God Has Remembered His People

Ruth 1

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? Arethere 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 the Lord 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.

In the days of Ruth, they didn’t have a king, and everyone did as they pleased in their eyes. Just as an introduction, "Elimelech" means “my God is King”; "Naomi" means “pleasant”; "Ruth" means "friend" or "companion". 

When Elimelech was living in Israel, at a time when no one was king; his name reminded people that God was King, regardless of everything. Since one’s name signified their nature or state, Mahlon (meaning "weakness" or "sickness") and Chilion (meaning "wasted" or "consumption"), the children of Elimelech were given names that were not indicative of good things.

Elimelech ran away from Bethlehem, which means "house of bread", and moved to Moab, where it seemed that there was food. He walked away from where God prospered the land, and where God reigned, and went to a godless nation. Famine in Israel indicates that Israel had fallen away. He was running away from death, and death found him being the first one, and he died first. His two sons also died, living up to their name. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah remained. By God’s grace and mercy, Naomi was left with her daughters in law. Instead of the daughters in law leaving their mother in law after the death of their husbands, they remained with her.

Naomi decided to go back to the land of Israel, and asked Orpah and Ruth to go back. Orpah, having decided to remain behind, was not evil. Ruth decided to go with Naomi. The whole city was stirred when Naomi and Ruth came back, and I believe this is because her name means “pleasant”, a person who is blessed, pleasant, beautiful. When she came back to Bethlehem, she was a shadow of who she was before. She didn’t come back as she was before. Naomi had been beaten up by life, having lost her husband and children. This is why she said that she shouldn’t be called “pleasant”, rather “bitter”, Mara, which is how she saw herself.

Ruth 1:22

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.

God had ordained that Ruth would be the great grandmother of David.

We were taught that nothing written in the Bible is by chance. The Bible says that Naomi and Ruth returned to the Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. This is of  significance. The barley harvest always came a day after the Passover. Passover is when God passed over Israel, and declared judgment on the enemies of His people. Today, I hear God saying that it is time that His judgment over your enemies, situations that have been against you, and it’s now time for harvest. When the barley was ready, it was brought as the firstfruit before God, and waved before God. As this was being waved, and accepted, it signified that all the rest of the harvest was also accepted before God. The barley harvest came after winter. Ruth and Naomi had been through a season of winter, a season of death, and God had ordained that at the time of coming back to Bethlehem, a land of bread, that it would be at the beginning of the season of harvest.

May be you have been through a season of death, a season of struggling, a season of dryness and so on. Maybe for a while your life has been testifying otherwise, contrary to fruitfulness. Maybe you are not even considering yourself to have a beautiful name, and your name not bearing witness to who you say you are, especially as a son of God. Maybe you have a degree, all the qualifications for a good job, but you still can’t find a job. Maybe you have been trying to succeed in business, or get married, and though you have a name as a child of God, you still are struggling and not fruitful in life. We have a name that is pleasant, that ought to attract blessings in our lives, and that has not been the case. Maybe you are a single parent, people trying to bring you down, not qualified to be married and so on, and the world has judged you, leaving you bitter, just like Naomi. Maybe your marriage is on the rocks, everyone else’s working, while yours remains in shambles, despite carrying a pleasant and good names. Maybe you’ve tried your luck in ministry, and all is shaking, nothing working out, and people continue to talk about you in church, in the world, in your village and so on. Like Naomi, you have resolved to not wanting to be called “pleasant”, you want to be called “bitter”. Like in Naomi’s instance, God has remembered you.

God loves you with an everlasting love. It doesn’t matter how long you have been in a situation, how long people have talked about you, and so on. What matters is that you have a Father who will never leave you, who loves you, who has remembered you. You have a Father who will never ever leave you.

The time of Ruth and Naomi coming back was a season of the season of death coming to an end, and that of life, the harvest, starting. In this season, Ruth was married by Boaz, and Naomi got a daughter-in-law. The same God who Naomi thought had deserted her showed up just in time. Naomi, who Ruth who thought she would never got a child, got a child a through Ruth, called Obed. God, who calls those things that are not as though they are can and is calling your situation back to life. As in Ezekiel’s case, who didn’t know the answer to the dead bones, and was told to speak life to the dead bones, and they came to life, God is bringing life to your situations, so speak life to your situation. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, the God of Ezekiel and our God, and is bringing life to your situation. When God shows up, it is not man who is showing up. God can do wonders.

Sarah got a child, at 90. God doesn’t do ordinary things; He does extraordinary things. When He does things, you are not going to take credit, neither will your pastor, parents and so on; it is God who will get glory. Ruth didn’t just get any man, but a loaded and handsome man. God gives the best, because He is God, and changes not. He doesn’t ask for permission, as He is answering your prayers and blessing you.

Jesus resurrected after Passover. Jesus is the firstfrut. The barley harvest means resurrection is here. The resurrection is here; resurrection of your  business, marriage, job, and any situation. No situation is too dead that Jesus can’t bring it to life. Jesus is bringing your situation to life, because He is the life giver; He is the Resurrection and the Life.

Multiplication also came with the Barley Harvest. When Jesus rose from the dead, He brought many children from the dead, as firstfruits. When God brings life in your situation, it comes with multiplication. Jesus is bringing life to your situation, and it will be evident that it is not your doing, but yours. Because those who wait on God are not put to shame, you will not be put to shame. God is bringing a new life, not even tomorrow, but today. I pray that God confirms this Word to you, and that you see it manifest in your life.  

-- Pastor Beatrice Njeri

Teaching Transformation Ministry Sunday Service Sermon. 

Pastor B is a friend of Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.