We have all heard the story of the incredibly loyal and loving Ruth in the 8th book of the Bible! But, have we ever stopped to read between the lines? The thing I love about the word of God is the many thought out layers that it all represents! You see God is a multi dimensional God and He will constantly reveal new things to us through His word.
Today I felt the need to go back to the book of Ruth. I feel like God has been challenging me that this is a small part of “my story.” Confused and a little nervous (praying Carey won’t die in Mexico and I won’t have to follow my mother in law back to Texas) I asked God to give me a glimpse of what He wanted me to see!
From what I already know of this story, it addresses faithfulness and loyalty as well as obedience. These are very important lessons that we can all learn and apply in our lives. Today, I saw a little deeper into the set up of the story.
The back story begins when a man named Elimelech (where did they get their baby names from?) and his wife Naomi left Judah because of a famine and they moved with their two sons to the land of Moab. While in Moab, “E” dies and leaves Naomi to raise her two sons. She stays in Moab and eventually her two sons grow and marry two moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. They live there about 10 years and then the sons die as well! Now there is no description here, but I can only imagine the emotions of these 3 women. 1st Naomi who lost her love, her husband and is left as a single mom raising her two boys gets hit with another crisis. She looses her sons. Can you imagine the anger, sadness, doubt and questions in her mind? Then these two sweet women who have only been married 10 years and who have not had any children yet (thats what they lived for back then) loose their true loves, their husbands.
Naomi hears that the famine is over in Judah and decides that she has nothing left and she might as well return home. She starts to leave with her daughter-in-laws and then realizes that there is no real reason for them to go with her. She has nothing to offer them in her current situation. She gives them encouragement and hope to stay behind and re-marry and enjoy life. Orpah takes her offer and kisses her goodbye. Ruth however, says she will not leave!
Now lets hear some back story on Ruth. I don’t know her story but I can only imagine that over the course of her young life…God developed a strength of character in her. You see this by her determination. There is nothing in this book about her falling apart when her husband dies or feeling like her life is over. She doesn’t jump on the opportunity to leave her mother in law and remarry and have children (which would seem like the perfect opportunity and plan.) But she, sticks to her guns with determination and says “this is where I am supposed to be so I’m gonna go and trust God to do what He may!”
If you don’t know the rest of the story-read it! It’s about risk, obedience and true love. You can’t get a more beautiful love story than Boaz and Ruth’s. And the end is even better. Let me spoil it for you! Because of all that happens- Ruth eventually becomes the great grandmother of King David and thus part of the line of Jesus!
Here is the point! God orchestrates all things in our lives. He allows us to walk through difficult times to develop character within us and get us to the place He wants us to be. We can’t possibly see the big picture. He allowed Naomi’s family to experience famine and move to Moab. Because of “E“‘s death her family stayed in Moab. Here her sons married two beautiful women. They could have stayed in Moab forever- but that was not Gods plan. Through tragedy, God provides a way for Naomi to go home to Judah and through tragedy God establishes a strength and trust in Ruth to enable her to take a step of faith and go with Naomi ( in spite of Naomi’s protests that it did not make sense.) Then, because of obedience God orchestrates a love story that results eventually in the birth of His son!
We don’t always understand the “script” of our life. We don’t know why things happen they way they do, but God does! He has a plan that is bigger than ours. If we can stay strong like Ruth in the midst of adversity, we will recognize the divine connections that God brings us along the way. And, we will be able to take steps of faith and obedience to walk in the purpose of God for our life!
