The Way of the Cross (9)

After those forty years wandering in the desert, the children of Israel are finally getting close to the land of promise. Two and a half tribes have already conquered their land on the east of the Jordan, and the rest are ready to go over the river and take their land. But before they do, Moses gives them one last reminder of how they have come to be where they are now. Moses isn't going with them, so he wants them to grasp why their parents' generation languished in the wilderness rather than going straight from Egypt to Israel.

As he outlines their story, highlighting, underlining, emboldening the failures and unbelief of the previous generation, he also outlines the way they should live in the land God is giving them. Within the summary of the Law, we find a couple of verses which Paul picks up on in Galatians, which help us to understand the cross:

And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)

A crime punishable by death means that the person is cursed by God. All of us are lawbreakers, each of us deserves death for our sins. Yet the remarkable thing is that the Holy One, the one who perfectly obeyed the Law and his Father's command, he it was who died in this cursed way on the tree. How can we understand it?

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us - for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree" - so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13-14)

The Lord Jesus took our cursedness and gives us his blessedness as he dies the death we deserve and gives us the life we didn't deserve.

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!

The Promise of His Coming (4)

Long after Jacob and Joseph, God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of the slavery of Egypt to go up to the Promised Land. Moses had a special place of privilege, as God's prophet, in hearing God's voice, encountering God in his holiness, and leading the people by proclaiming God's word to them.

Yet even Moses was sinful, and his disobedience of God meant that ultimately, he would not enjoy living in the land of promise. The next generation would boldly go across the Jordan to conquer the land.

Near the end of Deuteronomy, that book of Moses' final speeches to the people before he dies and they cross over with Joshua, Moses declares that God will provide a new prophet in the future:

The LORD you God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers - it is to him you shall listen - just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, "Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die." And the LORD said to me, "They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19)

Israel is on the lookout for this special prophet, the one who is coming to reveal God to them, and yet, the words at the end of Deuteronomy are very telling:

And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:10-12)

What will this prophet be like? He will know the LORD face to face, and do signs and wonders and works of mighty power, and (from earlier) he will speak all that God tells him to speak. It's no surprise, then, to find that Jesus says that 'Moses wrote of me' (John 5:46), yet Jesus has greater honour than Moses as the son over God's house as compared to the servant in God's house. (Hebrews 3:1-6)

Once again, the hunt is on - the prophet is coming. Come, Lord Jesus!

The Auld Enemy (2)

We've been thinking about how Amalek is the ancient enemy of God's people. The first attack when Israel came out of the land of Egypt was by the Amalekites. Now forty years later, Moses is giving final instructions to his people before they enter the Promised Land.

"Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget." (Deuteronomy 25:17-19)

This passage sheds some light on the reason for detesting Amalek. The nation hadn't even targeted soldier, but rather the weak and lowly of the Israelites, those lagging behind. It was like ancient guerilla warfare, picking off easy targets rather than standing up for a fight.

Time may have moved on, yet the command is the same - Amalek is not to be tolerated, but to be destroyed. What will happen when Israel moves into the land? Will it obey God's commands?

Pleasant to Bitter

What's in a name? In our fellowship group, we're studying the Book Ruth, and began with chapter 1 last Wednesday night. There, we find the unfolding story of a woman called Naomi. Tragedy strikes the family, leaving her with just one daughter-in-law, with both of them being widows.

Having been away from Bethlehem for about 10 years, she returns to her home town. And when she gets there, she requests a name change - from Naomi to Mara. Now to us, reading our English translations, we miss the significance of the change of name. Thankfully, the footnotes are useful in helping us out.

Naomi means 'pleasant', whereas Mara means 'bitter'.

Such a transformation, although perhaps with good reason. Naomi and her husband Elimelech (which means 'God is my King') and their two sons left Bethlehem in the midst of a famine, and they moved to the land of Moab. Sadly, Elimelech and her two sons both died (after they had met and married Moabite women). Then Orpah, the other daughter-in-law obeyed Naomi and returned home.

Naomi had a bitter experience, and she knew where the blame lay: 'it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me' (Ruth 1:13). Further, 'the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty' (Ruth 1:20-21).

While many known to us may not want to change their names, yet they feel this way towards God. Bitterness invades every thought, and they feel crushed under the hand of the Lord. Pray for those you know who struggle with the Lord tonight.

Yet even in the midst of her perceived bitterness, the Lord was being gracious towards Naomi. Often we can't see it at the time either, but later things will be seen in a new light.

Naomi and her husband were part of the people of God, yet they left their inheritance, they left the land of promise to go and dwell in a foreign land. Famine was one of the curses found in Deuteronomy if the people of Israel departed from loving God. With famine, the people should have been repenting, not packing up.

Yet consider God's graciousness. He brings them to the place where Ruth is introduced to the family. He visits His people and gives them food (1:6). He moves Ruth to remain faithful to Naomi and return with her to Bethlehem. He brings Naomi back to the promised land. And He draws Ruth, a Moabite, into a living relationship with himself.

Grace in the midst of bitterness.

'The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.' (Deuteronomy 33:27)

A Testing Time - A Sermon Preached in Drumgooland and Drumgath Parishes on 10th February 2008 (First Sunday in Lent): Matthew 4:1-11

As we have been thinking this morning, it is the first Sunday in Lent, a time when we remember Jesus being tempted. This morning, though I want to focus on what the temptations say to us about the person of Jesus. Who is this Jesus, who goes through the temptations, and why does the devil spend so much time with him?

If you’ll look with me at the opening words of our reading, Matthew 4 verse 1, you’ll see the importance of context. ‘Then Jesus was led by the Spirit.’ What happens in our reading this morning comes directly after what came before. So when was Jesus led by the Spirit? This comes immediately after Jesus was baptised by John in the River Jordan.

Look at the last verse of chapter 3 – 3:17 ‘And a voice from heaven said “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”’ At Jesus’ baptism, God the Father had affirmed that Jesus was his Son. Now, straight away, the devil puts Jesus to the test.

What are the devil’s first words to Jesus in chapter 4? ‘If you are the Son of God…’ The devil tests Jesus, challenging the word that the Father has spoken to him. This is nothing new for the devil. Do you remember what the serpent said to Eve in the Garden of Eden? ‘Did God really say…?’ (Genesis 3:1) Right back at the beginning, he was challenging God’s word, and it is no different today.

But before we go on to look at the temptations themselves, we also have to think about the wider biblical context. When you heard the reading earlier, did it make you think about the grand story of the Old Testament? You see, in Matthew 2, Matthew tells of Jesus going down into Egypt to escape from Herod the Great murdering the children of Bethlehem. After Herod’s death, Jesus is brought to Nazareth, and Matthew says that this happened to fulfil the words of the prophet Hosea – ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.’

When Hosea spoke those words, he was speaking about the exodus, when God brought Israel out of Egypt. The nation of Israel, the people of Israel was considered by God to be his son. Yet what happened when God rescued them from Egypt? They spent forty years in the wilderness, because of disobedience to God’s word, and they complained about having a lack of food.

Israel in the desert (wilderness) failed the task. As God says in the Venite (Psalm 95), ‘Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah… where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did’. Jesus comes into the world, the Son of God, who will obey the Father’s word and satisfy the law.

Therefore, it is highly significant that the temptations happen at the very start of Jesus’ ministry, and that they come in the desert. Having considered the background, we’re now able to think about the temptations themselves.

Jesus had been fasting for forty days and nights in the desert. (Again, the significance of the number 40). After that time, it was natural that he would be hungry. And this gives the devil the opportunity to tempt Jesus. ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Notice that the devil recognises that Jesus has the power to do it. After forty days of hunger, it might even seem like a good thing to do. Yet Jesus recognises that he wasn’t given power and authority to use it selfishly.

In response, Jesus quotes from God’s word, from Deuteronomy 8. In Deuteronomy 8, Moses was reminding the children of the generation of Israelites who had failed in the wilderness what had gone wrong. God had been testing the people ‘in order to know what was in [their] heart, whether or not [they] would keep his commands.’ (Deut 8:2). By causing them to hunger, then feeding them with manna, God was reminding them that they don’t live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Therefore, for Jesus to use his power selfishly, or to satisfy his own needs would be in disobedience to God’s word. Instead, he depends on God to supply his needs, and trusts for his provision. Jesus 1, Satan 0.

Satan then tries another approach. Once again, he introduces it with the challenge – if – ‘if you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.’ Satan had taken Jesus to the highest point of the temple. And look at what happens – even the devil can quote scripture! He ties it to the promise of Psalm 91 that God will command the angels to protect his own. So surely if Jesus is the Son of God, then God will protect him if he abseils without a rope. What’s more, it would be the perfect way to prove to everyone (as well as Jesus himself) that Jesus was God’s Son. After all, the temple would be a busy place with lots of people around. If everyone saw Jesus jumping off the top and landing without any injury, then they would know that he was the Son of God and follow him.

Yet Jesus knows what is going on. While the devil may be able to quote scripture, his use of it will be as twisted as himself. He only uses the verses from Psalm 91 because it seems to help his cause. But while God promises ultimate security for the believer, it isn’t something you should try out, or provoke God into action.

Again, Jesus quotes from the early section of Deuteronomy as Moses speaks to the Israelites. ‘Do not test the Lord your God as you did at Massah.’ Once again, the temptation was for Jesus to use his power in an inappropriate way. It would have been sensational, but would have been in disobedience to God’s word. Jesus 2, Satan 0.

The devil then tries his final temptation, for the time being. Again, Jesus is taken to a high place, and shown the kingdoms of the world and their splendour (or glory, in some versions). ‘All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me.’

What a vision that must have been, to see the glory of all the nations. If you’ve ever visited the Tower of London, you will have seen the Crown Jewels dazzling. And that would be a very small part of the glory of all nations. And Jesus could have all this, if he just bows down to Satan?

Yet when we think of it, this temptation is probably the most subtle. Jesus knew what his mission was – to die on the cross, in obedience to the Father, and through that, would be crowned with glory and honour. Think of that passage from Philippians 2 which speaks of Jesus’ descent into greatness, being obedient to death, even death on a cross; then Jesus is raised up so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The way of glory for Jesus was the way of obedience to death. As the old slogan goes, ‘no cross, no crown.’ Yet this was precisely what Satan was offering. He could enjoy the glory of the nations and have it all, without having to endure the cross. What a prospect!

But once again, Jesus recognises the temptation for what it was. In worshipping the devil, Jesus would have been disobeying the first commandment, and would have ultimately lost all that he had been sent to do. And once again, Jesus responds with that ‘it is written’ – again, God’s word is the motivation of obedience, and resisting the temptation. Jesus 3, Satan 0.

So how do the temptations of Jesus help us today, as we struggle with temptations? Firstly, we see that it is not a sin to be tempted. As the letter to the Hebrews reminds us, we have a high priest ‘who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.’ Jesus was sinless, yet suffered the same temptations that we face.

Also, we see that temptations will be things that relate to our situation in life, and appeal to us. After fasting, the temptation for Jesus was to satisfy his hunger. Where do the temptations come in your life? Are there particular situations in work or in your street that present temptation? How can you watch out for temptations?

We also see that the temptations sought to make Jesus disobey God’s word. His solution was to quote scripture (in context) to keep him on track. How do you know what God’s will for your life is? Remember that Paul talks of the word of God as the sword of the Spirit – the one offensive weapon in the armour of God. How is your sword work?

But I want to finish with a word of grace and hope. Jesus demonstrated how he did not yield to temptation, and he is our example – as we seek to become more like Jesus. Yet there are times when we mess up; when we fall into temptation, and follow the desires of our human nature. Be assured that it is not all over – failure is not final!

Jesus fully obeyed the word of God and the law of God, and as we trust in him, God credits our account (bankrupt as it is by ourselves) with Jesus’ righteousness. Failure is not final because Jesus has died for our sins, and he gives us the grace to follow, the grace to rise again, the grace to stand and face the accuser (what the name Satan means).

Through the temptations of Jesus, we see again that Jesus is the Son of God, the one who obeys the Father’s will, and that he chooses to obey even when it hurts, as he goes to the cross. He knows what you’re going through, and is there for you. Hear these marvellous words from the letter to the Hebrews:

‘Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.’ (Heb 4:14-16)

Let us pray!

The Prophet Like Moses

Explore is currently working through Deuteronomy and yesterday I came to the prophecy of a new prophet like Moses:

The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers - it is to him you shall listen - just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, "Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die." And the LORD said to me, "They are right in what they have spoken. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him." - Deuteronomy 18:15-19

So who was this prophet like Moses? Was he speaking of Joshua, the next leader of the people of Israel? Probably not, as Joshua wasn't a prophet in the same way as Moses. Or was it perhaps Isaiah or Jeremiah, or one of those great prophets? No, I don't think so.

The prophet like Moses was Jesus - the one who revealed the Father, who spoke the Father's words, and who brought his people out of the bondage of slavery in the new Passover. That Passover was through the sacrifice of himself (the lamb without blemish and spot -1 Peter 1:19), so that the righteous wrath of God against sin passes over those who seek refuge under his covering, just like the blood of the lamb was the sign of salvation for the Israelite household in Egypt.

Yet, as the book of Hebrews tells us, there is also a distinction between Moses and Jesus - in that Jesus is greater than Moses:

Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses - as much more glory as the builder of the house has more honour than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God). Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. - Hebrews 3:1-6

Tithing

Should Christians tithe? Some would say that we have no need to tithe, because we're not under law, we're under grace. When living in the freedom of Christ, then we have no need to live subject to any laws. Plus, don't tithes sound somewhat archaic. For our Presbyterian brothers and sisters it might also bring back cultural memories of the Penal Laws and the dreaded tithes paid to the Church of Ireland. Is it not just a way of boosting the offering on the collection plate on a Sunday?

Fair enough - in Christ, we are under grace. But imagine my surprise when I encountered Deuteronomy 14, with the section on the tithes:

You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. And before the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the LORD your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the LORD your God chooses, to set his name there, then you shall turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the LORD your God chooses and spend the money for whatever you desire. - oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. And you shall not neglect the Levite who is within your towns, for he has no portion or inheritance with you. (Deuteronomy 14:22-27)

The tithe - the tenth of the income wasn't to be given to the temple or the church. Rather, the tithe was to be used for a big party - a huge slap-up feast. Can you imagine that? It's like taking a month and a bit's salary and using it for one dinner? On the UK average earning, it would be spending £2324 for dinner. That would be a quare size of a steak!

Did you notice that the reason for the tasty tithing treat? 'That you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.' (Deaut 14:23) How does a time of feasting remind people to fear God?

Well, you might remember that Moses is speaking to the children of Israel on the edge of the Promised Land. For forty years they have been wandering in the wilderness, dilly-dallying in the desert, and all they have eaten is manna and quail. Manna was, I'm sure, tasty enough. But imagine eating the same food for forty years. "What's for breakfast, darling?" "Manna, honey." "What are we having for lunch?" "Manna." "What are we having for dinner?" "Manna."

The land of Israel was the place of blessing, as we see from the whole book of Deuteronomy. And part of that blessing would be the fact that they had food and grain and wine. Recalling where they had come from would remind them of the fear of the LORD God who had brought them into the land of milk and honey.

So even though it seems that the tithes here were a law, they also flowed from the grace-filled and saved heart.

Now, would you like to tithe?

Faithfulness in the midst of tragedy: A sermon preached in Annalong on 22nd July 2007. Ruth 1:1-23

How do you deal with tragic circumstances? How do you cope when bad things happen to you? What is your reaction to sad events in your life? As we begin our study in the book of Ruth, we encounter a very tragic story as the life of Naomi unfolds. We’ll look at what happened to Naomi, before seeing how she dealt with those events. Hopefully through all this, we will see the gracious and good hand of God, not only in Naomi’s life, but also in our lives as well.

Look with me at verse two. We’re introduced to Naomi and her husband Elimelech, as well as their sons Mahlon and Kilion. They lived in Bethlehem, which immediately highlights us to the fact that these are Israelites – part of the people of God.

But if you jump down to verse 20, we find Naomi returning to Bethlehem after a long period of absence, and she’s calling for a name change. For the Israelites, names were very important, and meant a lot about who you were. So Naomi (which means pleasant) wants to be called Mara (which means bitter). ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty have brought misfortune upon me.’ (Ruth 1:20-21)

How has this change been brought about? Why has Naomi gone from being pleasant to being bitter? Let’s look at the tragedy as it unfolds.

As I said, at the start of the book of Ruth, we encounter Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon and Kilion. They live in Bethlehem, which means ‘the house of bread.’ But there’s a problem. In the house of bread, there is no food to be had – famine has hit the land. Imagine the distress it would cause – it would be a bit like naming your village ‘nutty krust’ but having no bread to eat.

So what are the family to do? What would you do? Verses one and two both tell us that the family decides to move away from Bethlehem, in search of food. In fact, they move away to the land of Moab. While it might seem like a good move, in the short term, they are actually creating problems.

You see, when Elimelech (‘God is my king’) was faced with his problem, he didn’t consider it in the light of God’s word. Remember, they were living in the promised land, in the first few generations of those living in the land God had given them. Do you not think that if God had went to all the trouble of bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt (with the plagues, signs and wonders), and brought them through the wilderness those forty years, then brought them into the promised land, that he would supply for them to live there?

If Elimelech had only recalled the promises of God given through Moses to his ancestors – promises that if they continued to worship God, they would be blessed in the land; and promises that if they forgot God, then they would face famine and drought and ruin. (Deut 8:6-9, 19-20; 11:13-17; 28:9-14, 45-48). Then he would have recognised the signs of the times, and see what needed to be done.

But rather than this difficult step of humbling himself before God and admitting his faults, he ran off to Moab, taking his family with him for the food of the enemy.

How do you respond to a problem? Do you take it to the Lord, and search the Scriptures for light? It may be easier to run away from God, or take the pragmatic response, but it will not satisfy in the end.

Then, on top of these tragedies, we find that as they settle in the land of Moab, Elimelech dies. Then after the joy of the wedding of her two sons, her sons die as well, leaving her with her two daughters-in-law. Suddenly the three women find themselves without anyone to provide for them – no breadwinner. This was a serious matter, and would lead to their own deaths eventually, unless something was done about it.

No wonder Naomi claims that the Lord has afflicted her – could there have been anything worse happening to her? After all, if God is in control, then is it not his fault when bad things happen? I wonder do you blame God as well? So far, in the midst of all that has happened, we have seen Naomi blame God, despite their disobedience, their lack of faith, their running away from the problem.

Yet the wonderful news of the first chapter of Ruth is that God is in control. God’s purposes are for good, for those who love him, and we see in the chapter how God works for the good of Naomi.

God is in control when he (verse 6) came to the aid of his people again, by providing food for them. God keeps his promise for ever – he is faithful and true. While Naomi and her family fled, the rest of the people of God had remained in the promised land, waiting to receive the promise again.

God is in control when he brings Naomi back home again, back to her town, back to the promised land and the family inheritance. Her townsfolk hadn’t forgotten about her – when she arrived back they were stirred, they were excited or maybe just a bit nosy.

So far we have seen God being in control of the good things – maybe you’re thinking it all would have turned out ok anyway. After all, the rain wouldn’t fail forever, and there would be food again eventually. But even more amazing than these is that even in Naomi’s disobedience and disgust of God, God is in control, working for her good.

When the family fled to Moab, abandoning the promised land, God was in control. He brought them to the right place so that Mahlon and Kilion would meet Orpah and Ruth, the two daughters-in-law who Naomi would be left with. More than that, when Naomi tried to drive them away in her grief, God was in control, so that Ruth would remain with her.

Why is it that at the times we need family and friends the most, we seem to drive them away? The very times when we need help the most, we tend to be stubborn, and not to want any help. [We see it in suicide – those who would most benefit from sharing problems and lightening the load are those who withdraw and try to face up to things on their own – which overwhelm them. If you should be thinking about suicide – don’t keep it to yourself – talk to someone about it and get help for whatever problems you are facing.]

So we see it here – as Naomi sets off back for Bethlehem, she tries to get rid of her daughters-in-law. Oh, there’s probably good reason for it, as she tells them to go and marry someone else and enjoy their life as there’s no chance of her having a new husband and having sons for them to marry (to keep the family name and land inheritance rights). Look at verse 13 – Naomi again laments that God’s hand is against her, that it is more bitter for her than for the girls.

Orpah leaves and goes back home. She’ll be on the look out for another husband, but Ruth refuses to leave. God is working in her life to bind Ruth to Naomi in her time of need, yes, but more than that, to bind Ruth to God himself.

Let’s read those words again we thought about with the children – ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.’

Remember that these are words from a daughter-in-law to a mother-in-law. How many of you daughters-in-law would think of saying this to your mother-in-law?! Or sons-in-law to your mother-in-law? Do you see how radical these words are? Can you also see that they are the outworking of God’s in-working in the lives of the family, even in the midst of the bad times, even in the midst of the sad times, even in the midst of their disobedience and denial?

Naomi needed a companion on the road home and as they set up life again in Bethlehem, yes. But more than that, God was drawing this foreigner to himself, bringing her into the people of God, including her in his family, as the grand plan of salvation rolled forward. ‘Your people will be my people, and your God my God.’ And he was doing it through the poor witness of Naomi, who had tried to send Ruth back to her pagan parents.

Even in the bad times, God is present in the situation, and working for our good. Maybe you were thinking of a specific problem or tragedy or situation that you have recently gone through, or you’re going through right now – be assured that God is with you.

On preparing for this morning, I was struck that verses 17 and 18 point beyond the faithfulness of Ruth to Naomi, to the truly Faithful One, to the Lord Jesus. Firstly, to that verse in Romans 8 which I have been hinting at, which tells us that ‘in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’ (Romans 8:28) But also to the wonderful promise we have from the end of Matthew’s gospel – ‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ (Matt 28:20) and confirmed in Hebrews 13:5: ‘Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.’

So Naomi (Mara) returns to Bethlehem, with Ruth in tow. Look at verse 21. ‘I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.’ Even as she returns with Ruth, she fails to realise just how much grace God has given to her, in his care for her while absent in Moab, and in providing her with Ruth.

If you’re in the midst of the crisis, be assured that God is with you, and that God is working for your ultimate good, in ways you may not be able to see right now. That really is the grace of God that we have in Jesus Christ.

[Verse 23 tells us that they arrive back at the time of the barley harvest, which will lead us into chapter two. We’ll be looking at it tonight at 6pm, if you want to see how the story develops!]

Grace in the wilderness

For many people, the Bible reveals two different Gods. We have the likeable God of love in the New Testament, and the vindictive God of hate in the Old Testament, according to that opinion. Explore has been working through the early chapters of Deuteronomy recently, and the other day I was struck once again by the one true and living God, the gracious God, revealed in both Old and New Testament.

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharoah king of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)

Why did God choose the people of Israel to be his people and the objects of his love? Well, surely (we would think) it was because they were the strongest nation; or the richest nation; or maybe even the most populous people. No, no, no. To all our reasons of deserving mercy, God says no.

So why did God choose the people of Israel? Just because, he loves them! They didn't deserve it, but God, out of his grace, chose them to be his people; the people by whom the rest of the peoples would be blessed.

Similarly, why do people get saved? Why am I a Christian? Well, it's not because of my good looks, or my moral sense, or my good deeds, or my deserving to be saved. No, I am saved simply and only because of God's grace - giving me what I do not deserve.

On thinking about the Deuteronomy passage above, it triggered another passage in my head. Can you see the similarities with what Paul says to the Corinthian church?

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the God of grace, and in this, we rejoice!