Ted Arthur Ministries

December 4, 2011                           ATTITUDE

1:1, 2 As the book opens we meet a Jewish family which left Bethlehem (house of bread) of Judah (praise) because of famine, and settled in the land of Moab, southeast of the Dead Sea. The parents were Elimelech (my God is King) and Naomi (my pleasant one). The sons were Mahlon (sickly) and Chilion (pining). It would have been better to stay in the land and trust God than to emigrate to Moab. Ephrata (root of Ephrathites), the ancient name of Bethlehem, means fruitfulness.

Rth 1:6 When she heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there.

Where was the LORD providing for His people? The answer is He was providing for them in Bethlehem the house of bread. God was not blessing them in Moab, the land beyond the Dead Sea. Naomi realized there was no provision for them were they were, so she decided to go to the place where there was provision. This little bit of wisdom would bring deliverance to many Christians. This does not mean that there would have to be a geographical move, although in some cases that might be necessary, but in most cases it would just mean that the Christian realizes that this is not working, there are no blessing for me in my present condition.

Jas 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

Jas 1:14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

Jas 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Jas 1:16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.

Jas 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Jas 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Jas 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Jas 1:20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Jas 1:21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Jas 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Many Christians attend Church, they amen the preaching, they agree with the true word of God, they hear, they say it is so, but they don’t do it. The end result of this they find themselves in the land of Moab, a place where they cannot be blessed. They should do as Naomi did return to Bethlehem, the house of bread.

Rth 1:19 So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, "Can this be Naomi?"

Apparently there had been a great change in Naomi (my pleasant one). When she left Bethlehem she said "I went away full." She may have also went away a little bit arrogantly saying "I am going to a better place than this, I am leaving this place that’s cursed by God", but now she is returning and her appearance has changed so much that people are say is this really Naomi. Being in the wrong place can do harm to you physically, mentally, and spiritually, but as you continue to read the book of Ruth you will see that returning to the place of blessing can restore what being in the wrong place destroyed. There is a place of blessing for you, you need to find that place and abide there.

Rth 1:20 "Don't call me Naomi," she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.

Naomi means pleasant, Mara means bitter. Naomi was being honest about it, she said "I am bitter." This woman had the same problem that many Christians have today, they are bitter, and it’s God’s fault. Naomi did the same as many Christians do today, her family went where they were forbidden to go, they did what they were forbidden to do, their life became a disaster, and now it’s all God’s fault. Naomi’s attitude is "we did nothing wrong, but look what God did to us." This is the same attitude that many in the Church have today, they will not repent because they will not admit that they are wrong. Therefore they remain in Moab, and refuse to return to Bethlehem.

Rth 1:21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."

Naomi refused to accept any responsibility for all the wrong choices that she and her husband made. It should be noted that Naomi continued to live in the land of Moab after her husband’s death. It may have been her husband’s decision to go to Moab, but it was Naomi’s decision to stay there. However this is to her credit she did as the prodical son did, when he came to his senses he returned to the place of blessing, Naomi did the same.

Rth 1:22 So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

Rth 1:16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

Rth 1:17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

In verse 16 Ruth accepted Naomi’s God as her God, in verse 17 we see that Ruth is a woman with a godly heart. In verse 22 we see that Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem (house of bread) at harvest time. Naomi had suffered loss, Ruth had also suffered loss, Naomi was bitter, there is no indication that Ruth was. It is assumed that Naomi was too elderly to work and sustain herself, that may have been true, but that may not have been her situation at all. It may have been that she was just too bitter to help herself. Ruth arrived with a what can I do attitude. Ruth intended to glean after the harvesters, but Ruth was about to reap a harvest that was far beyond anything she had hoped for. Naomi’s deliverance came through Ruth. It should also be noted that you are reading the Book of Ruth, not the Book of Naomi. Which of these women should you use for an example of how to live a prosperous life? God has a good plan for you, He want’s nothing but good for you, but you have to follow the leading of His Word, and His Spirit. Then you will be in the right place at the right time, and you will reap a harvest.