Day 10: Ruth

Her name means friendship. She was Naomi's beloved daughter in law. She was a Moabite. Anna from our study book describes her as, "Generous, loyal, and loving, strong and serene, able to take unusual risks, dealing actively with life circumstances." Yes, her unusual risk of following Naomi to her home town, Bethlehem after her father in law and husband died is one highlight of her life. She lived to experience what Joel meant when he said, "The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts..." Anna Spangling writes, "Ruth lived to discover firsthand the generous, loyal, and loving nature of God, as he provided her with a husband, a son, and a home to call her own." She is the epitome of who and what a daughter in law is. Resilient and tenacious. She was a blessing to Naomi's life that Naomi said she was far better than 7 sons! My goodness. She was a treasure. Dear bride and bride to be: May you catch her spirit and walk in her ways. When Naomi tells her and Orpah to return to their hometown, she refuses. She clings tightly to Naomi and professes these words to her, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” We lack such tenacity in our morden day woman, such commitment to life, to purpose and to people even. Ruth reminds us of the power of commitment to people, causes and dreams. Naomi may be your dream, your purpose, your calling, a particular project that you are working on, your marriage, a relationship and even your faith! How committed are you to this 'Naomi'? Are you willing to give it up at the first sign of struggle or 'suggestion' of an easier way out? Orpah gave into the suggestion. Nothing wrong with the suggestion. But are you willing to go the extra mile? Are you willing to risk it all for this faith? For this trust in God and what He has promised you? Ruth was! I pray for such tenacity in the modern day woman, a woman who will be able to risk it all for God, a woman who will say YES to the road less traveled. A woman who will not take the easier way out but cling to the promise of God over her life. I pray for a woman who will trust hard and love hard. A woman who will not allow defeat, failure or fear to get in the way of the promise, in the way of her faith and in the way of her desires. I pray for a woman who is able to see beyond loss. Who is able to see beyond the valley - the Ruth kind of woman! As beautiful as Ruth was, she was a hard worker. She worked quickly and efficient. She was no lazy bones. She didn't allow her beauty to numb her hands. She knew beauty alone was not enough. She had to be skilled and hard working. She took on gleaning gracefully. Gleaning was rough work but she did it anyway and still managed to keep her femininity. I'm glad we are in a season where women are allowed to go into mining, engineering and farming. (industries formerly known to be male dominated). There is no excuse for you not to do it. There is no excuse for you not to be the company CEO or director. All we are asking is that you keep your femininity. Isn't it attractive to see a woman who is an engineer but still womanly? Keep that femininity. Don't let masculinity take over. You were not designed to be masculine but feminine. That's what makes you attractive - intelligent, hard working and beautiful! Ruth encounters Boaz while working in his field. This Boaz was related to Naomi. Naomi advices her concerning Boaz and she eventually is married to Boaz. Anna writes, Was it by chance that Ruth “found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech (Naomi's husband)”? Of course not. Even in what appeared to be a chance situation, God was at work, divinely preparing for Ruth’s and Naomi’s sustenance. Never assume that what happens in your life is merely a matter of chance or coincidence. Remember: God is at work, divinely orchestrating events to bring about His purposes in your life" God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases Him.