Sunday School Lesson for March 21, 2010: Family as Community (Ruth 1:1-9, 14b-16)

Ruth 1:9 (New International Version)
9 May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband."
Then she kissed them and they wept aloud



Jeremiah 1:5 (New International Version)
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."



Romans 10:17 (King James Version)
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.





Often times we are a little hard on Orpah aren’t we? She stayed in Moab and Ruth came with Naomi to Israel. But notice that Naomi blessed Orpah. Blessed her! What then sets Ruth apart? God set Ruth apart.. to be a part of the Heavenly Lineage of Jesus Christ. Before Ruth was formed in the womb, God knew her. He knew the plans he had for her. Plans to proper her. Plans to give her a hope and a future. I can relate to this a little bit. I’m one of those folks that believe that everything happens for a reason. I also believe that God’s hand has been on my life all of my life. Believing in the power of God’s word like I do, I’m fairly certain that in spite of her staying behind, Orpah was blessed. But Ruth was chosen. Why? Because God is God. He’s no respecter of persons. Ruth is representative of the Gentiles, those who would be grafted into the Kingdom through the preaching of the Gospel. When he chose Ruth, He was choosing you and I. Isn’t that good news?

There is a progression I see here in Ruth’s story that I’ve observed in the lives of some people I’ve been around. Sometimes you can see God’s influence on a person, even if they don’t openly confess Jesus. Something about Ruth caused her to ‘cling’ to Naomi. Faith comes by hearing. What kind of influence had the family of Elimelech and Naomi had on Ruth, Orpah and the Moabites in the community where they lived? What were their confessions? How did they impact those around them? Whatever Ruth heard, she was willing to reject her past for a future with the people of Israel, serving the God of Israel. How does that relate to us today? More often than not, when I have encountered those people that I ‘see’ God’s hand on I tell them about it. I tell them what I see and why it matters. What happens next? It varies, but in most cases the results are a closer walk with God for the person I’m ‘witnessing’ to. They’re not just busting the Church doors down the following week, but they do develop a consciousness of God in their life and over time become receptive to the things of God and, sometimes, eventually live their lives for him…like Ruth did.

Your demeanor and your words impact the world around you. You were chosen… to be a blessing. Don’t be shy. The person God’s put’s in your path to speak to … was chosen too. Enjoy the lesson.