How the Story of Ruth Helps Us Recenter and Recalculate after Wrong Turns
Almost everyone uses a Global Positioning System, (GPS). Gone are the days of cross country and long-distance road trips aided by Rand McNally or AAA “trip tick.” Today, using a GPS has become ubiquitous. One of the incredible things about a GPS is this: when you miss your exit or go past the place you should have turned, it will immediately begin to reroute you so that you can get back on track and arrive at your desired destination.
In the spiritual world there is what I shall refer to as God’s Positioning System. So that when you’re lost, when you’ve been wandering around, when your life has been without meaning and purpose, when you’re still attempting to “find yourself,” by utilizing God’s Positioning System you will have the opportunity to be rerouted so that you can arrive at the desired destination.
How God Does It
God uses His Word and His Spirit to help you to navigate life. In this sense, arriving at one’s destination includes discovering and pursuing one’s purpose. As Sandra L. Richter wrote in her 2008 book, The Epic of Eden, this destination is being among those who will spend eternity in the place of God, with the people of God, in the presence of God.
Opening God’s Word, reading, studying and applying God’s Word to one’s life will help you to discover God’s purpose. In God’s Word you will also discover patterns and principles that will help put your life in perspective and give purpose to your experiences.
Opening God’s Word helps us to discover how He operated and related to humans in the past. And there in God’s Word we’ll learn how others discovered their purpose and by observing and learning from the patterns found in biblical history we too can discover our purpose and be ready for eternity.
Story of Ruth Tests the System
A study of and insights from the book of Ruth affords us such an opportunity. The book chronicles the story of one family, who having lost their way, were eventually rerouted to discover God’s purpose for their lives. The book teaches that even when we mess up royally, even when we purposely go astray from the instructions of God’s map, we can, when we come to our senses be rerouted and ultimately fulfill His purpose for us.
The book details the actions of a man from the town of Bethlehem who, as Richter explores, led his family away from the people, place and presence of God. To understand his—Elimelech’s—choices we must understand his context.
Elimelech and his family lived during the biblical period known as the era of the judges. Ruth 1:1 informs us that this story occurred “in the days when the judges ruled.” And, an insightful glance of the book called Judges leads us into this startling discovery of the ethos of the era: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25; see also 17:6, 18:1, and 19:1).
On Our Own
We should note that from the time of Israel’s birth as a nation, God was their king. So, when the writer asserted that “there was no king” the statement had two clear implications. First,
we can conclude that the nation had rejected God as their king. The God who brought them out of Egyptian slavery, the God who parted the Sea of Reeds to rescue them from the deadly pursuit of Pharoah and his army, the God who gave them the promised land, the God who lived among them, they were now rejecting as their king. The second assertion of the phrase implies this: by declaring that they had no king, the writer was saying they had no earthly, human potentate. In fact, they would subsequently demand to have a king, “like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5 ).
Having rejected God’s leadership, and without a human king, “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Elimelech epitomized this distinctive cultural ethos. This was an era when families, like Gideon’s, had their own household gods. This was an era when Israel had become like Sodom (See Judges 19-21). So, when a famine decimated the land, Elimelech moved his family to Moab. He apparently never consulted God, never prayed about the matter, never asked for a sign, and most certainly did not discuss it with his wife and sons. He did what was right in his own eyes.
In doing so, he removed himself and his family from the people of God, the place of God. God had given them the land, designating it as the Promised Land and Bethlehem was the house of bread. More importantly, Elimelech removed himself and his family from the presence of God. We know that when God instructed Moses to build a sanctuary, His specific desire and purpose was “that I may dwell in their midst” (Exodus 25:8 ESV).
Moab—Not the Place to Be
What happened next is what will always happen when the people of God reject Him as King, do not consult with Him and refuse to live by His Word. What happened next is what will always happen when the people of God, leave the place of God and the presence of God. What happened next is what will always happen when we make decisions without consulting with God through prayer, listening and giving attention to His Word. Moab was not the place to go. Moab represented a place of self-reliance, a place God did not send him, and place God does not want you to be.
One may query, what should he have done? He had a family he was responsible for. He had mouths to feed. After all, “there was a famine in the land.” I’m glad you asked. It was God who had planted this family and the nation of Israel in the “Promised Land.” This is the land that was described as flowing with milk and honey. Furthermore, Bethlehem was the house of bread. How could there be no bread in the house of bread?
Troubleshooting Your Famine
Before making the decision to relocate should Elimelech have done some reflection and introspection? How comfortable are you doing introspection? Can you genuinely look at the man in the mirror and face the truth?
What was God up to? What was God attempting to teach Israel through this famine? Did the presence of the famine mean that God was no longer able to honor His word, or was the famine an attention-getting device to awaken spiritual reflection?
When we are confident that we are where we’re supposed to be – The Promise Land, the place where God wants us to be, who is responsible for sustaining us there? This story invites us to consider how we make decisions in times of crisis. What role does God play in our decision-making choices, in times of crises?
May I Have Your Attention?
We are living in another moment of national crisis. Many have openly wondered what we would do if the recent election results turned out in a way we did not like. We’re anticipating a “famine,” and some of us have thought of leaving for Moab. Before you leave, do you have a moment for some reflection and introspection? Is it possible that God may have a word for you before you leave for Moab? Is it possible that going to Moab will be a choice not directed by God?
Students of sacred Scripture have discovered that God has often used famine to get the attention of His people or to facilitate their growth or to remind them of their true source for all of life. Consider Abram in Genesis 12. Consider the sons of Jacob in Genesis 42-44. It was the pinch of famine that led to their confession about the role they played in Joseph’s presence in Egypt. Consider the famine during the days of Elijah and during the reign of David. God has often used famine to invite introspection that can lead to repentance and reformation. By leaving for Moab, Elimelech circumvented the need for introspection that could have led to repentance and reformation.
Is it possible that the famine in your life may be God’s means of inviting you, encouraging you to do some much-needed introspection and soul searching that can lead to repentance and reformation? Are you someone living in the manner the text describes, doing what is right in your own eyes?
Sitting in the Truth
We hear people talking today about “my truth.” Is there a difference between your truth and the truth? Is it possible that you, like Elimelech, have chosen to relocate to Moab rather than face the discomfort of introspection, soul searching, repentance and reformation? Could it be true that you are contemplating leaving the place of God, the people of God and the presence of God in a futile attempt to avoid the work God wants to do in your life? Yes, God loves us just the way we are, but He refuses to leave us that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.
The New International Version of 1 John 3:2 says, “…what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.” To accomplish this goal, He often allows us to experience the pinch of famine.
We are informed that “they went into the country of Moab and remained there.” Elimelech took his family to a place God never intended for him to be. Elimelech chose to be in Moab rather than to sit in the discomfort God orchestrated. There was a famine in Bethlehem, but in Moab, not far away, there was plenty. This suggests that the famine was specifically targeted. Elimelech never made it out of Moab; he died and was buried there. In the ancient world of the text, it was of major importance for someone to be buried in the burial site of their ancestors.
Complications on the Detour
The detour for this family appeared to get further complicated when the sons married Moabite women. Moab was enemy territory. Israelites were forbidden from associating with Moabites so marrying Moabite women was a definite no-no. If this family had taken a strange detour when they moved to Moab, the sons marrying Moabite women seemed to lead them further away from the plan and purpose of God.
Then things got further complicated with both sons died and now there are three widows, Naomi, Orpah and Ruth. It couldn’t get darker for this family. In the culture of the text, being a widow was an unimaginable disaster and nightmare.
“A woman who was widowed prior to bearing a son was a woman in crisis,” says Richter. “And a woman without father, husband or son was destitute; without the charity of strangers, she would starve.”
The move that was initially meant to lead to greener pastures now became a nightmare of unspeakable proportions.
Everything that could go wrong had gone wrong for Elimelech and for his family. This is not what they envisioned when they departed Bethlehem. But this is exactly what happens when we do what is right in our own eyes. This is what happens when we fail to listen to God and to seek His directions for our lives.
Is There Hope Here?
So, Elimelech and his sons are dead and his wife Naomi and daughters in law are left in Moab to fend for themselves. Naomi found herself stuck in Moab due to the decision of her now deceased husband. Will God give up on this family who left for Moab? Can God’s purpose for them still become reality? Who would believe at this moment that one of these women would be listed in the genealogy of Jesus? Does God give up on us when we’ve left His place, presence and His people for “greener pastures,” for Moab? Can God’s purpose for us still be realized even after we’ve taken our own detour? If I’m a Moabite does God have a plan for my life?
Into this situation God wants to teach a lesson someone needs to learn today. It doesn’t matter how long and how far we’ve stayed away from God’s purpose and His will; God in His infinite mercy does not give up on us. That’s good news!
Discover how God ultimately brings about His will for this family. Discover how God eventually leads this family back to the place of God, among the people of God, in the presence of God. Maybe, you’ll discover that all is not lost for you. Maybe you’ll discover how God wants to reposition you so that His will for your life can still become reality despite the turns you’ve made outside of His will.
Is This Thing On?
Are you experiencing a famine in your personal, family or professional life? Where are you looking for bread, in Bethlehem or in Moab? Jesus declared in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life…” Since Jesus is “the bread of life,” our quest to find bread, (be it physical or spiritual bread) should never lead us away from His presence, His people or His place.
Where are you looking for bread, in Bethlehem or in Moab? Could it be that the hunger you’re experiencing, is a hunger only God can fill? Could it be the famine you’ve been going through is a famine for you to come to a moment of spiritual awakening?
Maybe you’re in Bethlehem, perhaps you’re in Moab and you’re wondering if because of your decisions you’re now outside of His grace. The good news is, you too can become a part of Jesus’ genealogy. John 1:12 tells us, “…to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
It’s time to look at God’s Positioning System and allow Him to redirect you to be “in the place of God, with the people of God and in the presence of God.”
All Scripture quotations, except otherwise noted, have been taken from the English Standard Version.
The Holy Bible, New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1973, 2002).
