometimes we do not understand. But the end result is always rewarding

• In all things God works for the good for those who love him, who have been called according his purpose.

Naomi’s attitude ——return by faith

• Naomi did not blame and question God. Instead she had faith in Him and returned to Him.

There are at least two reasons for this• First, Naomi realized that God kept working in

His people. He had provided food for them after the famine.

• He was faithful.• Second, she accepted what almighty God had

done in her life, even though it was bitter. • He was in control.

The result

• Naomi’s soul was restored.

• She was rewarded by God.

• God had an even higher plan for this family when they even did not know.

• Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

• Ruth 4:14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel!

• Ruth 4:15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.

• 17 The women living there said, 'Naomi has a son.' And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Ruth and Orpah’s situation

• They had a choice :

to go with Naomi or stay in their home country. (vv. 6-18)

• To go back to their families (v. 8)

• To get remarried (v. 9)

• To go back to their gods (v. 15)

• Naomi wanted Orpah and Ruth to remain where they would be comfortable,

• where they were familiar,

• where they were most likely to find acceptance and protection.

Ruth’s attitude : go by faith

• 16 But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

• 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.'

•  

Ruth faith also brought her into action

• she chose to go with Naomi even though she was free to stay behind.

• she chose to go with Naomi even though Orpah didn't. 

• She chose to go with Naomi even though it meant taking risks.

Ruth’s Risks

• She might not be accepted by the Israelites

• She might never get married again.

• She would to take responsibility as breadwinner

The result :Ruth had a rich reward for her faith

• She received God's provision of her food. • She had a romantic love story• Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became

his wife.

• She was in the family tree of Jesus

• Then he went to her, and the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son named Obed... 22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.

Orpah’s attitude: • Stay behind for an easy comfortable way.

• She chose

– the way which was comfortable, – the way where she was familiar,– the way where she was most likely to

find acceptance and protection.

Orpah’s Result

• Orpah chose the easy way, but in the end she got nothing.

Summary Name Situation Attitude Result

Naomi Suffering Faith Restoration

Ruth Choice Faith Reward

Orpah Choice Comfort Nothing

Am I like Naomi?• Am I in a trial, suffering, disappointed?

• Have I lost a loved one?

• Have I lost financial security?

• Is my business bankrupt?

• Is there a rift in my family?

In that case, what is my attitude to God?

• Do I blame Him?

• Do I run away from Him?

• Or do I still have faith in Him, trust in Him and faithfully follow Him?

Am I like Ruth and Orpah?

• Do I have freedom to choose either God’s will or my desire?

• Are there important choices in front of me?

In that case:

• Will I act like Orpah to choose the easy comfortable way?

• Will I choose my way rather than God's?

• Or will I act like Ruth to choose God's way?

• Will I choose God's way, even if it seems more difficult?

• Will I choose God's way even if it mean taking risks?

Who Am Who Am II

Ruth1:6-22 Jessica Wang