During the
days when the judges ruled, famine was in the land. To provide for his family, Elimelech moved to
the country of Moab with his wife Naomi and their two sons; they were Ephrathites
of Beth-lehem-judah. Then, Elimelech, Naomi’s husband died. So the two
sons married women of Moab, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth. They lived there about ten years. Suddenly Mahlon and Chilion died. Now Naomi and her two daughters-in-law were
all widows with no children.
Naomi
decided she should return to her country: Judah. She had no husband, no sons, no hope for her
future nor for her daughters-in-laws future.
They had been very kind to her. Naomi knew she would not bare any more sons
for her daughters-in-law to marry according to the customs/laws.
Naomi advised
them to go back to their mother’s house and prayed that God would show kindness
to them as they had shown to her and that he would bless them to meet a new
husband so they could rest. They all
cried and kissed each other, hugging each other, not wanting to leave each
other. Naomi was grieved for her
daughters-in-law, she felt like God was against her. So she convinced Orpah, to go back to her
Mother, however, she was not able to persuade Ruth.
Instead, Ruth
made a vow to Naomi, to go with her wherever, live with her where ever, and
Naomi’s people and God would be hers. She
took it upon herself to bear Naomi’s burden.
They arrived
in Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest and everyone welcomes them.
However, Naomi tells everyone how bitterly God has dealt with her and his hand
is against her. Ruth the Moabitess goes
out to work in Boaz field to support her and Naomi. Boaz shows Ruth favor and offers her protection
while she works.
As Naomi
carries Ruths burden of being a young single woman, knowing the laws of land,
she decides to teach Ruth how to get a good husband, the best: Boaz. She gives Ruth specific instructions, which
is a marriage proposal. Ruth obeys her
instructions. (The older women are to
teach the younger women.)
Boaz being a
just man of God, follows the letter of the law, and now carries the Burden of
these two women. Ultimately he married Ruth, redeemed Naomi’s
land and had a son.
As women, we
face many issues in life. Just as Naomi, Ruth and Orpah, found
themselves widowed, without financial security, feelings of loneliness, anger,
rejection and feeling abandoned by God, etc.
We experience many of the same feelings when we carry our burdens.
Here are a few concerns/burdens women
face/carry:
- Martial Concerns for married women and single women
- Health issues
- Providing care for aging parents
- Divorce
- Widowhood
- Death
- Abuse* (mental, physical, emotional)
- Raising godly children in this society
- Workplace environment promotion and conflict
- Single and married women issues of purity
- Salvation of love ones
- Relationships
- Family: siblings, husband, children, cousins, aunts, uncles
- Friends
- Co-workers
- Professional Relationships
- Church Family Relationship
- Broken Relationships
(These are just a few burdens that
women carry, and everyone looks to us to make everything all right)
(This is taken from a Women's Ministry Meeting, but it is also good for Men to Study this Word. God's word is for both male and female, young and old.)
My sisters in Christ, Let’s learn how
to bear one another’s burden:
As you walk
with your sister bearing her burden, you must first be an example, just as
Christ was an example to us, an example of the Word. Always pointing your sister to Christ, not to
your:
- Personal opinions
- What you think
- How you feel
- What you would do
Remember, we
are witnesses of Jesus Christ and we are also soul winners. In every area and aspect of our life, God seeks
to get the glory. It’s never about us;
you always point your sister to Christ
in the midst of her crises.
He’s our:
Burden
barrier
Our advocate
Our way maker
Our comforter
Our provider
Our deliverer
Our counselor
Our healer
In whatever you go through or are going through, go to the Lord first. If you are bearing someone else's burden lead that person to Christ. He has all the answers.
Announcement:
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In the lesson, we’ll continue to study the “Bear One Another's Burdens” You will be given a bible study guide to complete.
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