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Ruth Chapter 1 – Finding Strength in Faith During Disaster

 Sunday, March 9, 2025

  Preacher: Matthew Battershell

  Ruth 1:1-22

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Though only four chapters in length, we will begin to see the account of compromise, sin, and death—and yet, out of this despair, hope, restoration, and life through faith! As we read and study this book, I want us to pay attention to these specific correlations:

  1. Faithless actions to carry on a family lineage versus faithful action and its consequences.
  2. A faithful outcast being blessed in the same lineage as the people of promise.
  3. Unwavering faith shown in commitment—and the blessing this faith brings.
  4. The correlation of a faithful kinsman-redeemer and Christ faithfully redeeming His Church.

As we start in chapter one, let’s get some interesting dynamics established.

I. A Divine Background

When, What, Where

  1. When: This is the time when the judges ruled. Samson was a famous judge. Scripture describes this period with the sobering words, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Jg. 17:6).
  2. What: There is a famine in the land. Famines throughout Scripture can represent God’s judgment. We see famine during the reign of evil King Ahab (1 Ki. 18:2), and Amos 8:11 even speaks of a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.
  3. Where: Bethlehem, Judah. Already this is significant in understanding the correlation of God’s story of redemption. Bethlehem means “house of bread,” and Judah means “praise.” And who would be born in Bethlehem? The Living Bread who came down from Heaven—Jesus Christ, who deserves all praise forevermore.

JOHN 6:51
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

II. A Prodigal Family Compromising in a Garbage Country

Before Christ could be born in Bethlehem, a family would need to trust God. Unfortunately, the first thing we see is a family leaving the house of bread and the praise of God.

RUTH 1:1
“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.”

1. The Destination of This Family is Startling: Moab!

What do we know about Moab? This all starts with Abraham, Lot, and Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham is known as the father of faith. By faith, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” (GENESIS 15:6).

Lot is Abraham’s nephew, and the two separate because the land cannot support them both. Abraham lets Lot decide where he will go, and Lot increasingly moves toward the vile and evil city of Sodom. Before long, Lot is camping near the city, then by the city gates, then in the city, eventually becoming part of the culture while Abraham intercedes before the Lord on behalf of the city. When judgment falls, Lot and his family barely escape. His wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt, and Lot and his daughters eventually dwell in the mountains.

GENESIS 19:30–38

“Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave.

31 Now the firstborn said to the younger, ‘Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth. 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.’ 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

34 It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, ‘Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father.’ 35 Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose.

36 Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.”

  • Moab means “he is of my father,” a perpetual reminder of faithless, drunken incest.
  • The nation of Moab was repeatedly hostile toward Israel.
  • Balak, king of Moab, tried to persuade the greedy prophet Balaam to curse the Israelites.
  • King Solomon took foreign wives, including women from Moab, and pursued the idolatrous worship of Chemosh, the god of Moab. This turned Solomon’s heart away from the Lord and contributed to the division of his kingdom (1 Ki. 11:1, 7, 33).
  • In PSALM 108:9 God says, “Moab is My washpot.” J. Vernon McGee paraphrased this idea as, “Moab is My garbage can.” It is certainly not a word of endearment.

So why in the world would a Jewish family go to Moab? Fear and a lack of faith during the famine.

This reminds me of Abraham, who also became frightened when famine came, and he went down to Egypt rather than remain where God had called him.

ISAIAH 30:1–3 gives us another picture of God’s people fleeing the Promised Land in fear and looking to a foreign nation for protection:

“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin; Who walk to go down to Egypt, And have not asked My advice, To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, And to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore the strength of Pharaoh Shall be your shame, And trust in the shadow of Egypt Shall be your humiliation.”

We’re off to a bad start.

2. The Family

Now we begin to understand this prodigal family—not merely a prodigal son, but an entire family and the extended family that becomes part of the account.

  1. Elimelech — the husband, his name means “My God is King.” Think of his testimony: “My God is King,” yet he is going to live in fear in a nation which hates God.
  2. Naomi — his wife, her name means “my delight,” but her delight will soon turn to bitterness.
  3. Mahlon — son one, his name means “sick.”
  4. Chilion — the second son, his name carries the idea of “pining” or wasting away.
  5. Orpah — a Moabite woman, her name is commonly associated with “gazelle.”
  6. Ruth — a Moabite woman, her name means “friendship,” and my, how she will live up to her name!

RUTH 1:2
“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.”

Notice how Scripture emphasizes that they remained in Moab. The fruit of compromise grows to full term as they remain in a nation hostile to God.

RUTH 1:3–5
“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.”

“So the woman survived her two sons and her husband” — that’s a tremendous amount of pain and suffering. But like the prodigal coming to his senses, Naomi decides to return to the land of the Lord.

Key: Seek God’s counsel before leaving the house of bread and the place of praise to go live in a nation God likens to a washpot. It never works out when we insist on doing life our own way.

RUTH 1:6–9
“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.”

Both daughters-in-law have been kind to Naomi and Naomi asks the Lord to bless them. As far as Naomi can see, it’s time for them to move on. She has no husband, no sons and her family line appears dead. Broken and alone, she will return to the place of praise.

Have we ever found ourselves remaining in Moab—in a place of mourning and despair—even though we know the Lord? Prayer and praise can sometimes become our last resort rather than our first response. Only after everything has hit rock bottom do we finally say, “Let’s return to God.”

PSALM 30:4–5 reminds us:

“Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.”

What places in your life need to return to Judah—the place of praise?

III. Faith Clings to Truth in Action

Naomi doubles down on the hopelessness of the situation before them. In her grief, she even interprets everything that has happened as the hand of God against her.

RUTH 1:10–13
“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!’”

For two Moabite women to seek to return with Naomi to a nation where they themselves are treated as outsiders speaks volumes about their love for her. But words, kisses, and tears are cheap if they never produce action.

Now we are going to see enduring faithfulness contrasted with heartfelt emotion that produces no lasting change.

1. Faith Is Not Shown Merely by Tears and Kisses

RUTH 1:14
“Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.”

What does this remind you of? I know of another woman—a woman who had been an outcast—who lingered and clung when all others left.

Mary Magdalene at the Empty Tomb

JOHN 20:1–17

“Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.’

3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’

She said to them, ‘Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’

14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’

She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, ‘Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’

16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’

She turned and said to Him, ‘Rabboni!’ (which is to say, Teacher).

17 Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”’”

In Greek, the word used in Jesus’ words to Mary is haptomai, carrying the sense of touching, taking hold of or clinging to. In Ruth, the Hebrew word used is dabaq: to cling, cleave, hold fast, remain close, or be joined together.

2. Faith Abides, Clinging to Truth!

Genuine abiding faith is shown when we cling unto Truth no matter how strong the pull is to return to our old ways of life. We can shed tears. We can feel sorrow. We can be deeply upset over sin. But ultimately, our actions reveal where the allegiance of our heart lies.

  • Mary remained at the tomb while Peter and John returned home.
  • Judas kissed Jesus and then committed suicide.
  • Orpah kissed Naomi in tears but later returned to her pagan gods.

RUTH 1:15
“Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

“No!” is Ruth’s answer in action. Her faith refused to sink back into the mire of her pagan nation. She clung to Naomi. Ruth and Mary both knew what it meant to hold fast even when the consequences were difficult and the pull to simply “go back to how things were” was strong.

Mary Magdalene had been delivered from seven demons by Jesus (Lk. 8:2). Ruth was a despised Moabitess. Both demonstrate an unwavering refusal to return to their former life even when others around them gave up hope.

How would you feel watching the larger-than-life Peter, who walked on water, saw Jesus transfigured and beheld His Glory, turn back and walk home after viewing the empty tomb? Would you be discouraged seeing John, who laid his head in Jesus’ bosom and abode in Jesus’ presence, slinking away silently, leaving you crying alone at a burning unanswered question?

Mary and Ruth are women who clung to their faith while others slipped away in cowardice.

Do you want to get God’s attention? Hold fast to Christ, tighten your grip on Christ, refuse to let go of Christ – get undignified in your faith fight with Christ!

Ruth’s Declaration of Faith

RUTH 1:16–17
“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.

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.”

Ruth is a woman unstoppable in her faith. She cares nothing for returning to Moab, the land of her family. She desires to remain with Naomi in a foreign land but a land in which she knows the true God is worshiped.

Death could not stop her.

Sorrow could not stop her.

Rejection and being despised would not stop her.

But money stopped Judas.

Fear stopped Peter.

Uncertainty stopped John.

What is stopping you?

Ruth and Elisha

Ruth reminds me of Elisha. The school of the prophets could not stop him, and Elijah’s repeated invitations to remain behind would not stop him.

2 KINGS 2:2

“Then Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!’”

This continues several times until Elijah finally says:

“Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”

Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”

11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!”

Elisha received his double portion, and as we continue through Ruth, we will see Ruth receive blessing that could only have come from the heart and providence of God Himself.

IV. Faith Faces Reality Without Wavering

RUTH 1:18–22
“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.”

So what is the next thing Ruth’s faith must face?

Reality.

Ruth is now beside a sorrowful, bitter widow who blames God for everything that has gone wrong in her life. When the entire town comes out excited to see Naomi, Naomi essentially tells them, ‘Call me bitter because the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.’

But notice that Ruth has no false expectations. You never catch Ruth saying, “Oh, this is harder than I thought.” No. She meant every word:

“Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried.”

Key: Refuse to backslide toward comfort whenever the idols beckon. When you live by true conviction of faith, without any false expectations, no circumstance in life will ever deter you!

And notice the glimmer of hope sparkling off the page of Scripture: They arrived at the beginning of barley harvest.

They arrived home at the house of bread, in the place of praise, at the perfect time of barley harvest to see God move. Whenever you return home, it’s always the right time for God in His kindness to look upon you with favor.

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