During Lent, we are looking at the Book of Ruth and some of
the Sunday readings (RCL) to see what insights they can give us for living the Way of Love. Last week, we saw that what
the world calls “rest” is nothing like God’s Rest. This week, we
consider the imperative to Go.
Naomi, now a destitute widow, decides to ‘return with her daughters-in-law from the
country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had had
consideration for his people and given them food.’ (Ruth 1:6)
She is setting out on a hazardous journey in the hope of
finding a better life, or at least hoping to die at home. When you have nothing
to lose, it can be easier to just Go. We hear stories all the time of
women and men, at the end of their rope, who started some new business or
turned their lives around in some fantastic way. There are examples of this in
the Bible, too.
In the Old Testament reading (Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18) this
week, we hear of God reiterating, again, his promise to Abram. “The word of the Lord came to Abram in a
vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” Abram is not convinced, pointing out that he has no child to
inherit all that he has. God insists, “I
am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to
possess.” Then God and Abram enact a covenant ceremony with ‘a heifer three years old, a female goat
three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.’ Only
then does Abram accept the promise.
Ruth and her family had inhabited that ‘Promised Land’ along
with the other Children of Israel after the Exodus. Then, as we saw last time, they left. Now it is
time for her to get up, leave Moab, and Go. It is time to return to that
homeland. For things to change, we sometimes must take the first step. Perhaps
like Naomi, we learn of an opportunity. She “had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had had consideration
for his people and given them food.” The famine has ended, and she decides
to return to Bethlehem.
Sometimes we find ourselves rather adrift in our lives. There
is no clear sign, no obvious promise of what will happen. We don’t really know
where God is calling us to Go. Psalm 27 provides guidance about discerning the next step. It’s all about trusting God. The
Psalmist pleads, “Hearken to my voice, O
Lord, when I call; have mercy on me and
answer me.” God’s answer is simple. ”Seek my face.” And the Psalmist
responds, “Your face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not your face from me, nor turn
away your servant in displeasure. You
have been my helper; cast me not away; do not forsake me, O God of my
salvation.” (Psalm 27:10-13)
Like Naomi, we may respond, “Show me your way, O Lord; lead me
on a level path…What if I had not
believed that I should see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! O
tarry and await the Lord's pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your
heart; wait patiently for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:15, 17-18)
We should look for God before we Go
anywhere. God promises that ‘all things work for good for those who love God’
(Romans 8:28) We have to step out in faith, and part of that faith is
knowing that God is right there with us.
Ann Voskamp, author and blogger, offers a series of Lent
daily words. On March 11, she reminded readers that we must ‘Give up trying to
be enough and simply give everything to Him who makes little loaves, little
people, little hope into more than enough.
Naomi had little hope. We know from the Book of Ruth that
God abundantly multiplied and blessed that hope. Abram also had little hope for
an heir. Yet, God promises ‘your reward shall be very great’. Abram accepted
God’s assurance that he would have heirs. Naomi stepped out in faith believing
that there would be a better life back in Bethlehem. The Psalmist turns to God,
expecting help and protection. Each of them Go in faith. They take a
step and then another one. That's how journeys start.
As Ann Voskamp says, we can ‘Give up everything to Him who
can make little things of little hope into more than enough’. We can Go.
We can believe God will fulfill ‘the
plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give
you hope and a future’. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Where is God asking you to Go?
Have you, like Abram and the Psalmist, confronted God about
how you should Go forward?
What are the plans God is working to prosper in
you?