Wherever you are in your routine today, your heart can use a little rest today while we take a moment to trust God that he will give us rest. Let’s dive in today to the book of Ruth. Erica will be focusing on Chapter 1. It is a reminder that there is a plan!
Takeaway Verse: But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
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Transcription:
Hi, I’m Erica and I wanna warmly welcome you to the Bible for Busy People. This is an opportunity for you and I to catch our breath in the middle of our day. Boy, life sure gets busy, doesn’t it? So whether you’re in the middle of washing the dishes or maybe you’re getting a hot second to just dive under a blanket while your little one takes a nap, wherever you are in your routine today, your heart can enjoy a little rest at this moment, because it’s you and I taking Jesus up on his invitation. He tells us in his word, come to me and I WILL give you rest. So this time, this family, the Bible for Busy People family, is us just taking Jesus up on that invitation. We’re saying, yes Lord, we will receive that rest. We’re taking him up on the promise He makes to us. Don’t you love Him so much?
Well, I’m so excited because we are right in the middle of a Harvest series, and today we’re cracking open one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible, the story of Ruth. This is a story of sowing seeds of love and reaping seeds of God’s faithfulness, the fruit of his faithfulness. In my bedroom, I have a verse from the Book of Ruth on my walls. It says, where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. And this story is all about love, selfless love, and how God blesses it.
So are you ready? Let’s dive into the book of Ruth, Chapter one.
“In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites,” I hope I’m saying that right, “Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. Then a Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah and the other a woman named Ruth.” Who you are just gonna fall in love with. “But about 10 years later, both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.
“Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah. But on the way Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.’ Then she kissed them goodbye, and they all broke down and wept.”
Naomi, the mother-in-law, releasing these two widows saying, go build a new life.
‘No,’ they said. ‘We want to go with you to your people.’ But Naomi replied, ‘Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not. My daughters things are far more bitter for me then for you, because the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.'”
Can you hear the hurt in Naomi’s heart coming out in her words?
“And again, they wept together and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. ‘Look,’ Naomi said to her, ‘Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.’ But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back.'” Here’s the Bible verse that’s on my bedroom wall. “‘Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!’. When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.
So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. ‘Is it really Naomi?’ The women asked. ‘Don’t call me Naomi.’ She responded. ‘Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty, has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer, and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?’ So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring at the beginning of the Barley harvest.”
I’m sorry, this story makes me cry because I have walked in Mara’s shoes. Naomi changed her name to Mara, which means bitter. But God had a plan for Naomi. He had a plan for Ruth, and over the next few episodes, you and I are about to see that plan unfold and it’s gonna be a reminder to you. If you are in the shoes of Naomi, if you are so bitter today, it’s gonna be a reminder that God is faithful. Let me pray for you if you’re in those shoes today. Father, I come to you in Jesus’ name. If my friend is suffering today, would you use this story? Would you use your words to remind them that you are not done? You will never leave my friend who’s listening and hurting so badly today. Refresh them with your love and kindness today. Lord, I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Okay, until next time, we’re gonna pick it up in chapter two of the book of Ruth. Remember, there’s a plan and you are so loved.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.
