Series: Ruthless
Message: Breaking the Status Quo
Preacher: Jessyka Albert
Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 35:11-18.
Read: Ruth 1:6-18 - As you read in the ESV translation, note 1-3 insights/questions that arise.
Reflect: The story of Ruth does not tell us what Naomi thought of her daughters-in-law being Moabites. We don’t know if Naomi and Elimilech were in apposition to their sons marrying “heathen” women, but nonetheless, what we do see is a sense of loyalty between Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah. Originally they had all set off together when Naomi had announced that she would be returning to Bethlehem.
Somewhere down the road, Naomi realizes that she is taking these young women on the same journey she was once on: immigrating to a new land, feeling out of place, being looked down on, being uncomfortable with the religion, and eventually isolated. She knew her town of Bethlehem would not accept Ruth and Orpah as their own, so she encourages them to turn back, and to find life more abundant in their own homeland.
Orpah does what many of us would probably do, she takes the out. She knows the cons outweigh the pros, so she decides to turn back to find a brighter future. Ruth doesn't go. She clings to Naomi. Ruth says the now famous words, “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you.”
Unfortunately, we don’t know what was going on in Ruth’s head and why she so intensely insisted on breaking the status quo, giving up her life back in Moab, and changing her beliefs to stay with Naomi, but we know this girl had courage and determination.
Recalibrate:
Respond: Pray for healing.
Research: What are today’s top 10 difficulties for immigrants?