The Old Testament book of Ruth holds what is arguably one of the best examples of committing to a family member because of great love for that family member.  But it also has a lesson for all the moms reading today.  That lesson deals with the impact one life can have on the future of not just one family, but of on a whole nation.  Let’s look at the story of Naomi, the mother-in-law of Ruth.

Ruth 1:1 tells us that Naomi understood hard times.  She and her family were living in Israel during a famine.  Her husband Elimilech decided to take his wife and two sons to the land of Moab to find food.  Naomi understood going without and being uprooted from her normal life to be thrust into a way of life with which she was not familiar.  Moms, you’re living in hard times right now, but your story isn’t over yet.  It may be just beginning.

Ruth 1:2-5 lets us know that Naomi understood loss.  While in Moab, her husband died.  After her two sons married women from Moab, they died, too, leaving Naomi and he daughters-in-law to fend for themselves, which was a big deal in those days.  Moms, you may have suffered loss, possibly even of a loved one, but hold on.  The story isn’t over yet.

Verses 6-7 let us know that Naomi understood the desire to go back home to what had been.  She heard Israel had food again, and she decided to go back to her homeland.  Her two daughters-in-laws began the journey with her.  Moms, you all probably would like for things to return to normal before the media hype about COVID19, but hold on, better days are coming.

Ruth 1:8-15 lets us know that Naomi understood the desire to have her family blessed in spite of her own loss & inability to provide for them.  Naomi desired that her two daughters-in-law would not have to live like she had to live.  She wanted them to return back to where they were used to living and find new husbands, because she believed she would not be able to provide for them.  Moms, things may look pretty bleak right now.  You may feel like you don’t have what it will take for your family to be blessed, but hold on, your story isn’t finished.

In verses 16-18 we find out that despite her hardships, loss and inabilities, Naomi had lived in such a way as to make an important impact on Ruth’s life.  Naomi did not realize just how much of an impact she had made.  Ruth’s sister-in-law Orpah returned to Moab.  Ruth chose to go into a new land with new customs and a different kind of life along with Naomi.  Moms, you are making more of an impact than you can easily see.  Hold on.

Ruth 1:19-21 show us that Naomi mistakenly blamed God for her hardships and loss.  She felt empty and hopeless and asked people to stop calling her “Naomi,” which meant “pleasant.”  She asked to be called “Mara,” which meant “bitter.”  Naomi was so defeated she couldn’t see any hope for the future.  The only good thing in her life was that she and Ruth had returned at the beginning of the barley harvest, which meant they might be able to find some food to stay alive because of Israel’s tradition of providing for the poor during a harvest.  Moms, the hardships will not last forever.  The answers to your prayers may come to you hidden in some indirect connection to someone you barely know.

Now the scripture for this message:

Ruth 4:13-17 NLT

[13] So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the LORD enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. [14] Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the LORD, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. [15] May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” [16] Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. [17] The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.

Naomi’s story ends with a kinsman redeemer named Boaz marrying Ruth.  Boaz and Ruth start a family with the birth of a son.  Naomi’s friends in town celebrate with her at the birth of this grandson and declare blessings on him and on Naomi.  They recognize Ruth’s love for Naomi, and Naomi became a loving, caring grandmother who was also important in the life of her grandson.

Naomi did not grasp that her leaving Israel and returning with only one daughter-in-law who had to be redeemed by a kinsman was part of God’s plan to fulfill His promise to Abraham that all the world would be blessed by his descendant.  Ruth and Boaz were the parents of Obed, whose son was Jesse.  Jesse was King David’s father.  Naomi was King David’s great, great grandmother.

Okay, moms, here’s my one point for today’s story and scripture:  Your story isn’t over yet!  Hold on.  What if your child becomes the next great evangelist of the Christian church?  What if God has chosen your grandchild to lead a community or a county or even a whole state back to the worship of God.  What if your great grandchild is in God’s plan to demonstrate the power of God to this world through ministry to teenagers in high school.  What if God has chosen your great-great grandchild as the next Billy Graham or Charles Wesley or Smith Wigglesworth.

Moms, your story isn’t over yet.  Hold on.

Happy Mother’s Day