Click on the above Scripture to read today's exciting text!
The book of Ruth is an incredible story that takes place during the stage within Israel's history when judges ruled over Israel - a time before the installation of kings, such as Saul, David, and others. It was written thousands of years ago, but has some great insights for those of us living in the 21st century! It is an inspiration to all women and remains an icon of what it means to be a woman of God, to live under the impulse of the Spirit, and to be a creative part of God's future plans in the world. Most people would like to think this is a man's world, but the reality is that God uses women, just as He uses men, in a mighty way in this world. Here are a few thoughts about the story of Ruth...
1) We often blame God for our tragedies! Moments of loss throw us all back on our own assets. When, Ruth, Naomi, and Orpah lost their own husbands, they had little to no assets from which to draw on. Like most women in the world today, their lives and fortunes were intricately tied to the fortunes of the men in their lives. When they lost their husbands, their social status and economic security was gone as well. While Orpah and Ruth trusted in their mother-in-law Noami, Naomi had lost practically ALL of her confidence in God! Listen to how painfully bitter she had become in 1:20-21, "Don't call me Naomi...call me Mara (which means "bitter"), for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. I went away full, bu the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and...has sent such tragedy upon me?"
Women everywhere know the feeling of abandonement and marginalization. They know what it's like to be the outsider looking in, having a sense of powerlessness that comes from being a woman in a world shaped primarily for men. What can possibly be the will of God for a woman, like Ruth and Naomi, at a time like this?
I'm sure many women feel this today! They're asking the question, "What does God have in mind for a woman who's come to the end of motherhood, and there is no man to support them, no institution to define them, and no one their for them?" But, in the book of Ruth, we see God taking a stand on the side of two women who are alone in the world. He shows that He's intricately involved in their lives, even though they can't see it, and He wants to make each of them whole and capable of a life of happiness and fulfillment.
What Ruth and Naomi didn't know was the future plans God had for the both of them! God was about to turn their tragedy into nothing short of a miracle! From this, we learn that since we can not see the future as God sees it, it's critical to trust Him, even when things don't make sense or have a logically positive outcome!
2) Ruth shows the same qualities ALL Christians should have for the Lord! Ruth is a great example of how a Christian ought to feel towards the Lord! Notice these characteristics she had for her mother-in-law, Naomi, and see if you can't agree that these are the very same qualities all Christians should possess in their relationship with Christ:
- She refused to go back to her old lifestyle!
- She didn't want anything from Naomi but her love and friendship!
- She gave up all that she had to follow Naomi!
- She wanted to serve and please Naomi more than anything else in life!
Are you willing to give up everything for the Lord like Ruth did for Naomi?
3) God makes the "impossible" happen out of ordinary events! Earlier, in Deuteronomy, God had demanded that the Jews were to never intermarry with the nations of Ammon and Moab. The reason for this was two-fold. First, it was because they denied bread and water to the Israelites on their way through their land as they got ready to possess the Promised Land. Secondly, if you remember, Balak (the king of Moab) hired the Midian sorcerer Balaam to curse Israel.
Realizing this, Ruth should have never been married to Kilion! Naomi and her husband should have NEVER allowed this to happen. But it did! Perhaps this is why Elimilech, Mahlon, and Kilion die prematurely? We don't know, however, God turns the entire situation into a marvelous praise! It's not until we get to the very last few verses of the book of Ruth that we see the significance of this story. Ruth will one day marry Boaz, and thus become the great grandmother of King David, one of Israel's champions! But the story doesn't stop there! In the book of Matthew, we see that she in one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ! It's an amazing story of how God uses ordinary people in ordinary circumstances of life to do some creative and powerful things!
Thanks for reading today's post! May His countenance shine upon you today!
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