{"id":464,"date":"2014-12-03T20:48:47","date_gmt":"2014-12-04T01:48:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=464"},"modified":"2014-12-03T20:48:47","modified_gmt":"2014-12-04T01:48:47","slug":"episodes-of-whys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/?p=464","title":{"rendered":"Episodes of Why&#8217;s"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"center\">Lesson 1<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">Episodes of Why\u2019s<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\">Ruth 1<\/p>\n<p>Every time what appears to be a tragedy occurs we as finite human beings ask, \u201cWhy did God let this happen?\u201d\u00a0 We always look at the end results and never what were the underlying causes that brought about the situation.\u00a0 There may be number of things that have taken place behind the scenes that no one ever talks about.\u00a0 Many devastating things might be avoided by making good decisions regarding our health or by deliberately putting ourselves into situations that might potentially be dangerous.\u00a0 I used to tell my children that we gave them a curfew for a reason.\u00a0 If they were to stay out late at night they were putting themselves in a position for terrible things to happen to them.\u00a0 Thanks goodness they survived those years.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Once I volunteered to help at a concert in Richmond.\u00a0 I had no idea that it would be well after twelve o\u2019clock before we finished dismantling the set.\u00a0 To get to my car I had to walk in a downtown area by a nightspot.\u00a0 To say the least I was very uncomfortable and could not get to the car quick enough.\u00a0 Fortunately, I made it home safely.\u00a0 It is not a situation in which I would want to find myself again.\u00a0 A better option would have been to walk with other men to their car and then have one of them drop me off at my car.\u00a0 My advice to my children certainly crossed my mind.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Churches do the same thing.\u00a0 We wonder why there are divisions in the church and why attendance decreases.\u00a0 Seldom do we look at the part we may have played in the events that took place.\u00a0 Rather we should be asking what God is trying to tell us.\u00a0 There are always consequences brought about by the decisions we make.\u00a0 The best plan is to spend time in prayer and God\u2019s word to see the direction He would have us take.\u00a0 All too often based on what we do on emotions and what looks good on the spur of the moment.\u00a0 When the wheels then come off, it is too late to reverse our choices. Not following God\u2019s purpose will often cause feelings to be hurt and friendships lost.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>God used the bad choices by some of the people in our narrative to bring about His purpose for mankind. It is not the kind of life any of them would have mapped out for themselves.\u00a0 Lets look at how He was able to accomplish it.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ruth 1:1a<\/p>\n<p>Although the events occurred during the time of the judges the book was probably written as late as the time Josiah the king who reigned from 640 to 609 BC. \u00a0The concern was not the nationality of Ruth but her character that God recognized.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why was this story composed about events during the time of the judges? (God wanted us to see that there were still godly people living during a difficult time in the history of the Israelites.)<\/li>\n<li>What is the most important thing about a person in the eyes of God?<\/li>\n<li>What do we know about Josiah? (Other than David he was the most godly king in Judah.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ruth 1:1b-2<\/p>\n<p>During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Israel.\u00a0 Famines were one of the many curses God had promised if the Israelites drifted away from Him.\u00a0 A man from Bethlehem thought the grass was greener in Moab and left his homeland and went to live there.\u00a0 Elimelech made the decision not to remain in Bethlehem and took Naomi, his wife, and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, with him as he made his journey to Moab. The people of Moab were descendants of Lot who lived east of the Jordan River.\u00a0 They had refused to allow the Israelites to travel through their land during the Exodus.\u00a0 Because of their actions God had declared that no Moabite could enter into the assembly of Israel for ten generations.\u00a0 Elimelech chose to go to a nation who did not worship God but served false gods.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What was one of the curses God used in judgment of His people? (Famine)<\/li>\n<li>Why did He use what we would call curses against His people? (Because they turned their backs on Him as His chosen people.)<\/li>\n<li>What are some of the ways that God uses to get our attention?<\/li>\n<li>Why did Emilelech decide to go to Moab?<\/li>\n<li>Who were the Moabites? (Descendants of Lot)<\/li>\n<li>What should have Elimelech done in your opinion? (Ride out the famine in Israel.)<\/li>\n<li>What does it say about Elimelech?<\/li>\n<li>What have been some difficult situations from which you have fled?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ruth 1:3<\/p>\n<p>While they were living in the land of Moab the husband of Naomi, Elimelech, died leaving she and her two sons alone in a foreign land.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>In what way do you see the death of Elimelech as a direct act of God?<\/li>\n<li>Why would He take the life of Elimelech? (His choice to live in a godless land.)<\/li>\n<li>Why would the life of Naomi now become difficult?<\/li>\n<li>How have you seen God working in your own life?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ruth 1:4<\/p>\n<p>The sons of Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion compounded the poor decision made by their father by further violating God\u2019s command to His people and took Moabite wives.\u00a0 Ruth and Orpah are now introduced into the narrative. Instead of becoming more wrapped up in the pagan culture they could have returned to Judah.\u00a0 Naomi and her two sons chose to remain in Moab and lived there for ten years.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What would have been the logical thing for the family to do after the death of Elimelech? (To return to Judah)<\/li>\n<li>Why did they remain in Moab? (They had become part of the culture and were comfortable with the choice they had made.)<\/li>\n<li>What does it say about their faith that they were willing to continue to live in Moab?<\/li>\n<li>In what way did they violate a direct command of God even though they live in a foreign land? (They married foreign women.)<\/li>\n<li>Why was that so bad? (The pagan women would draw them further from God.)<\/li>\n<li>In what ways does this command apply to us? (We are not get involved with and unbeliever.)<\/li>\n<li>What other point was made that showed they planned to stay in the land of Moab?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ruth 1:5-7<\/p>\n<p>Both Mahlon and Chilion died.\u00a0 Naomi was now completely alone having lost both and her husband and her two sons. There was no longer any reason for her to stay in Moab. She heard that the famine had ended and decided to go back to whatever was left of her family back in the area of Bethlehem.\u00a0 Her two daughter-in-laws decided to make the journey with her.\u00a0 For the two women to be willing to leave their families showed the great love and respect that they had for Naomi.\u00a0 There had to be a spark of faith in God still left in her which impressed them enough to decide to go with her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>How did God finally get Naomi\u2019s attention?<\/li>\n<li>Do you think her family would have returned to Judah if Elimelech and the two sons were still living?<\/li>\n<li>What was the attraction for returning home?<\/li>\n<li>Why did the two women decide to go with Naomi?<\/li>\n<li>What did they see in her that you would like for people to see in you?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ruth 1:8-14<\/p>\n<p>Naomi encouraged the two women to return to their families in Moab.\u00a0 They were at first adamant about going with her.\u00a0 She then used the argument that to go with her would mean that they would remain widows from that day own.\u00a0 She stated that even if she had a husband and had children the women would probably be unwilling to wait until her sons were old enough to take a wife before wanting to start a family of their own. She did not feel that there was to be any happiness for her in the future because she believed that God was against her.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did Naomi urge Ruth and Orpah to return home? (To find happiness among their own people.)<\/li>\n<li>Based on the fact that they wanted to go with her how would they be happy back in a pagan society?<\/li>\n<li>What was her final argument? (There would be no possibility of getting married if they stayed with her.)<\/li>\n<li>What could she not know at that point? (God was at work in this whole drama being played out.)<\/li>\n<li>Why did she believe that God was against her?<\/li>\n<li>When have been times when you have felt that God was not on your side?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ruth 1:14-15<\/p>\n<p>Orpah took the advice of Naomi, but Ruth refused to go.\u00a0 It was evident that Orpah was not to be part of God\u2019s plan.\u00a0 She willingly returned home. Naomi tried to convince Ruth one more time by using Orpah as the example of what she should do.\u00a0 Sadly, Naomi showed an acceptance of the fact that Orpah would be better off back with here people and returning to the worship of false gods.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why did Orpah follow Naomi\u2019s advice? (She truly belonged to her people and was not part of God\u2019s plan.)<\/li>\n<li>What reasons did she give for Orpah\u2019s return?<\/li>\n<li>What does her statement say about her understanding of God? (The gods of other nations were good for them as was the God of Israel.\u00a0 It is almost as if God was a provincial God for Israel and no where else.)<\/li>\n<li>How do we sometimes compartmentalize God in our own lives?<\/li>\n<li>How do we keep this from happening?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ruth 1:16-19a<\/p>\n<p>Ruth obviously was determined to go with her mother-in-law.\u00a0 She had seen enough in the woman\u2019s life to bring her to commit her life to the older woman.\u00a0 Her words to Naomi showed the kind of character that Ruth possessed.\u00a0 Her life would be given over to meeting the needs of Naomi.\u00a0 She said:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Where you go I will go<\/li>\n<li>Where you live I will live<\/li>\n<li>Your people will become my people<\/li>\n<li>Your God will be my God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Naomi could do nothing to change Ruth\u2019s mind and so the two went on together to Bethlehem.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>To what or whom have you been as committed as Ruth was to Naomi?<\/li>\n<li>What does it show about Ruth?<\/li>\n<li>What are you willing to give up to serve others?<\/li>\n<li>What does that kind of commitment do for the person on the receiving end of it?<\/li>\n<li>Who would you follow in the way Ruth was willing to stay with Naomi?<\/li>\n<li>What is the cost of such commitment?<\/li>\n<li>What are the blessings?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ruth 19b-22<\/p>\n<p>The return of Naomi caused quite a stir in Bethlehem.\u00a0 There were those in the city who did not recognize her after ten years in Moab.\u00a0 After all she had experienced she no longer wanted to be called by her given name, Naomi, which means the pleasant one, but Mara. She saw that God\u2019s hand had been heavy against her.\u00a0 He had taken her family from her and she was a bitter old woman, not the pleasant one who had lived in Bethlehem all those years earlier. It is interesting that the return of one who was bitter was at the beginning of the barley season.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Why would Naomi\u2019s return cause such a stir?\u00a0 (She had been gone so long.)<\/li>\n<li>Why might some of the people have trouble recognizing her? (The difficult life would have taken a toll on her physical appearance.)<\/li>\n<li>Why did she want to be called something different? (The new name of Mara reflected the way she felt about herself.)<\/li>\n<li>Why did she blame God for what had happened in her life?<\/li>\n<li>Who was truly at fault? (Her family and their poor decisions.)<\/li>\n<li>What could she not see at that point about God? (He had sustained her through all the difficult circumstances and given her a companion committed to help her.)<\/li>\n<li>Why did the writer mention the fact of the barley harvest? (Even in her complaining God was about to provide her once more.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Before making life-changing decisions pray and seek wise counsel.<\/li>\n<li>Do not get involved with those who draw you away from God.<\/li>\n<li>Understand that everything we consider bad God may be using that circumstance to draw you back to Him.<\/li>\n<li>Be strong in your commitment to God.<\/li>\n<li>Let your loyalty to friends and family be reflected by your actions and words.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Churches that remain strong stay true to God\u2019s word.\u00a0 They do not have a tendency to chase the latest fad or go in a direction that is not true to their vision.\u00a0 Sometimes what seems to be the best thing since buttered bread may wind up being destructive to the unity and well-being of the church.\u00a0 Our lesson shows what happens when a person is not willing to face the challenges taking place in the short term.\u00a0 In today\u2019s society we have lost the quality of patience.\u00a0 It whatever program or activity is not immediately successful we are ready to move on to something else.\u00a0 For a vision to have any effect takes time.\u00a0 To make changes that will ensure long-term goals are met require a commitment level that sadly is missing today.\u00a0 Ruth let her mother-in-law that she was not going leave her until death would separate them.\u00a0 Growth will come when we are passionate about what God wants to do with our lives and the life of the church.\u00a0 We are the midst of a new day for the church.\u00a0 Things will not remain as they have been.\u00a0 Care must be taken that we do not look for the quick fix.\u00a0 Decisions need to be made that will help us be a real impact in our community.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lesson 1 Episodes of Why\u2019s Ruth 1 Every time what appears to be a tragedy occurs we as finite human beings ask, \u201cWhy did God let this happen?\u201d\u00a0 We always look at the end results and never what were the underlying causes that brought about the situation.\u00a0 There may be number of things that have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ruth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=464"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/464\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":465,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/464\/revisions\/465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblicalmastery.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}