TURNING AROUND: Have you ever been driving along merrily thinking all was well and that you were following the right road only to realize that you were lost? I think most of us can relate to that situation. How we handle it may be a little different in each case. For example, I am prone to immediately turn around and follow the exact path back until I recognize where I went wrong. My husband on the other hand seems to enjoy the adventure and will simply take another turn winding his way discovering new things along the way but somehow miraculously finding his way to the appointed place.
This was not uncommon for the people of God in the Bible. In fact one of the reasons God sent his prophets was to turn the people back to him when they had turned away. The book of Hosea plus many of the other prophets are filled with pleadings to return to the LORD. "Come, and let us return unto the LORD; for He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us, He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day. (Hosea 6:1-2) Also, in Hosea 14:1, he pleads with them, "Return, O Israel to the LORD your God...take with you words and turn to the LORD". The LORD'S promise for their returning was that of revival and blessing. Naomi in Ruth chapter one has realized that her first step was to return to the LORD and to the land of His promises. Where are you today? Are you on the wrong road perhaps merrily driving along thinking all is well only to realize that somewhere, you have taken a wrong turn and you are lost? If that is the case with you, you have only one turn to make. That turn is toward the LORD. He will lead you to the place He wants you to be.
Having made the decision to return, Naomi finds a companion in Ruth who has also made a decision. Ruth's decision was not to return but to turn in the first place. She had never know the true God of Israel nor the blessings He had promised His people. Hers was a first step of turning toward God. But, in order to do that, she realized that she also had to turn from something. In First Thessalonians the Apostle Paul comments concerning the Thessalonians when he had preached to them the Gospel that they had turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." (I Thess. 1:9) Ruth must not only turn to God but she must turn from her gods, her idols.
When Naomi was instructing both Ruth and Orpah concerning their following her, she told them to return to their home and their family. Orpah did turn back and we are told that she turned back to her people and her gods. This was the true test for both of the daughters-in-law. To what God and to what people will they now turn.
Ruth's reply is astonishing and heroic for she said, "do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following 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!" Her response to Naomi is a revelation of her true conversion. She now casts her lot in with the people of God and worships the true God of Israel. She turned from idols to serve the true and living God.
It was however, not enough for her to turn, she must also follow. In those verses from Hosea chapter six, after urging them to return, Hosea goes on to say in verse three, "then shall we know, if we FOLLOW on to know the LORD.." (KJV). The (NASB) translates it, "So, let us know, let us press on to know the LORD." This was the constant cry of the LORD Jesus after winning his disciples, "FOLLOW ME", "LEARN FROM ME". It is not enough to turn from idols, not enough to just turn to the true God, we must follow on to know the LORD. How is it with you? Even if you have realized that you must return to the LORD or perhaps you have realized that you must turn in the first place from your idols to serve the true and living God, have you also "followed on" to know Him? We cannot serve Him rightly if we do not know Him correctly.
Ruth followed on with Naomi to learn more of the true and living God, not expecting anything but suffering and sorrow. But, she was willing to take up that cross and follow on to know Him better. What would be her outcome? Would she experience the same thing that the LORD Jesus told his disciples when He said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for MY SAKE, and for the GOSPEL'S sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life". It will be exciting to see how the LORD repaid Ruth's decision to "lose all for His sake" and to follow on to know Him.
It seems we have three decisions to choose from, to return, to turn and to follow on to know HIM better. Turn to Him if you have never truly placed your faith in Him. This means you must turn from your own idols to serve Him. You may even have to leave the companionship of many whom you love, perhaps houses, lands or friends, only to receive a hundred fold now and eventually, eternal life".
Perhaps you need to return to Him after following a wrong path. As Hosea said, "take with you words, say to Him, "Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously...", (Hosea 14:2). His promise is that, "I will heal their apostasy, I will love them FREELY" (Hosea 14:4).
And, the third choice is to follow on to know the LORD. What are you doing today to know HIM better? There is only one way to know Him, that is through His revelation of Himself through His Word by His Holy Spirit. Are you looking there? Are you following Him in His Word and coming to know Him better? Turn, return and follow on to know HIM!!! For, "those who live in His shadow will again raise grain, and they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I (the LORD) who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress; From ME comes your FRUIT. " (Hosea 14:8). Will Naomi and Ruth once again be fruitful in the land? We will see as the weeks go by but for now, may you be fruitful in the knowledge of Him as you turn, return and follow Him today.
Having made the decision to return, Naomi finds a companion in Ruth who has also made a decision. Ruth's decision was not to return but to turn in the first place. She had never know the true God of Israel nor the blessings He had promised His people. Hers was a first step of turning toward God. But, in order to do that, she realized that she also had to turn from something. In First Thessalonians the Apostle Paul comments concerning the Thessalonians when he had preached to them the Gospel that they had turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God." (I Thess. 1:9) Ruth must not only turn to God but she must turn from her gods, her idols.
When Naomi was instructing both Ruth and Orpah concerning their following her, she told them to return to their home and their family. Orpah did turn back and we are told that she turned back to her people and her gods. This was the true test for both of the daughters-in-law. To what God and to what people will they now turn.
Ruth's reply is astonishing and heroic for she said, "do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following 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!" Her response to Naomi is a revelation of her true conversion. She now casts her lot in with the people of God and worships the true God of Israel. She turned from idols to serve the true and living God.
It was however, not enough for her to turn, she must also follow. In those verses from Hosea chapter six, after urging them to return, Hosea goes on to say in verse three, "then shall we know, if we FOLLOW on to know the LORD.." (KJV). The (NASB) translates it, "So, let us know, let us press on to know the LORD." This was the constant cry of the LORD Jesus after winning his disciples, "FOLLOW ME", "LEARN FROM ME". It is not enough to turn from idols, not enough to just turn to the true God, we must follow on to know the LORD. How is it with you? Even if you have realized that you must return to the LORD or perhaps you have realized that you must turn in the first place from your idols to serve the true and living God, have you also "followed on" to know Him? We cannot serve Him rightly if we do not know Him correctly.
Ruth followed on with Naomi to learn more of the true and living God, not expecting anything but suffering and sorrow. But, she was willing to take up that cross and follow on to know Him better. What would be her outcome? Would she experience the same thing that the LORD Jesus told his disciples when He said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for MY SAKE, and for the GOSPEL'S sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life". It will be exciting to see how the LORD repaid Ruth's decision to "lose all for His sake" and to follow on to know Him.
It seems we have three decisions to choose from, to return, to turn and to follow on to know HIM better. Turn to Him if you have never truly placed your faith in Him. This means you must turn from your own idols to serve Him. You may even have to leave the companionship of many whom you love, perhaps houses, lands or friends, only to receive a hundred fold now and eventually, eternal life".
Perhaps you need to return to Him after following a wrong path. As Hosea said, "take with you words, say to Him, "Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously...", (Hosea 14:2). His promise is that, "I will heal their apostasy, I will love them FREELY" (Hosea 14:4).
And, the third choice is to follow on to know the LORD. What are you doing today to know HIM better? There is only one way to know Him, that is through His revelation of Himself through His Word by His Holy Spirit. Are you looking there? Are you following Him in His Word and coming to know Him better? Turn, return and follow on to know HIM!!! For, "those who live in His shadow will again raise grain, and they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? It is I (the LORD) who answer and look after you. I am like a luxuriant cypress; From ME comes your FRUIT. " (Hosea 14:8). Will Naomi and Ruth once again be fruitful in the land? We will see as the weeks go by but for now, may you be fruitful in the knowledge of Him as you turn, return and follow Him today.
Your way, not mine, O Lord, however dark it be!
Lead me by your own hand, choose out the path for me;
Smooth let it be or rough, it will be still the best;
Winding or straight, it leads right onward to your rest.
Lead me by your own hand, choose out the path for me;
Smooth let it be or rough, it will be still the best;
Winding or straight, it leads right onward to your rest.
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