“Not even the slightest hint of her Royal genealogy is intimated in our initial text.”
She steps unto the world stage as simply Ruth the Moabite, daughter-in-law of Elimelech and Naomi. Not even the slightest hint of her royal genealogy is intimated in our initial text. People have always sought recognition or are drawn to those who get it. Think Pharisees. “They did all manner of things to ensure they were recognized by men,” (Matthew 23:5). Titles exact a certain straightening of our spines, chin up, shoulders back, and all that. The wedding for instance, of Prince William and Kate Middleton drew literally millions of viewers and countless paparazzi, yet their royal lineage pales in comparison to Ruth’s.
“Unlike the Prince there was no fanfare or people pining for an invite”
As we begin reading of her introduction onto the world stage it may appear anticlimactic in comparison to her station. Matthew 1:5 shows her as an ancestress of Jesus! A common girl who married as most girls did. Unlike the Prince there was no fanfare or people pining for an invite. She was simply Ruth the gentile, whose heart and behavior are easily recognized when placed beside Paul’s writings found in Romans 2:13-15. A closer look at this simple Moabite shows us there is something unique about this woman. Ruth is radical, there is nothing about her faith or courage that isn’t extraordinary. In fact, it is her very faith, humility, determination and courage that causes her to shine before Boaz’ eyes. This kinsman redeemer, the allusion to the coming Messiah, we’ll read more about their story in next week’s blog…. so stay tuned! …
“We are blessed to witness within its chapters an inspiring revelation of a servant’s heart”
Although the Book of Ruth is a not lengthy, it is brimming with prized life lessons, rich heritage, and history. We are blessed to witness within its chapters an inspiring revelation of a servant’s heart. It carries along within it the analogous sentiment akin to Peter’s response to Jesus’ questioning of the twelve disciples found in John 6:67. Recognized in Peter’s reply to Jesus is the angst of one who doesn’t know all, yet demonstrates unyielding surety that his life is eternally tied to Jesus. This knowing is shadowed in the relationship shared between Ruth and Naomi also. Ruth, willing to forsake all else and follows Naomi, leaves her country, family, friends, gods, and customs to go with her mother-in-law. To walk toe-to-toe into a land promised only to Naomi’s people, and live as an outsider in a strange land.
“How can our hearts not be moved in their reading?”
What struck me about Ruth was her willing abandon. Her genuine fervor to not only follow Ruth, but more miraculously, Ruth’s God. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but not Ruth…yet. It was here in her initial plea to Naomi that Peter’s words (John 6:67) struck me as similar to Ruth’s in sentiment and sincerity (Ruth 1:15-17). These similarly ingenuous bold statements of love and abandoned offered in trust to their beloved were each so powerful, yet pure. How can our hearts not be moved in their reading? Christ speaks of this type of purity with His disciples when they tried to hurry the children away from Him in (Matthew 18:3-4). Ruth demonstrates how it is we all should come to Christ. Humble, eager, deliberate, yielding, and willing to go wherever He may lead.
“Our choices and willingness to obey the move of God on our lives always does”
A journey is on the horizon. Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah woman bound by death, and marriage are about to set off for the House of Bread…. After the death of Naomi’s husband Elimelech as well as both of her sons (Ruth 1: 3-5) Naomi is informed that the famine that drove her family into Moab is now over. She and both of her daughters-in-law prepare to return to Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem in Judea. And it’s here, in the initial stage of their journey where destinies are revealed. Our choices and willingness to obey the move of God on our lives always does. Naomi offers both of her daughters-in-law the opportunity to turn back, return to their family and find rest in the home of a future husband. This rest is the one in the same offered to all by Jesus in Matthew 11:28. A rest that restores, refreshes and relieves us of the weight of our daily burdens. A rest that provides our daily bread (Matthew 6:11), is our protection (John 17:12), our shield (Psalm 33:20) and our deliverer (Psalm 18:2). A rest that raises up a standard when the enemy of our souls comes in like a flood (Isaiah 59:19).
“Her feet slide off the crossroad of destiny and into obscurity.”
As you read along, notice how both women, state eagerly that they will continue on to Bethlehem with her (Ruth 1:10). Yet verses 11 through 13 has Naomi once again pleading with her daughters-in-law to return to their home for the sake of potential future husbands. She goes on to tell them she is too old to have more children and, even if by some miracle she did give birth, would they wait for these babies to become men to marry? Remember the feet on the crossroad? Get ready, don’t blink! For reasons unspecified in the Bible, verse 14 has Orpah saying goodbye to both women, turning back, and heading home. Back to what is safe and familiar, back to a known life made well-worn by years of familiar repetition and longing. Back to the old gods that did nothing but, like everything else surrounding her, were, at the very least, familiar. One can’t help but to think of Lot’s wife here. Just look at the faces of Ruth and Naomi! Did you see it? That, Whoa, hold on! That quizzical flash of confusion and surprise that silently said—Wait a second, you just said you were coming with…what did we miss? And with Orpah’s parting words, her feet slide off the crossroad of destiny and into obscurity.
“Look your sister-in -law is turning back to her people and her gods.”
Sadly, so many will turn back also when adversity or fear arises in them. Jesus speaks of this beautifully in the Parable of the Sower found in Matthew 13. Choose today to follow the call of God on your life as Ruth did, and trust God to bring you where His call is leading you. Forward… into a loving relationship with Christ Jesus. Now on to what is easily recognized as frequently quoted verses of scripture. But, before we get there, one last time Naomi is going to try to offer a way out to her remaining traveling companion. “Look your sister-in -law is turning back to her people and her gods, are you sure you don’t want to follow suit?” (Ruth 1:15). Now here it is, Ruth’s moment to pour out her heart and intentions to her beloved mother-in-law solidifying with both words and actions her desire for righteous living. Thus, opening the door for the Lord to use her in bringing about His greater plan for mankind, the eventual birth of Messiah, and, the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law found in Deuteronomy 25:5.
“May God Bless you and Keep you until we meet again” ….
As followers of Christ we are each called to participate in the plan God has for our lives. Following Ruth’s example, we must boldly move out of our comfort zones, leave what we’ve known behind us, and cling with everything we have to this new life offered to all through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ shed on our behalf… As Ruth followed Naomi we too must follow God, boldly, with abandoned and childlike trust. Believing God truly is the Alpha and the Omega who knows our end from our beginning (Revelations 22:13; 1:8, Isaiah 44:6; 48:12). What a great comfort there is in that knowledge…talk about rest! Won’t you ask Jesus into your Heart today? No man is promised tomorrow… I’ll turn back here until next week. And leave you to read the word of the Lord spoken through the Prophet Jeremiah; “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” (Jerimiah 29:11).
May God Bless you and Keep you until we meet again….
