Ruth 1-4
For her special day Janet received an expensive
tube of Retin-A from her two teenage daughters.
When she shared about her gift at a luncheon with
friends, they were all impressed that her girls were
resourceful enough to finagle a prescription
medication to help diminish wrinkles.
Realizing this was such a unique gift, the ladies
were curious as to what they gave her for last
Mother’s Day. Without a moment’s hesitation Janet
replied, “The wrinkles!”
This morning we are going to see what we can learn from
two mothers: Naomi and Ruth.
Before we do, let me remind you.
Life doesn’t always go the way we plan.
Life gets messy. People make mistakes.
People hurt each other.
People say things they shouldn’t.
No matter what comes our way, we have God directing
our paths. He is not the author of confusion. He wants us
to trust him with our lives and our children’s lives.
He is always working even when we think He is not
working.
First, let’s look at Naomi.
Naoami – A Mother Who Persevered During Crisis
Ruth 1:1-5
Difficult Circumstances
Naomi was Starving – There was famine in the land.
This is why they packed up and left Bethlehem in the first
place and ended up in Moab.
Naomi was Grieving – after some time in Moab her
husband passed away. Her sons married Moabite women,
Orpah and Ruth. After 10 years both sons died leaving no
children. She has lost all the men in her life. It’s just her
and her daughters-in-law.
Naomi was Discouraged – Naomi tells her
daughters-in-law to turn back and return to their
mother’s house. She is planning on going back to her
land alone.
Ruth 1:11-14
But the unexpected happens.
Orpah goes back to her family, but Ruth clings to Naomi.
I find verse 15 strange.
Ruth 1:15
Naomi, a Jew, tells her non-Jew daughters-in-law to
return to their people and their gods. Naomi knows the
one true God, the one who made everything by speaking.
The one who controls the sun and the moon and the wind
and the rain.
Yet she is so discouraged that she isn’t thinking about
that.
She is caught up in the crisis.
Listen to the depth of Naomi’s discouragement:
Ruth 1:20-21 “She said to them, ‘Do not call me
Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt
very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the
Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me
Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and
the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?’”
Naomi means pleasant, but she didn’t want to be called
pleasant, because she was dealing with a tough situation.
She asks to be called Mara which means bitter. She felt
that God had dealt bitterly with her and brought calamity
on her.
Sometimes when times get tough, we lose sight of all we
have.
Naomi wasn’t truly empty.
Encouraging Reality
Naomi had a Companion – Ruth 1:16-18
Ruth was committed to staying with Naomi and returning
to Bethlehem with her. What an amazing act of friendship
and loyalty on Ruth’s part here. Even when we think we
are alone, God often sends people into our lives to
encourage, strengthen and support us.
Naomi had a Possession – Ruth 4:3 tells us that Naomi
was still the owner of a tract of land that her husband
owned. She was going to sell it so she could have money
to live on and survive.
Naomi had Hope – Ruth 1:6 tell us she heard the Lord
had provided food to His people. That was one of the
main reasons she was returning to Bethlehem.
It’s easy to get discouraged when life happens.
Naomi showed both courage and strength in the midst
of her crisis.
Ruth 1:6-10
She had the courage to return home even when things
seemed bleak. Sometimes we think we can’t go back
home, but Scripture reminds us over and over again that
we can go back home. Abraham went to Egypt during the
famine and came back, the prodigal son went away and
came back home.
Coming back takes courage, Naomi showed great
courage in coming back to Bethlehem.
Naomi also found strength to encourage Ruth to find a
husband in Boaz.
Ruth 3:1-5
Naomi was aware that Boaz was a relative and eligible to
be the kinsman redeemer for Ruth. She encouraged Ruth
to go shoot her shot for a husband.
Now, let’s take a moment to look at our second mom this
morning.
Now, let’s look at Ruth.
Ruth – Displaying Motherly Traits Before Becoming
a Mother
Ruth was Loyal
I know we already read this passage earlier, but let’s turn
once again to Ruth 1:16-17
Ruth was not a Jew, but she learned of God’s faithfulness
and love from her mother in law.
I have to think that Ruth saw how the god of her people,
chemosh never had any power to accomplish anything.
I would imagine Naomi told Ruth about how God led
Israel by the pillar of cloud in the day and the pillar of fire
at night.
I would imagine Naomi told Ruth about how God allowed
Israel to cross the Red Sea on dry ground to rescue them
from the Egyptians.
I would imagine Naomi told Ruth about how God brought
Israel into the promised land and helped them conquer
every enemy to give them a land flowing with milk and
honey.
Learning all this must have sparked her to say what she
said showing loyalty to her mother in law.
She had every right to leave Naomi and attempt to find a
husband on her own, but she chose loyalty instead.
Ruth was Diligent
Ruth was also a very diligent worker.
Ruth 2:1-7, 11
This is one of those incredible traits of mothers.
They do what needs to be done for their families.
This parallels Proverbs 31.
“She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her
household and portions for her maidens.”
“She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms
strong.
She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine
linen and purple.”
“She makes linen garments and sells them;”
“She looks well to the ways of her household and does
not eat the bread of idleness.”
Ruth was Selfless
She was selfless like so many mothers I know.
Ruth 2:17-18
Ruth worked to provide for her mother in law.
She put her needs above her own.
For all these years Ruth was not a mother, but look how
the story ends.
Ruth 4:13-22
God blesses Ruth with a husband and a child.
God blesses Naomi with a grandchild.
Did you notice that Ruth is in the line of Jesus?
The son of this faithful Moabite woman fathered Jesse
who fathered David.
Isn’t it incredible that God uses mothers in such an
amazing way?
APPLICATION
Give Yourself Grace
No one is perfect. Even if they look perfect on the
outside, they are not. There is no perfect mother.
Give yourself grace when you mess up. Know you are not
alone.
When times get tough, take a second look. You may have
missed an encouraging reality.
Allow God to show you the good in your life.
Support Others
Everyone needs a Ruth to stand by us and encourage us.
Be that for someone. You never know who may need it.