FAITHFUL FRIENDS - Part 1

Ruth and Naomi - Unlikely Friends

The Bible begins with magnificient and lofty descriptions of the truth of God's awesome power! It opens with God creating the entire universe, world, earth and ALL living things on the earth. . . out of NOTHING!. It tells about God dividing the waters of the Red Sea to deliver His people from Egyptian slavery. It relates how God enabled the Israelites to conquer the Promised Land of Canaan by knocking down the walls of mighty Jericho with just a trumpet blast and shout of all the people. Other Biblical accounts, from the very beginning to the very end of the Bible, tell of God's matchless power, authority and miraculous works. Because His power is so awesome, it is possible for us to feel like outsiders to such impressive manifestations.

BUT THEN, there is the 8th Book in the Bible - RUTH! It tells of two struggling widows who had in common the death of their husbands and were related to each other, but who became unlikely but

faithful friends in an out-of-the-way village. This true story reveals that God is not just a God of amazing power; He is The God who cares about even the ordinary people with struggles, hurts and pain! He cares about widows and widowers, orphans, the poor, the sick, the blind, the helpless, the hopeless, the lepers, the distraught and depressed, the unemployed, the fathers, mothers, grand-

parents, the outcasts and despised, and on and on the list goes of people that God truly loves and cares about. THAT INCLUDES YOU AND ME! God loves to use people like all those mentioned above as well as you and me, in everyday circumstances to accomplish His will!

I want us to look at the story of how Ruth and Naomi became more than acquaintences or relatives, but FAITHFUL FRIENDS and what that friendship meant. I trust we'll learn some lessons that will help us deepen our appreciation of the people who God puts in our life and who mean the most to us in our lives! I also pray this story will help us to deepen our love for this GOD who truly cares about and enriches our everyday experiences.

A beautiful and well-loved passage of Scripture sets the tone for this growing friendship when Ruth told Naomi: "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried." Ruth further said, only "death parts you and me" (Ruth 1:16-17).

So, we consider this Unlikely Friendship, between two very different women; their only commonality was their widowhood. First, let's look at A FRIENDSHIP BEGINS! Naomi and her husband Elimelech had made a big decision to move their family 100 miles from their home in Bethlehem to another country, Moab, to escape the famine in their homeland. Some time after settling there, tragedy struck - Elimelech died. By then the famine in Israel had ended, but Naomi's two sons had married Moabite women and so she chose to remain in Moab to be near them. But then, another devastating tragedy happened. Both of Naomi's sons died. So now, Naomi decided to move back to her homeland, hoping to recover emotionally and be near her own people. Her two Moabite daughters-in-law were also grieving emotionally and so these 2 young women, wanting to find healing for their emotional pain and find security, decided to travel with her to Bethlehem. As they headed out of town, Naomi had second thoughts (Ruth 1:1-8) and she urged her daughters-in-law to stay in their own homeland and return to their mothers' homes. After much persuasion, and emotional discussion, one daughter-in-law, Orpah, reluctantly went home. But Ruth refused to go back. This is when she made her beautiful declaration of verse 16 to Naomi. She embraced Naomi and wouldn't let go! An unlikely friendship was developing! Just think about how different these two women were. Their age, background, religion, nationality and experiences were all different. And it's not often that a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are close friends. Here is a lesson for us: GOOD FRIENDSHIPS CAN DEVELOP AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER! How does it happen? When we choose to accept and love someone who is different!

Second, we see that FRIENDSHIP DEEPEN! (Ruth, Chapter 2) Shortly after arriving and settling in Bethlehem, Ruth told Naomi she was going to find a job to provide for both of them. God led her (remember, this is The GOD who cares about the widows) to pick up grain in a field owned by a man named Boaz. Boaz took special notice of this industrious foreigner, and rewarded Ruth by allowing her to keep extra provisions of grain from the fields. She excidedly related to Naomi all that took place that day. Naomi was so thankful as she heard Ruth's report. God's providential love and care are thoroughly demonstrated here! The truth is God has not changed! The Bible affirms, "For I, the LORD, do not change. . ." (Malachi 3:6). The Apostle James confirms this truth, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow (no change in His character, nature, love, care or provision - blessings). Naomi and Ruth knew and experienced this and so can we every single day! Here is another lesson for us to take to heart: TRUE FRIENDS REJOICE WHEN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO THEIR FRIENDS! They are happy even when they are not the center of attention. Naomi practiced this unselfish attitude as she rejoiced with Ruth's good fortune in finding a job and a good boss in Boaz.

Third, FRIENDSHIP GIVES AND RECEIVES COUNSEL! (Ruth, Chapter 3) As this chapter opens, Naomi gives very wise advise and encouragement to Ruth. Naomi knew Boaz, a close relative, was a qualified "Kinsman Redeemer" - a "Covenant Redeemer". A Kinsman Redeemer was a close male relative in ancient Israel, responsible for the welfare and protection of vulnerable female family members, and for restoring their lost property or personal rights. As in the case of Boaz, he also acted as an advocate against poverty and injustice. Naomi helps Ruth, the foreigner, to understand this system and role of a Kinsman Redeemer. And she helps Ruth develop a plan to have unmarried Boaz notice her even more in hopes of fostering a personal relationship between them. The older woman's Biblical counsel is wisely followed by the younger woman. THEIR TRUST OF EACH OTHER IS GROWING! After Ruth received this instruction, she told Naomi, "I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU SAY" (Ruth 3:5). The end result was that Boaz served as the classic Kinsman Redeemer by marrying Ruth and restoring Naomi's land and family legacy. He redeemed or restored the inheritance left by Elimelech, Naomi's late husband. A third lesson revealed in this narrative is this, GOOD FRIENDS TRULY VALUE THE COUNSEL, AND RESPECT THE ADVICE THAT IS GIVEN! Proverbs 15:22 says, "Plans fail for lack of counsel. . . ."

Fourth, Ruth, Chapter 4 shows A FRIENDSHIP REWARDED! Boaz had told Ruth that a closer relative was a potential Kinsman Redeemer. He honorably gives the other relative the opportunity to purchase the property left by Elimelech. What a moral and Biblical way of doing what is right that we observe in Boaz! As followers of Jesus, we must always choose to do the right thing in every situation! The relative chooses to pass up that opportunity, leaving Boaz to do so. Then, Boaz "took Ruth, and she became his wife. . .And the LORD enabled her to conceive,, and she gave birth to a son!" Now, Ruth is a mother and Naomi has a grandson! One last lesson for us in this account is, FAITHFUL FRIENDSHIP BRINGS BLESSINGS TO THE FRIENDS AS WELL AS TO MANY OTHERS! Psalm 30:5 says, ". . .weeping may remain for a night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning." Ruth and Naomi both wept; now they were both rejoicing. This friendship had produced a devoted husband, security, a son, a son-in-law and a grandson, and the blessing of God! Ruth herself became the ancestor of King David and of Jesus Christ! The providence and grace of God are truly unmatched!

My last encouragement to you as I write this blog is: It does not matter who you are, where you're from, or what you have done. God cares about you so much that He sent His own Son to die on a cross to forgive your sins and reconcile you to God. Jesus came as your "Kinsman Redeemer" when you were hurting and without hope. He loved you, purchased you at the price of His own blood, and wants you to be His bride. He is the ONE of strength, of standing, and selects you to be included in His family. The Bible says that Jesus is a FRIEND who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). The old hymn says, "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear."