This morning I read through the book of Ruth in the Good News Translation and it brought tears to my eyes. It is a beautiful story and this version makes it all the more heart-warming and poignant. I cannot read Ruth without thinking of our dear grandfatherly Bible School Principal. He spoke to us from this book using the typological approach; that is, using each character as a type or representative of another. Naomi became the back-slidden Christian; Orpah the one fully exposed to the faith, but who walks away; Ruth the new Christian; Boaz, Jesus; and the immediate next-of-kin, unwilling to marry Ruth, the Law. Brilliant.

Let's start with Naomi. A back-slider is a genuine child of God who, through circumstances that become personally overwhelming, decides to leave the family of God. (This is not about being critical, but rather flagging up dangers.) In her case there was a physical famine in the land. The Bible also speaks about "a famine of God's word being heard". Believers can starve themselves in this way and local churches can take their eye off the ball and get taken up with secondary issues. One of the main causes of back-sliding seems to be taking offence with church leaders or fellow believers.

While in the land of Moab, Naomi's husband and both her sons die. I do not believe this was God's judgment on them for leaving the Promised Land, but simply the consequences of living in a fallen world. However, Naomi did, and said: "The Lord has turned against me." On her return to Bethlehem, the first thing she said was: "Don't call me Naomi [Pleasant], call me Marah [Bitter], because Almighty God has made my life bitter. When I left here, I had plenty, but the Lord has brought me back without a thing. [Imagine how Ruth might have been tempted to feel hearing this.] Why call me Naomi when the Lord Almighty has condemned me and sent me trouble?" (Notice "I" left but "the Lord" brought me back.) Apart from becoming bitter, a back-slider can also blame God for the tragedies that happen in their lives, believing God is against them not for them, and giving in to self-pity. The truth is the Father is committed to drawing them back to himself.

God provided Ruth for Naomi; someone who loved her, refused to leave her and who did "more for her than seven sons". He had also provided her with a redeemer, but she had to return to the family of God to find him. What brought her back? Hearing that the Lord had blessed his people; that their famine had ended; that revival had come; that abundant life had returned. God led Ruth to Boaz and Naomi exclaimed: "May the Lord bless Boaz! The Lord always keeps his promises to the living and the dead. That man is a close relative of ours, one of those responsible for taking care of us". What a turn-around! Then when Ruth had her first child the ladies amongst the family of God encouraged her: "Praise the Lord! He has given you a grandson today to take care of you". God is faithful. He brings the back-sliders back and their joy knows no bounds. Just ask a grandmother how they feel when they cradle a new grandchild in their arms!