Bouncing back; A new page has just been opened
Ruth 1:1-22
Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!”
14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said:“Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”
18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. 19 Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since theLord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
This scripture describes a family which seemingly had been well off at the time drought struck Israel. For sure a man who had ability to gather his family and rescue it to another country must have been above average in economic status. Notice that verse 21 Naomi confirmed this when she said ‘I left the land full but I have returned empty’. This was a real drop from honour to disgrace, from being pleasant to being bitter. Naomi felt finished and at the lowest point and maybe she was returning home to die with her people of origin, after all she had lost everything and everyone in the foreign land. Naomi had written herself off using words like empty, and Mara – bitter.
There are other records of people whose life is written off because of either the decisions they made or circumstances which befell them. The woman who was caught in adultery in John 8:1-12 had also been written off and condemned by the leaders right in the presence of Jesus. Also remember the story of the 4 lepers in 2 Kings 7. The law and society had entirely condemned them as outcasts. The story of Lazarus is also an indication of one who was already finished, dead, buried and smelling (John 11). Remember the death of Jesus also outlines a situation which appeared to be over and the disciples had even gone back fishing.
Brethren, these and many other records, indicate that at times people can reach a point and declare you finished. But I want to let you know that 'its not over until its over.' Until God puts a full stop, your story cannot be over. In His word in Jeremiah 29:11, God says He has good plans for you and nothing can thwart or block accomplishment of the good plans. After all is said and done, all things will work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). I do not want to imply that we be reckless or careless, but as long as I love God and am called according to His purpose, then all things, meaning all things including what may have befallen me through a careless mistake, decision or action. Think of the mistake Naomi and family made to escape from the land of promise just because of a drought; think also of the woman who was caught in adultery; The consequences which befell them was as a result of their own actions. But because they found their way back to God, His love turned around the story for them and all things started to work for their good.
When everyone says it is over for you and when you indeed feel like agreeing with them and the enemy to say its over, God starts a new page for you and you bounce back. Amen. I repeat again, its not over yet until it is over. Only God has the mandate to put a full stop to your story and if you think its over, I decree it’s the beginning of yet another page and chapter in your story.
When Joseph was thrown into the pit by his brothers, they thought it was over. When he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife till he found his way to jail, perhaps he thought it was over. But remember the dream had to be fulfilled and the story would not reach the last chapter without him becoming the governor. It was a surprise for Joseph’s brothers to realise he was the governor and they had to bow down to him whom they had declared dead. Isn't God marvellous?
Whoever wrote you off, is about to behave like the Kings in Joshua 5:1 who heard what God had done for the Israelites and their hearts melted and there was no spirit in them! Your story has just began. Tell your enemies like Micah 7:8:
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!”
14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said:“Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”
18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. 19 Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 But she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since theLord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
This scripture describes a family which seemingly had been well off at the time drought struck Israel. For sure a man who had ability to gather his family and rescue it to another country must have been above average in economic status. Notice that verse 21 Naomi confirmed this when she said ‘I left the land full but I have returned empty’. This was a real drop from honour to disgrace, from being pleasant to being bitter. Naomi felt finished and at the lowest point and maybe she was returning home to die with her people of origin, after all she had lost everything and everyone in the foreign land. Naomi had written herself off using words like empty, and Mara – bitter.
There are other records of people whose life is written off because of either the decisions they made or circumstances which befell them. The woman who was caught in adultery in John 8:1-12 had also been written off and condemned by the leaders right in the presence of Jesus. Also remember the story of the 4 lepers in 2 Kings 7. The law and society had entirely condemned them as outcasts. The story of Lazarus is also an indication of one who was already finished, dead, buried and smelling (John 11). Remember the death of Jesus also outlines a situation which appeared to be over and the disciples had even gone back fishing.
Brethren, these and many other records, indicate that at times people can reach a point and declare you finished. But I want to let you know that 'its not over until its over.' Until God puts a full stop, your story cannot be over. In His word in Jeremiah 29:11, God says He has good plans for you and nothing can thwart or block accomplishment of the good plans. After all is said and done, all things will work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). I do not want to imply that we be reckless or careless, but as long as I love God and am called according to His purpose, then all things, meaning all things including what may have befallen me through a careless mistake, decision or action. Think of the mistake Naomi and family made to escape from the land of promise just because of a drought; think also of the woman who was caught in adultery; The consequences which befell them was as a result of their own actions. But because they found their way back to God, His love turned around the story for them and all things started to work for their good.
When everyone says it is over for you and when you indeed feel like agreeing with them and the enemy to say its over, God starts a new page for you and you bounce back. Amen. I repeat again, its not over yet until it is over. Only God has the mandate to put a full stop to your story and if you think its over, I decree it’s the beginning of yet another page and chapter in your story.
When Joseph was thrown into the pit by his brothers, they thought it was over. When he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife till he found his way to jail, perhaps he thought it was over. But remember the dream had to be fulfilled and the story would not reach the last chapter without him becoming the governor. It was a surprise for Joseph’s brothers to realise he was the governor and they had to bow down to him whom they had declared dead. Isn't God marvellous?
Whoever wrote you off, is about to behave like the Kings in Joshua 5:1 who heard what God had done for the Israelites and their hearts melted and there was no spirit in them! Your story has just began. Tell your enemies like Micah 7:8:
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy, when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, The Lord will be my light.
For sure time has come for all those who were down to rise again. It time to experience fulfilment of Isaiah 60:1-3.
According to Isaiah 61:3, I decree to all those who have been mourning, you be comforted, receive beauty instead of ashes, receive oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. It is time to be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that the Lord may be glorified.
Lets get back to our initial text in Ruth 1. Note 3 very dramatic things which happened to Naomi after she was back to the land of origin:
a) Her daughter-in-law Ruth got married to this very wealthy man Boaz and definitely this ended the emptiness and dryness that had been in Naomi’s life.
According to Isaiah 61:3, I decree to all those who have been mourning, you be comforted, receive beauty instead of ashes, receive oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. It is time to be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that the Lord may be glorified.
Lets get back to our initial text in Ruth 1. Note 3 very dramatic things which happened to Naomi after she was back to the land of origin:
a) Her daughter-in-law Ruth got married to this very wealthy man Boaz and definitely this ended the emptiness and dryness that had been in Naomi’s life.
b) She was now the envy of many women who had earlier known her story (Ruth 4:14).
c) The juiciest part is that Ruth became part of those in the genealogy of Jesus (Ruth 4:17-22).
There is nothing that God cannot do to rewrite your story and begin a new page. With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible to all who believe. Jesus resurrected to glory by the same power that works for us today. It is the same power which raised Lazarus from death; it’s the same power which made the 4 lepers to become millionaires and channel through which the whole Israel received a release from drought (2 Kings 7). This is the same power which made the adulterous woman not to be stoned to death but have a new life (John 8:1-12). It is the power that caused the sea to dry and create a path for the deliverance of God’s children from captivity to freedom. What makes you think your story is impossible? Only believe in God and wait for Him to give you a fresh start. As long as you know Him and the power of His resurrection, then I say it is well with you, according to Isaiah 3:10. God will make a way where there seems to be no way. I assure you He is dependable even when all things seem to have fallen apart. He knows how to put back the broken pieces and allow a new page and chapter to restart again in your life story. He is God.
From the above, we can pick some lessons for us in our walk with God as He writes again our story:
1) Inquire of God prior to making a move. It is not indicated anywhere that the family of Naomi sought God before migrating to Moab. Please ask God for direction before you proceed to a place of bitterness and emptiness.
2) Stay within the boundaries. Note that the going to Moab was a source of great loss to the Naomi’s family. Brethren, there are times when one starts moving about with a wandering spirit which may position you to a place of death. If you are still experiencing continuous death, emptiness and bitterness, just take a pause and check the position you are in. Might you have left home and you are eating with pigs like the prodigal son? Are still in the faith? Some people even move to a different church because of not being recognised or not being allowed leadership and positions. I beg you to get back to the place of worship where you are led of God and where the word is taught without compromise. Hold on there, your time for a new page will still come. Do not walk out kimatharau or thinking you are punishing the pastor or making God to feel at loss. Stay put my brother and sister at the very position which God talked to you about and continue doing what He said you do even when it seems challenging. One wrong move cost Naomi her husband and sons. Even when it seems like a good thing; find out if it is a godly thing before you make the move.
3) Now take a bold step and courageously return to the Father. The prodigal son chose not to continue eating with pigs. Naomi chose not to die in Moab. The lepers chose to boldly move into the camp of Syrians. Whatever you have to leave behind to get to the right position, is not worth the new page that you are sacrificing. Get back to track and allow God to open a new chapter for you.
4) Remain a friend of God. Lazarus was such a friend of Jesus, such that Jesus chose to glorify God by resurrecting Him. Are you a friend of Jesus? If not, you better become one today. It is is not just for the new page to be rewritten but also for the assurance of having eternal life. Once everything else comes to a close, those who are His own will live with Him forever. It is of great value to belong to God and accept Christ as Lord because unless one is born again, they cannot receive eternal life.
5) If your state seems too bad, be encouraged that the third day will still come. Never give up hope, just do all what you are supposed to do, trust in God and wait on Him. He will rewrite your story till people will not be able to recognize you. Be still and know He is God. He got the psalmist of Psalm 40 from mud and mire and He is able to also give you a new story. The pain you have gone through is not comparable to the glory that is coming. It may have tarried but it shall surely come to pass.
REJOICE FOR YOUR NEW PAGE HASA BEEN STARTED. IT IS TIME TO BOUNCE BACK AND GLORIFY GOD.
-- Pastor Mary Mugo
(16/12/12 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor.)
Pastor Mary Mugo is a Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.
There is nothing that God cannot do to rewrite your story and begin a new page. With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible to all who believe. Jesus resurrected to glory by the same power that works for us today. It is the same power which raised Lazarus from death; it’s the same power which made the 4 lepers to become millionaires and channel through which the whole Israel received a release from drought (2 Kings 7). This is the same power which made the adulterous woman not to be stoned to death but have a new life (John 8:1-12). It is the power that caused the sea to dry and create a path for the deliverance of God’s children from captivity to freedom. What makes you think your story is impossible? Only believe in God and wait for Him to give you a fresh start. As long as you know Him and the power of His resurrection, then I say it is well with you, according to Isaiah 3:10. God will make a way where there seems to be no way. I assure you He is dependable even when all things seem to have fallen apart. He knows how to put back the broken pieces and allow a new page and chapter to restart again in your life story. He is God.
From the above, we can pick some lessons for us in our walk with God as He writes again our story:
1) Inquire of God prior to making a move. It is not indicated anywhere that the family of Naomi sought God before migrating to Moab. Please ask God for direction before you proceed to a place of bitterness and emptiness.
2) Stay within the boundaries. Note that the going to Moab was a source of great loss to the Naomi’s family. Brethren, there are times when one starts moving about with a wandering spirit which may position you to a place of death. If you are still experiencing continuous death, emptiness and bitterness, just take a pause and check the position you are in. Might you have left home and you are eating with pigs like the prodigal son? Are still in the faith? Some people even move to a different church because of not being recognised or not being allowed leadership and positions. I beg you to get back to the place of worship where you are led of God and where the word is taught without compromise. Hold on there, your time for a new page will still come. Do not walk out kimatharau or thinking you are punishing the pastor or making God to feel at loss. Stay put my brother and sister at the very position which God talked to you about and continue doing what He said you do even when it seems challenging. One wrong move cost Naomi her husband and sons. Even when it seems like a good thing; find out if it is a godly thing before you make the move.
3) Now take a bold step and courageously return to the Father. The prodigal son chose not to continue eating with pigs. Naomi chose not to die in Moab. The lepers chose to boldly move into the camp of Syrians. Whatever you have to leave behind to get to the right position, is not worth the new page that you are sacrificing. Get back to track and allow God to open a new chapter for you.
4) Remain a friend of God. Lazarus was such a friend of Jesus, such that Jesus chose to glorify God by resurrecting Him. Are you a friend of Jesus? If not, you better become one today. It is is not just for the new page to be rewritten but also for the assurance of having eternal life. Once everything else comes to a close, those who are His own will live with Him forever. It is of great value to belong to God and accept Christ as Lord because unless one is born again, they cannot receive eternal life.
5) If your state seems too bad, be encouraged that the third day will still come. Never give up hope, just do all what you are supposed to do, trust in God and wait on Him. He will rewrite your story till people will not be able to recognize you. Be still and know He is God. He got the psalmist of Psalm 40 from mud and mire and He is able to also give you a new story. The pain you have gone through is not comparable to the glory that is coming. It may have tarried but it shall surely come to pass.
REJOICE FOR YOUR NEW PAGE HASA BEEN STARTED. IT IS TIME TO BOUNCE BACK AND GLORIFY GOD.
-- Pastor Mary Mugo
(16/12/12 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor.)
Pastor Mary Mugo is a Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.
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