I have always been intrigued with Ruth. Ruth lost her husband, her brother in laws and father in law all at once. I can not imagine the grief she was feeling. In times of grief we naturally turn inward and maybe even somewhat selfish. Itās a survival technique much necessary at times. BUT NOT RUTH!
There came a moment of decision for Ruth; would she return to the familiar or go towards the unknown? Would she press on with the God she had been serving or return to false hope, false idols and emptiness because it was easier?
Ruthās mother in law Naomi told her and the sister in laws to return back to their land. I find it interesting that the sister in laws said with their mouths, oh no we will stay with you! Hmmm weāre they only giving lip service? It only took two times of Naomi telling them āI have no sons for you to marryā then they were out!!! NOT RUTH!
Ruth oh how strong her faith in God had to be. Ruth told Naomi āI will go where you goā. I donāt know about you but Iām not sure I could have done that. I might have been thinking about the fact she basically said hey you will be single from now on… or the fact I had never been to this foreign place! Ruth knew no one but her mother in law. A mother in law who was bitter over the death of her sons and husband. Oh boy that had to be a depressing trip!!! Naomi even changed her name to mean bitter š„ I probably would have ran to a more comfortable place. NOT RUTH
Ruth journeyed on and took care of Naomi. Ruth could have changed her name to bitterness, depressed, single for life, poor me… BUT NOT RUTH.
Ruth gets up one morning and says āhey I am going to the fields and hope for favor to clean up whatās left behindā ~Cassieās paraphrasing lol
She starts picking up whatās left behind. I donāt think her intentions were to fund a husband. I believe her heart was servant hood. I believe she was doing what she knew to do in the natural to provide for her and Naomi. I believe she was picking herself up out of the dark places she was living in to find a reason to hope. She could have taken the easy way out and ran back to familiar!!! BUT NOT RUTH
So guess what happened!! The man who owned the fields was named Boaz and he noticed Ruth! He asked his crew who is this woman? They explained she was Naomiās daughter in law and a widow.Ā
Ruth did not approach Boaz…He went to Ruth!
āBoaz went over and said to Ruth, āListen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; donāt go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field. See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.ā Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. āWhat have I done to deserve such kindness?ā she asked. āI am only a foreigner.ā āYes, I know,ā Boaz replied. āBut I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.āā
āāRuthā¬ ā2:8-12ā¬ āNLTā¬ā¬
Ruth could have chased after him and begged him for food. Instead she labored in the fields and believed for favor. That was not overlooked. She could have said hey I am Naomiās daughter in law, I heard there was a law here that a relative of my husband was suppose to marry me so I can have children and continue the linage. BUT NOT RUTH!
Ruth did the ordinary, everyday task of providing for Naomi and herself and trusted God! Here is what is amazing!
Because Ruth did not turn back to the easy road..
Because Ruth didnāt lay down in her loss
Because Ruth didnāt chase after the final outcome with out doing the daily task first
Because she didnāt try to run ahead of God and force things to happen
God put her exactly where she needed to be at the exact time she needed to be there! Boaz took notice of her! Boaz gave her favor, provision and grace. Boaz made her task become easier and showed her exactly where to work, where to be for food and water!!!
15Ā When Ruth went back to work again, Boaz ordered his young men, āLet her gather grain right among the sheaves without stopping her.Ā 16Ā And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and donāt give her a hard time!ā
17Ā So Ruth gathered barley there all day, and when she beat out the grain that evening, it filled an entire basket.[a]18Ā She carried it back into town and showed it to her mother-in-law. Ruth also gave her the roasted grain that was left over from her meal
THEN…..
The time came when Naomi brought up that law about the relative who could marry Ruth! She directed her to clean up, prepare for her BIG DREAM!! Her husband, her provision, her protection and PURPOSE. Ruth had to be scared of rejection. I would have said ummm nope you go ask him for me lol. BUT NOT RUTH!
Ruth did as she was directed. LONG STORY SHORT!!! She married the man of her dreams and fulfilled the call and purpose on her life. RUTH went from a foreigner to being in the direct line of Jesus lineage!! WOW!!!!!!
I would love it if you would read the book of Ruth this week and send me your thoughts on her life ā„ļø!!!
Iām all pumped up and excited this morning about life and ALL HE HAS FOR ME! Donāt settle for less than your BOAZ in life rather itās a husband or a Dream! God wants the best for you!
Love you,
Cassie G
