His Grace Is Sufficient
Gtcotr/ss020804
Turn in your bibles to The Book of Ruth
Key Scripture: Psalms 27:13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. (NKJV)
If it’s bad, God is not finished yet.
There are some key figures in the bible and in the genealogy of Jesus
Judah was the son of Jacob and Leah, Jacob’s unloved wife.
Zerah was the son of Judah and Tamar, Judah’s widowed daughter in law.
Zerah’s great grandson, Salmon, married Rahab the harlot of Jericho
Boaz was the son of Salmon and Rahab
Boaz married Ruth, the Moabite widow of Naomi’s son Mahlon.
Obed was the son of Boaz and Ruth.
Obed had a son named Jesse
Jesse had a son who was David the King.
David committed adultery with and murdered the husband of Bathsheba, then married her.
Solomon and Nathan were sons of David and Bathsheba
It is considered that Mary, Mother of Jesus, came from Nathan’s family, while Joseph, Mary’s husband, descended from Solomon.
What interesting characters and circumstances God used to bring about the birth and raising of His Only Son, Jesus.
I guess God had a plan!
There were a lot of bumps along the way and looking at any one of these scenarios independently would give one cause for despair.
When Nathaniel said, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” John 1:46 he did not know the half of the story.
Now, back to the story of Ruth
The Story of Ruth
In about 1186 BC, in response to a famine, Elimelech and Naomi along with their two sons, Mahlon and Chilon, leave Bethlehem and move to the land of Moab.
The two sons marry and in the space of ten years Elimelech and both sons die.
In despair Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. She told her daughters-in-law to stay in their country, with their people, remarry and start their lives anew.
The scriptures say, Ruth 1:14, that Orpha kissed Naomi and went back to her people but Ruth clung to Naomi and would not leave her.
The KJV says Orpha kissed and Ruth cleaved. There are still ‘Kissers and Cleavers’ in covenant relationships today.
Turn to your neighbor and ask, “Are you a kisser or a cleaver?” That’s a fair question, especially if you are considering a covenant partnership.
At any rate:
Without question Naomi had a difficult life.
Twice Naomi indicated that God was against her.
Let’s read: (NKJV)
Ruth 1
13 “ … it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!"
20 … "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?"
God was the only one who knew that He had a plan, and that the plan was bigger and affected more than just Naomi and her children.
Ruth returned to Bethlehem with Naomi and was faithful to keep her promise.
Through a series of what seemed like coincidences, God maneuvered Ruth to meet and marry Boaz who was a very wealthy relative of Naomi.
God used all that happened to them both to bring His purpose and plan together.
Let’s look at the end of this season of their lives:
Ruth 4
13 ¶ So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son.
14 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!
15 "And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him."
16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him.
17 Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "There is a son born to Naomi." And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
In all of this we should witness and be comforted by:
Three Things Which Do Not Change
I. Everything will work out for the best.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He will make even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Romans 8:31 If God be for us, who can be against us.
I believe it was General Pershing who said: A diamond is nothing but an old piece of coal that made good under pressure.
II. God will not allow more to come on you than you can handle.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Exodus 1:12 (The more you are afflicted, the more you will multiply and grow.)
Job 23:10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
III. God’s Grace Is Sufficient
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
Now I don’t know whether God gave Ruth the inspiration and dedication to stick to her covenant so He could choose and use her for His great plan, or if perhaps Ruth’s personal dedication to Naomi was the reason why God first decided to choose and use her.
But I do know, that Ruth clung to the covenant in difficult and desperate times and God turned her curses into blessings. And not only did God bless Ruth, but He also made her a blessing to others.
There are some other things which we also know:
If it’s bad, God’s not finished yet.
No matter how bad it is right now, believe me, you can make it worse.
If you are praying you are probably not fainting, if you are fainting, you are probably not praying. (Luke 18:1)
God has a plan
He will succeed
We have an opportunity to participate
God has it all under control - He is looking for people who will believe that and act like it.
