“The providence of God”
Ruth 3:1-5; 4:13-17 (November 10, 2024)
Do you remember last week, how we read the first part of the book of Ruth? That may be a lot to ask – since I myself can barely remember my message from week to week. So for those of you who are scratching your heads and wondering “what did he say?”, let me briefly remind you.
The story opens with a Hebrew woman named Naomi, who faces a series of tragic events in her life, one after another: A famine strikes. Her husband dies. Her children die as well.
And it pulls us right into the story because, of course, it’s heart-wrenching to see all this. And maybe you know someone who has also faced some enormous difficulty. And maybe, if the story fits, you can even see yourself in it.
How would we ever get through these things if we had to journey by ourselves?
There’s a poignant line in that first chapter, when Naomi tells her daughters to go away. “Turn back,” she says. Don’t stick with me. “It has been far more bitter for me than for you because the hand of the LORD has turned against me.”
Did you hear what Naomi just said? “The hand of the Lord has turned against me.” She’s trying to make sense of all that has happened – from a theological point of view: Why is this happening? And where is God in the midst of it?
These are “God-questions.” All of us, at some level, are theologians. Maybe you never thought of yourself that way, but when you’re thinking about God that’s what you are.
The conclusion Naomi reaches, is rather devastating: “God has turned against me,” she claims! How else can she explain it? It seems to her that God, the source of life itself, has somehow borne a grudge against her.
We can understand how she might feel that way. But also, understand this: How such a thought would make her slough of despond even darker! What an awful thing.
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So, was Naomi right? Well, that’s not the God we’re presented with in this biblical story. All we’ve read so far is the opening scene. It’s not the conclusion of the matter.
In today’s scripture reading, we jumped to the final bit. And, as you can see, there is a stunning turn-around. Naomi coaches Ruth on how to present herself to her kinsman, Boaz, who has an obligation under Hebrew law to look after his relatives.
Romance is followed by a promise. Then a marriage. And then a child is born. So widowed Ruth finds a husband. And Naomi has a descendent, an heir to land and riches. And both are embraced by the community of God’s people.
What started as tragedy has just as suddenly turned into blessing. Which is not to minimize the early pain of this story – those days were definitely not easy. But by the time we get to the end of it, the pain begins to fade and a new and promising horizon opens up before us.
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We’ll talk more about this in a minute. But for now, let me say that all of us are somewhere in the middle of our stories and we cannot possibly see the conclusion of them.
When we’re surrounded by darkness, we cannot see the light. And yet we know this: Just because a dark cloud fills the sky is no reason to think the sun above has ceased to shine.
No, sooner or later, that cloud will break. And rays of warmth and light will come streaming through. And the world, or at least our vision of it, will be transformed.
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On the front cover of your bulletin is a series of vignettes created by the artist John Swanson. The pictures show us individual episodes from the book of Ruth. It reads the same way as you would read a comic strip. When you go home this afternoon, have a closer look and see if you can recognize some of the scenes.
When you find yourself in the midst of any one of those episodes, you only have small part, a tiny fragment of the whole. So it is with all of us. What happens today or tomorrow or in any one season of our lives is only part of a larger whole.
Only as we stand back from it, when all the pieces are finally fitted in like a puzzle, only then can we see meaning or significance of any individual moment.
All of which is to admit that, at any given moment in time, we know so little! We humans, who are subject to all kinds of limitations, we don’t get to stand outside the daily drama.
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One of the things this story assumes is that there is another character at play. You thought the only significant personalities were Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, didn’t you? But wait, there is another! One who does stand apart from the tiny movements of our lives.
The Bible assumes the larger presence of God is everywhere, all the time. Even when we cannot not see it. Or comprehend it.
In all the many twists and turns of our lives, we never walk alone. Like disciples of Jesus on the Emmaus Road, we are accompanied by a traveller whose true identity remains hidden. Until suddenly it’s not!
In the opening of scripture, in the breaking of bread. A voice, a touch, a movement, a prayer … there is a flash of recognigion. And it’s enough to make us leap for joy. Or shed tears of gratitude. And send us running to tell a friend.
We are not alone! Through all our living. There in the midst … walking, waiting, guiding, inviting … there is God.
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And the recognition of that cosmic reality changes everything.
At the beginning of the story, Naomi’s life is filled with sorrow and hopelessness. But now, at the end of the book, we see that tragedy has turned to blessing. New light has dawned.
Those separate frames you see on the front of your bulletin are just momentary glimpses. Now that we’re at the end of the book we can stand back and take in the whole blessed thing. Just as God sees our lives from beginning to end.
Naomi’s neighbours turn to her and say, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day … He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age …”
So this widow whose future seemed doomed, finds security. She who had lost her family is gifted with loved ones. “That daughter-in-law, Ruth, is more to you than seven sons!” her neighbours declare.
Now she has a little one to hold and treasure. “Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom ….”
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Then finally, the narrator lets us in on a secret! None of the characters in the book of Ruth would ever realize this. Our lives are short. But our legacy is long.
I believe this to be true for each and every one of us. The legacies we leave are as important as the lives we live. Your words, your actions – they ripple out, affecting things far away and long into the future.
Listen as the legacy of this child is revealed: Obed (that’s the baby’s name) became the father of Jesse. And Jesse the father of David!
This child will bring forth, eventually, the greatest, best-loved king in the history of Israel. Who knew? Who knows half of what our lives may mean!
Each of us is called to live our days in the confidence that God will use them. And that somehow, somewhere, the good we bring to the world will be fitted in with God’s ultimate purpose for creation.
Obed becomes the grandfather of David. But it goes even further! David becomes the ancestor of … well guess who? The Christ who comes to bring salvation to all the world. So this one little story becomes a story that impacts us all!
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Theologians speak of God’s providence. By which they mean they mean the way that God provides for us. God gives us what we need.
Providence can also mean that God’s will prevails. That God’s purpose will not be thwarted.
As we live our lives, each of us has a part to play. And we need to do that as best we can. Naomi cooks up a plan for her daughter-in-law to encounter Boaz. “Now wash and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor.” Plans are made, details set in place.
But human scheming can only go so far. Because the Spirit of God is at work, moving in and through our human actions. We do what we can. And the rest we leave to God!
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
Think of Israel’s forebear, Joseph, sold into slavery by jealous siblings, transported to Egypt, and there rising to the highest office in the land. So that when food was needed in a time of famine, Joseph was there to help.
“Even though you intended to do harm to me,” he said to his frightened brothers, “God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people.” (Genesis 50:20)
I think of the Easter story and the power of God to take our human sin and turn it all around. So the cross, an instrument of suffering and shame, becomes the source of forgiveness and healing for all humanity. From death comes new life!
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The providence of God works in wondrous ways! And far be it from me to explain all this. But I do trust it. And today I invite you to trust it as well.
On this Remembrance Day weekend, when we are very much aware of the destructive forces that have and continue to swirl in the world around us, wreaking havoc, bringing death and suffering to so many … When events and politics and personalities cause us to be full of anxiety and fear … Can we trust that God is with us? That God is working, even now, in ways we may not see?
Here’s what I believe: That trusting is simply a better way for us to live.
Apart from faith, our lives are full of anxious worry. Dark clouds that overshadow our world may even cause us to despair. Yet faith believes the sun still shines. Even if we cannot see it.
Faith inspires us to work for good. To love our neighbours. To be agents of justice and peace. We cling to the promise that good will win. Love will triumph. Ultimately, evil will not prevail.
Can we trust this providence of God?
Just as importantly, can we act on that trust? Because faith without works is dead, you know. It’s not really trust at all.
In so many little ways, you and I are called to do our part. Even though we may never see the end result.
We live for a kingdom that is bigger than any one of us. Bigger than our church and all the churches put together. It transcends the ages and bounds of human history.
We live for God’s kingdom. We pray for it. We trust our lives to a God whose kingdom never ends and whose love will never fail. May it be so! Amen.
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