Sermons

One Decision Can Change Everything

Series: Ruth: A Redemption Story

Main Idea:

The safest decisions made are the ones subjected to God and His ways.

Introduction

• Introduce the series: God's redemptive work through Ruth’s story.

• Context: The time of the Judges (Judges 17:6).

Judges 17:6 (ESV): In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

• Read Ruth 1:1–6 aloud:

Ruth 1:1–6 (ESV):
1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.
2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.
3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.
4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,
5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food.

I. Elimelech’s Decision to Leave Bethlehem

Text: Ruth 1:1–2

• Elimelech responds to famine—likely judgment from God.

• He chooses to move his family to Moab, a pagan land.

• Background on Moab:

  • Genesis 19:36–38 (ESV):
    Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day.

  • Deuteronomy 23:3–6 (ESV):
    No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD...because they did not meet you with bread and with water...You shall not seek their peace or their prosperity all your days forever.

  • 2 Kings 3:26–27 (ESV):
    Then he took his oldest son...and offered him for a burnt offering on the wall...

• Elimelech likely acted out of fear and pragmatism rather than faith.

II. Naomi’s Decision to Send Ruth and Orpah Away

Text: Ruth 1:6–14

Ruth 1:6–14 (ESV):
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return...
7 So she set out...
8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you...
9 The LORD grant that you may find rest...Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
10 And they said...“No, we will return with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi said, “Turn back...why will you go with me?”
12 “...even if I should have a husband this night...”
13 “...Would you therefore wait...?”
14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

• Naomi focuses on practical outcomes, not God's redemptive potential.

• She discourages their faith journey: “Return to your people and your gods.”

• A missed opportunity to disciple Orpah and Ruth in faith.

• Orpah leaves, but Ruth stays.

III. Ruth’s Decision to Return to Judah with Naomi

Text: Ruth 1:15–22

Ruth 1:15–22 (ESV):
15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”
16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you...For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
17 Where you die I will die...May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”
18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined...
19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem...
20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
21 I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty...the LORD has testified against me...”
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite...they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

• Ruth’s statement is a beautiful picture of conversion and covenant loyalty.

• Ruth aligns with God and His people at great personal cost.

• Naomi feels abandoned by God but is actually being restored through Ruth.

• The barley harvest marks the beginning of God’s redemptive turn.

Conclusion

• Our decisions—especially those made under pressure—have lasting impact.

• Elimelech acted from fear. Naomi acted from pain. Ruth acted from faith.

• Psalm 37 offers wisdom in making decisions:

Psalm 37:3–5 (ESV):
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

• Challenge: Will we submit our choices to God’s wisdom and trust His redeeming work?

Speaker: Dan Krause

May 18, 2025

Ruth 1:1-22

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