More Than A Love Story - Ruth The Beginning
Ever heard of Ruth? What thoughts come to you when you think of her? Boaz? A happily ever after? Here are some insights into her and what we can learn from her:
1. Ruth was a determined woman. We see our first glimpse of this in Ruth 1:16-18
"But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her."
She was a woman who followed through with her convictions. So many times, we think about doing something but allow others to talk us out of it. This reminds me of a time when Jesus told a story about persistence and prayer and how even a tough judge can be worn down if only we don't give up (Luke 18:1-8).
2. Great relationship with her mother-in-law. To this day, I think this is one of the best examples of an in-law relationship that I have read about. Ruth loved Naomi so much, she walked away from her family, friends and nation - to be with her. Ruth 2:11. This also illustrates how our relationships can shape our futures. Ruth saw something in Naomi. No doubt this relationship was years in the making from before Naomis husband and sons died. It was enough to convince Ruth that she needed to be where Naomi was.
Perhaps Ruth had developed a faith in God because of her time with her mother-in-law and her late husband and going back to her previous existence was not an option for her. After all, Ruth was driven by her convictions.
3. Before there was love, there was admiration. Boaz had heard of Ruth and her relationship with Naomi. This might have caused the first spark of interest that Boaz had. He was not a young man (despite my depiction of the couple above - LOL), so it would take someone unique to draw his attention in so much.
Ruths reputation preceded her and when Boaz found out who she was, he went to speak with her. That was the beginning of the great love story and it all began with "a good name" proving Proverbs 22:1 - A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
4. Ruth worked hard. She was busy, used her initiative and was certainly trusted by Naomi. She wasn't waiting around to be rescued. She embodied ingredients that later formed the illustration of the Proverbs 31 woman. Chapter 2, verses 2, 7, 17 and 23 all record her work ethic. Verse 23 states: So Ruth worked alongside the women in Boaz's fields and gathered grain with them until the end of the barley harvest. Then she continued working with them through the wheat harvest in early summer. And all the while she lived with her mother-in-law.
This story is so good, it needs to be concluded in another entry. In the meantime, I encourage you to look up this matriarch in the Christian faith. Not only can we learn a lot from her, she is only one of two females in the Bible who has a book named after her.