Sermon Cloud

Today, we are talking about risk. I’d invite you to turn to the third chapter of the Book of Ruth. And while you are doing that, let me remind you of where we have been over the last three weeks in this series A Tale of Two Women. In chapter 1, we were introduced to Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, and their two boys, Mahlon and Chilion. There’s a famine in the land of Judah, so they make their way to the land of Moab. It was there that Naomi felt the bitter providence of God as she lost her husband, her sons, and one of her daughters-in-law, Orpah. But as the chapter concludes, God begins to reveal His goodness as the famine breaks in Judah (prompting Naomi to head home) and Ruth, the other daughter-in-law, commits herself to care for Naomi. Ruth said, “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” In spite of the goodness of God breaking through, the chapter ends with Naomi overwhelmed with her losses saying, “The Almighty has deal very bitterly with me.” That is Naomi’s state of mind as we enter chapter 2 as they were now in Bethlehem. It was in the fields of Bethlehem that we began to see the character of Ruth unfold as she takes the initiative to go and glean so that she could provide for Naomi and herself. By God’s providence she made her way to the field of Boaz, who we learn is a kinsman who could redeem Ruth and preserve the family name and property. He is a man of men, who is both wealthy financially and spiritually. He is a man of God. That will be very important to the story this week. Where chapter 1 overflowed with suffering and despair, chapter 2 overflows with hope. Ruth has sought refuge under the wings of God and He is proving Himself worthy of that faith and trust. Naomi’s suffering and hopelessness has turned to praise to God. As we pick up the story in Ruth chapter 3, I want you to keep in your mind the thought that RISK IS RIGHT! When you combine a God-saturated man, a God-dependant young woman, and a God-exalting older woman with the providential hand of a sovereign and good God something exciting is bound to happen. As we look into the lives of these three people in this chapter, we will see all three of them take a risk. This risk is marked by a passion for doing what is right in the eyes of a sovereign and good God. They take the initiative to pursue the dreams that God has placed in their hearts and minds and to take a righteous risk. We see it in Naomi in 3:1-5, in Ruth in 3:6-9, and in Boaz in 3:10-13. And the chapter will close again with Naomi full of confidence in the sovereignty and goodness of God.