When Logic and Faith Collide

Ruth 1:1-22

INTRODUCTION: Life is filled with difficult decisions. Despite what some might suggest, it is not always easy to determine the difference between the right decision and the wrong decision. In fact, many good people make wrong choices. This very truth is good cause for believers to rejoice in a gracious God, One that considers not only man’s decisions, but the motives that provoke those decisions.

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ELIMELECH’S DECISION (Ruth 1:1-2)

A. The Timing of the Decision (Ruth 1:1)

1. When the judges ruled
a. After the death of Joshua (Judges 1:1; Judges 2:6-19)
b. Prior to the kings
2. When men did that which was right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6; Judges 21:25)

B. The Participants of the Decision (Ruth 1:1-2)

1. Elimelech (Ruth 1:2)
a. A certain man of Bethlehemjudah (Ruth 1:1)
b. An Ephrathite (Ruth 1:2); Likely another word for Bethlehemites (Genesis 35:19; see also 1 Samuel 17:12, 58)
2. His family (Ruth 1:1-2)
a. His wife, Naomi
b. His two sons, Mahlon and Chilion

C. The Call for the Decision (Ruth 1:1)

1. There was a famine
2. In the land

II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF ELIMELECH’S DECISION (Ruth 1:3-5, 7-22)

A. The Departing of the Decision Maker (Ruth 1:3)

1. Elimelech died.
2. Naomi and her two sons were left.

B. The Difficult Positions of Those Remaining (Ruth 1:4)

1. The sons decided to take wives of the daughters of Moab.
2. They determined to dwell in Moab.

C. The Further Departure of Decision Makers (Ruth 1:5)

1. Mahlon and Chilion died also
2. Three widows remained

III. THE CONFUSION OF ELIMELECH’S DECISION (Ruth 1:6, 19-21)

A. The Fear of a Famine (Ruth 1:1)

1. Not the warning of a famine, but an actual famine
2. Endangering his family

B. The Visitation of the LORD (Ruth 1:6)

1. The LORD visited His people
2. In giving them bread

C. The Preservation of the People (Ruth 1:19-21)

1. People knew her when she returned (Ruth 1:19)
2. She claimed to have “went out full” and returned “empty” (Ruth 1:21)

IV. THE COMPASSIONS OF ELIMELECH’S DECISION (Ruth 2:1-23; Ruth 3:1-18; Ruth 4:1-22)

A. A Field for Gleaning (Ruth 2:1-23)

1. The “hap” of Ruth to light on an open field (Ruth 2:1-3).
2. The favour of Boaz concerning Ruth (Ruth 2:4-16)
3. The joy of Naomi (Ruth 2:17-23)

B. A Kinsman to Redeem (Ruth 3:1-18; Ruth 4:1-12)

1. The option for redemption (Ruth 3:1-9)
2. The desire for redemption (Ruth 3:10-18)
3. The work of redemption (Ruth 4:1-12)

C. A Seed of Hope (Ruth 4:13-22)

1. The giver of conception (Ruth 4:13)
2. The cause for conception (Ruth 4:14)
3. The grace in conception (Ruth 4:15-22)

CONCLUSION: Due to the fact that things turned out in the end for Naomi and Ruth, some might assume that Elimelech’s decision was correct. However, it would be better to note the involvement of the grace of God to do good things “that his name may be famous” (Ruth 4:14). The same could have been true had Elimelech made a decision of faith, and he might have been alive to witness it all.