Psalm 30:1–5, 10–12; Hebrews 9:24–28; Ruth 1:1–11, 14–18, 22; 2:1–2, 8–12, 23; 4:13–17

STORIES OF OLD – GOD’S FUTURE

Why bother with the past? The question plagues every teacher of history. A younger generation, even in contrast to my own, considers the Great Patriotic War (II WW) a ‘remote’ past and thus totally irrelevant for the present.  Modern people give little value to anything that is removed from the rapidly changing present. Contemporary society is more interested in the ‘now’ and how to prosper in it. In such an environment, the Bible seems particularly irrelevant, both because it comes out of centuries long dead and because it seems to stand facing the past, constantly preoccupied with persons and event in the history of Israel or the church.

I decided to come back today to the story that Carolyn shared with us last week at a Wednesday seminar, so that we can see that the Bible’s preoccupation with the past is simultaneously a preoccupation with the future. Today’s Scripture readings confirm a saying, that "the bottom of the ladder leading to the future rests against the past” (Shklovsky). All our Scriptures today call us to realize that a Christian lives out of the past but into the future, that under God’s loving care "every event in the present is born by the past and is the father of the future” (Voltaire).   This realization may drastically change our view of the past, how we live in the present and where we will get in the future. Such is the story of Ruth.  Let’s look at it a bit closer.

The story of Ruth at first seems to be a kind of a "once upon a time” tale. The story took place in a dark time of Israel. There was no king in Israel, judges tried to rule the people but the nation was in chaos because "everyone did what they deemed right” (Judges 17:6).  It was a time of disobedience, idolatry, and violence. More than that, it was a time of famine that caused Elimelech to take his wife Naomi and their children and to leave Israel. He sought refuge on the eastern bank of the Dead Sea, among the people that were Israel’s enemies. This animosity went back to the exodus of God’s people from Egypt, when the Moabites did not let Israel to pass through their territory on the way to the Promised Land. But as we say in Russian, "famine is not your aunt, it won’t give you a piece of pie” (Russian saying), and the family settles in Moab where their son’s marry the Moabite women.  Last Sunday we read that after some time Elimelech dies and then the sons of Naomi die as well, leaving her a widow with her daughters-in-law, also widowed, in a very insecure situation. By then the famine was over in Israel and Naomi decides to leave Moab and go back to her own land, her own people. One daughter-in-law, Orpha, heeds the persuasion of Naomi to stay with her people in Moab, but Ruth is adamant in her decision "God of Naomi will be my God, her people – my people, and God knows – I will not leave her, I will be with her through all hardships and will take care of her.”

So, Naomi and Ruth come to Bethlehem. In chapter 2 we read that Ruth in order to provide Naomi with food went to the fields to collect ears of barley left from the harvesters. There was a law in Israel, that the owners of the field should not harvest to the last grain but should leave the edges of the field undone, so that the poor people and the widows could glean the field for their needs. Ruth was gleaning on the field of Boaz, a relative of the deceased Elimelech. Boaz turned out to be a very kind man and not only let Ruth to glean his fields but ordered his servant to leave more grain on the filed for her. His kindness he explains by having heard of Ruth’s kindness to Naomi and her coming to faith in the God of Israel, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me…may the Lord reward your work, and you wages be full from the Lord the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.” Eventually Ruth comes to Boaz to be taken into his house. According to the law of Israel, the closest male relative was to take care of the widow. Ruth hoped that Boaz would do that for her. However, first, it became known that there was another, closer relative who had more rights to Ruth as well as to the part of the fields that belonged to Elimelech. Boaz takes initiative to make sure the problem is solved, the unnamed closer relative refuses his responsibility and Boaz takes Ruth to be his wife and redeems the fields (buys them out) of Elimelech. Then Ruth gives birth to a son and through all that the name of Elimelech remains in the land and can be passed onto the future generations. We read that this marriage caused great joy among the people who said to Naomi: "Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel!”

It’s a beautiful story with a happy end, a story that joins together lives of gracious people who did for others beyond that which was expected. Ruth, our of love for Naomi left her people and chose to believe in the God of Israel, she took care of her mother-in-law with her whole heart and strength. Boaz, not only allows Ruth to glean the edges of the field but also gives her extra provision. Not being the closest kin, he did not have to worry about Ruth and Naomi but took responsibility to care for them upon himself, while the closest kin refused it. What a beautiful story of tender love and faithfulness that was blessed by God. If we stop here, however, we will miss the very point of the story, for Ruth’s marriage with Boaz and the birth of the son is not the happy end of the story but a pointer to its great continuation. We can understand the story properly only in the light of the great surprise of verses 13-17, the birth of Obed, who is not only a heir who will sustain her in the old age (4:15) but who is no other but the grandfather of king David!

Yet, the Lord protected and saved Ruth from famine, cared for Naomi through Ruth’s faithfulness but in all that even a great plan was accomplished. This in not just a tale about faithfulness and love of people but a picture of how God acts in the most unusual, unexpected, and benevolent ways! When life seemed especially hopeless to the widows of Elimelech’s family, God redeems them. But this redemption is not our of the blue, it’s part of the wonderful plan of God: love, mercy and faithfulness of Ruth and Boaz become the vehicle by which Yahweh is enable to do dramatic and wonderful things, not just for the women of Elimelech’s family, but for all Israel (to which king David will be born) – indeed, for all humankind. We read in Matthew 1, "Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David the king” and so on… this is "the record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David”, genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world!

This story from the remote past is actually a part of fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation that stretches into the future. In many ways the story of Ruth’s redemption is like the story of a person finding salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We begin with no hope and are rebellious aliens with no part in the kingdom of God. Then as we risk everything by putting our faith in Christ, God saves us, forgives us, rebuilds our lives, and gives us blessings that will last through eternity. Boaz’s redeemed the land of Elimelech, Christ redeemed our life. The epistle to the Hebrews continues to speak to us about that this week as well. It continues to recapitulate the sacrifice of Christ, stressing the fact that having given himself as a sacrifice for sin, Jesus appeared in the presence of God for us. 

Christian often imagine that being in God’s presence would be a comfortable and soothing experience. The troubles of the world would be left behind and only the joy of contemplating God would remain. By contrast with this benign and wistful portrait of God’s presence, the Bible reflects a very different understanding. Moses responds to the presence of God by turning away his face out of fear (Ex. 3:1–6). Even the messengers of God terrorize their audiences (see Lk. 1:1) And when the Scripture tells us that Christ enters the presence of God for us, it implies that He goes to face the wrath of God for all of us, having taken upon Himself all our sins, he is ready to submit to unimaginable awe and fear. He does that once and for all, does it in the moment of history "in these last days”, but even at that moment the death of Christ didn’t signal only the end of something (sacrifices, Temple worship, human priesthood, reign of sin) but also signaled the beginning of a new age. This text points not only to what Christ has done in the past, not only to the fact that He redeemed us from sin and cleansed our conscience but also to the greater goal of our salvation – eternal union with Himself.  That ‘s why believers are said to expect eagerly the return of Christ – to be with Him eternally. Hebrews speaks thoroughly about the past actions of Jesus but concludes chapter 9 with anticipation of His return in the future. Christ’s sacrifice does not only take place in the past, it also prepares for the future consummation of salvation.

In all past centuries God acted with one purpose in mind – to redeem His creation from the slavery of sin for new life with Him in eternity.  And all biblical stories are part of this redemption story, the main characters of which are a great number of ordinary people.  His great plan of redemption God fulfilled through those who by their love, faith and faithfulness wanted to be an instrument in God’s hands.  His plan was being worked out in the midst of Naomi’s tragedy as she continued to trust Him. God’s plan was being fulfilled through a life of a Moabite woman who trusted Him and acted lovingly and faithfully in all she did.  The story of Ruth is not just a nice story about a girl who was fortunate.  The point of the story is that in the midst of tragedy God was accomplishing a much greater redemption than Naomi and Ruth could have imagined, God was preparing the birth of David and of Messiah.  Just like Ruth didn’t realize the working out of this great plan of God through her life, we also will not always see everything, until we look at our life from the eternity point of view, look with the eyes of the future.  As Christians we are called to remain faithful in the midst of any circumstances, not to compromise our values for the sake of immediate comfort, because our life – is a part of God’s great plan of salvation of this world. Because of Ruth’s obedience and faithfulness, the heritage she left behind is so great for humanity, even though she didn’t realize it.

The story of Ruth is the story of God’s grace in the midst of difficult circumstances; grace that works out God’ plan through ordinary people who are ready to be faithful and ready to be a part of this plan. This story of old is the part of God’s future. And our circumstances, whatever they may be, are an opportunity for moving God’s plan of salvation in this world one step further, an opportunity for God to make his love and grace known to people.

Our life also can be the story of God’s grace in the midst of difficulties. Even in the midst of crisis and deepest despair we can be among those following Him, among those through whom God works out His redemption. This story cause me to decide: doesn’t matter how discouraging or antagonistic the world around me may seem, I want to be among those who follow God and through whom God works our His plans.  The story of Ruth inspired me and reminded me: God acts in the world and He wants to act even through me. God can act through us, just like he acted through Naomi to bring friends and family to believe in Him (like Ruth believed).  How would our life be different if we realized that the effects of our life today stretches far into the future and may become the vehicle of God’s redemption for many people?

I don’t know about you but I want to be a part of this story of God’s redemption!  Let’s commit into His hands our past and live in the presence with His grace, contemplating what our present life might mean for future generations. As we live our lives today, let us remember that God can use our life for the salvation of those who will come behind us. Our faithfulness today can lead people to salvation tomorrow. The way we live now not only matters for us but for many other people as well. May God help us to live faithfully in any, even the most difficult circumstances for "the bottom of the ladder leading to the future rests against the past” (Shklovsky).