Memory Verse: Genesis 2: 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam[g] there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a(U) deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made[h] into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
“This at last is(V) bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was(W) taken out of Man.”[i]
Introduction: Does She or Doesn’t She (Clairol Shampoo)The world sees Christianity as a male dominant religion. It’s seen as a religion dominated by men, for men. But we know that God loves women - God created woman, and has used women to bring about His plan for the world.
Assignment: Tell the world about your favourite woman in the Bible. Who is she? How did the world judge her? How does God see her? How did God use her? How has this woman affected your life? How does she inspire you to walk out your relationship with God?
Ruth
She was a Moabite. She had married a Jewish man who had come to her country to live with his parents and brother. His father and then he and his brother all died in Moab, leaving their wives all widows. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law wanted to return home and so Ruth and Orpah (the other brother’s wife) chose to go with her. As most know the Bible tells us that Naomi told the girls to return to their families but Ruth said she would not leave her: “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. I will go wherever you go and live wherever you live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. I will die where you die and will be buried there. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (Ruth 1:16-17)
She was a foreigner and we know that she is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. Yet she was not a very likely candidate for being a part of the genealogy of Christ being a foreigner and all. But she was. What does that say about how God saw her! Just like Abraham believed and had faith in something he could not see, Ruth did the same. She clung to and cared for her mother-in-law and did all that she said to do as she interacted with Boaz. She was submissive and obedient to trust Naomi and God and place herself at Boaz’s mercy. And at the same time she was bold, daring and courageous to step out in faith and do something that maybe other foreigners in her situation would never do.
God protected her and gave Boaz the compassion and love to do the same and be her kinsman redeemer. A picture and a type of what Jesus Christ was for us. He is our kinsman redeemer as well.
How has this woman affected my life, how does she inspire me in my relationship with God?
I relate to Ruth’s inclination to “latch on” to others even if they aren’t from her culture and people.
She is inspiring to me. So many characteristics come out as I read the book of Ruth. She was selfless, caring, loving and compassionate. She was bold, courageous and daring. Loyal and honorable, obedient and submissive and at the same time strong, beautiful and a hard worker who served others.
I was just reading some of the “faith chapter” – Hebrews 11. It talks about Able, Enoch, Noah and Abraham and many others.
Hebrews 11:13-16 says: “All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had meant the country they came from, they would have found a way to go back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God. For he has prepared a heavenly city for them.”
It’s possible Ruth did not realize all of this. I mean, I doubt she knew she would be King David’s great-grandma! But I think she was trusting God to care for her no matter where she was. Her expectation was in HIM and not in a plan she had that God would follow. She was “looking for a better place” and not worried that she had to be near family and familiar places in order to be “home” and safe.
That’s encouraging to me! Especially living far away from family and where I grew up. Sure, I miss it! And I’m sure Ruth did too. But it’s encouraging to read of others who lived “like foreigners and nomads” and how God sustained them, took care of them and caused them to live content in HIM, knowing that he is in control and he is their strength and their everything.
I am reminded of one of my favorite verses. God is giving Joshua his commissioning and again he and the Israelites were “nomads” but God says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
I don’t have to be afraid or discouraged about anything. It doesn’t matter where I am or what God has me doing. I can lean totally on my Father’s strength and courage and know that HE will be all I need him to be for me and in me. I could try my hardest to be like Ruth and be caring, loving, courageous, serving, loyal, obedient…all those things, but it’s in the Father’s strength and power and not my own that I can ever do or be those things. So I am reminding myself here as I write this today that I want to lean totally on HIM to do this for me and in me and KNOW that he is faithful and WILL do it.
