Ruth 1:6-18 DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES People being people are made in the way God intended, and it was not His intention that we all be like robots or all have the same physical, personality and character traits. Character is built to a certain extent by the genes that have been passed on to us, but a child's character is developed by the training received at home. As life progresses there are character traits being built into us, by everything we allow entrance through our senses into our mind. Ruth lived in an idolatrous nation and her people were ancient enemies of the people of God. Yet she was conscious of God and He was faithful to her. God will use anyone who is open to Him to achieve His purposes. We do not have to do what everyone else does, nor accept what everyone else chooses to accept. Believers have higher standards to live by that should over-ride all the pressures that any society will place upon us. People who live by faith will be called by God to venture out into unknown paths and take risks that may seem foolish to other people. The "What ifs" that plague us can cripple us if we are not careful. Fear of failure has the power to haunt us like a dark cloud hiding the light of faithfulness to God even though we do not like the outcome of a matter.
Remaining strong in character and true to God when all around us people are doing that which is right in their own eyes, can be quite difficult, especially if one is a young beautiful widow. It is in times like this that that one proves their loyalty to their Lord and His word, will and way. We are first introduced to Ruth as a destitute, young widow. She and her mother-in-law shared deep sorrow, great affection for each other and an overriding commitment to God. Neither pressured the other. Naomi was willing for Ruth to go back to her home. Ruth was willing to leave her homeland forever and go to Israel. The key was her willingness to make a spiritual choice. Risks are involved wherever we go and in whatever we do. Faithful Christians will be willing to do what is right in spite of risks that are inherent in almost every choice we make. God was at the center of their communication. The older woman allowed the younger to see, hear and feel the joy and anguish of her relationship with God. Do you feel your thoughts and questions about God should be left out of your close relationships? How often do I share my unedited thoughts about God with my spouse or friends? Sharing openly about your relationship with God can bring depth and intimacy to your relationships with others.
There are times we make life-changing decisions and we hardly realize what we have done. Other times we know the decisions we make will have far-reaching consequences. Ruth made a choice for spirituality. Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi, her mother-in-law, is an example of love and loyalty. Her life was guided by faithfulness toward God and showed itself in faithfulness and loyalty towards others. Naomi and Boaz also were faithful to God and His laws. God Himself is certainly faithful to those in this book of Ruth and He is faithful to us. To experience loyalty and love in our relationships with others, we must imitate God’s faithfulness to them. The tensions between the Moabites and Israelites had historically been there but through a genuine life of holy character, Ruth was able to get beyond those tensions. Being a Moabitess didn’t stop Ruth from worshiping the true God, and it did not stop God from accepting her worship and blessing her [Acts 10:35]. No one is disqualified from serving God because of their sex, race or background. The life of a widow was not easy. Naomi acted in a selfless manner and that in turn encouraged Ruth to follow her example. The same is true today. Selflessness in a person leads others to walk in the same way.
Three women on the road leading away from Moab made individual choices when they stopped to say their good-byes. Orpah and Ruth had to decide whether to return to their home and family so they could resume what would have been to them a normal life in the hopes of making a fresh start under family protection. On the other hand, they could choose to be an immigrant in a strange country, with strange people and cultural differences. Naomi had heard the famine was over. God had intervened and there was bread again in Bethlehem. "Should I swallow my pride and go back where I came from or should I stay hidden in this foreign land?" God had brought the famine to an end and there was hope that the downward spiral of departure might end. God does look after His people because He cares for them. He motivates us by placing His love in us and upon us.
Naomi had left Bethlehem with a husband and security. She returned a widow and in poverty. She changed her name to express her bitterness and the pain she felt. She lost sight of all the resources of God and the great value of her relationship with Ruth. We must never overlook all the resources God provides for us because He loves us and the strength He gives to live in our present circumstances. Never allow bitterness and disappointment to blind us to opportunities. On the other hand, a relationship where the greatest bond is God, will be a relationship of strong mutual commitment in which each person tries to do what is best for the other. A choice for spirituality will involve risking everything by putting our faith in Christ. God saves us, forgives us, rebuilds our lives and gives us blessings that will last through eternity.
Now on the road after deciding to go back to Bethlehem, Naomi commended the two young widows to God's care. By doing so she was actually terminating a relationship with them so they could form another close relationship with men apart from her family. They were released from caring for her to start new lives without her influence. At the same time, she asked that God would deal kindly with them in the same way they had with her. She probably wanted them in a place of safety and security which she could not guarantee. When we take risks, we are required to do what God wants and is considered normal to Him, but not normal to the worldly people among whom we live. Faith ventures out into the unknown with confidence only in God, not in ourselves. Naomi's challenge to them to return because she believed God had turned against her in spite of the value of her previous testimony before them. In essence she was saying, "God is against me, so you better not go where I go. The risks are too great." When we venture and are willing to take risks, there are consequences. For Naomi, she might have meant criticism implied or spoken because of the path her family took ten years before. For Orpah and Ruth it would mean forfeiting home and family security for either the acceptance or rejection that is shown toward immigrants. Orpah chose to go back to normal security and Ruth chose to take the risk of following Naomi and her God, to join with her people for the rest of her life.
Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi as daughter-in-law and friend is a great example of love and loyalty. Naomi, Ruth and Boaz were all faithful to God and His laws. God’s faithfulness to His people is seen throughout the story. Ruth’s life was guided by faithfulness to God. It showed in loyalty to other people she knew. For us to be a true disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ, means we will be willing to take criticism and misunderstanding. Our morality will label us as different. We will be committed to justice being done for the benefit of others in spite of how the laws that are passed by those with no unchanging standard of values may affect us. To be loyal and loving in relationships, we must imitate God’s faithfulness in our relationships to others. Ruth showed kindness to Naomi. Boaz showed kindness to Ruth. God showed His kindness to them all by bringing them together for His purposes. Christ showed His kindness by dying for us to give us eternal life. His kindness should motivate us to love and honor Him. Ruth showed her high moral character by being loyal to Naomi, by breaking from her former land and customs and customs, and by hard work in the fields. Boaz showed integrity in his moral standards, honesty, and following through on his commitments. When we experience God’s faithfulness and kindness, we should respond by showing our integrity. God protected Naomi and Ruth. He controls the circumstances and will bring us through them, He guides our minds and activities to fulfill His purposes. No matter how bad our present situation, our hope is in God. He can do what we can’t. Trust in His protection. To be faithful we will have to be different than ways that are normally accepted by the world's standards. To be faithful will involve taking risks that please God. The greatest blessing that came to Ruth because of her spiritual choices was not the prosperity, the marriage to Boaz, the child that came, but the quality of love and respect between these three people. Don’t think of money and success as the main blessings of life. Rather, the high quality of relationships that you make because of spiritual choices.
Word had come, the famine was over - God grace had failed her never. The angel of the Lord around her did hover - Even though she felt she was abandoned forever.
On the road three walked together - Each had lost the one she loved. The bonds of marriage, death did sever - Faithfulness to husbands they had proved.
Now change had come, what was next? Where is the right place to go from here? To one the world her soul did vex - To the other two, glimpses of faith appear.
One turned back to country, gods and kindred - One was returning to the "house of bread." The third one with faith like a little fire burning Committed to follow God by the famous words she said.
Decision time came although she did not know The results of the choices she made. Families, religion, country - the world as a whole Have been blessed by the price she paid.
We should not underestimate the value of faith Faithfulness is a choice we all can make. From that one decision, God by His grace, Gave blessing to her - and me - as to the way I take.
"O God of all grace, my heavenly Father: in the decision times of my life I am increasingly aware of the tendency to make decisions based on past experiences and their outcome. I know even as I am getting older, I am needing to act in faith in spite of what may be an adverse outcome as far common sense is concerned. I ask of Thee today to give me more wisdom to discern what is Thy will versus what is my natural desire. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."