Ruth is one of my favorite characters in the Bible. Every time I read her story I discover new things about this dear Lady of Reckless Abandonment.
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But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1: 16).
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What a profound statement from Ruth to Naomi, her mother-in law. Today we are taking a trip to meet this wonderful woman. What makes her say such words to Naomi? What did she “taste” to make such a reckless decision to leave her people to follow her mother-in-law to Bethlehem in Judea?
Let us read the Bible to meet these two precious women of Faith.
“In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.
3 Now Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.
When she heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.
8 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me.9 May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”
Then she kissed them and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.”11 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— 13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has gone out against me!”
14 At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her. 15 “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 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. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.” Ruth 1:1-18 NIV 1984
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When Ruth married into Naomi’s family, she saw something different about the way this Jewish family lived their life. She must have wondered about these people who were foreigners in their land. They had different gods in Moab and Ruth and her people worshipped them. However, these foreigners worshipped only one God, Jehovah.
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You see Naomi and her family did not leave their God and faith behind when they left Bethlehem in search of food. They did not try to fit in so that the people of Moab would accept them. They didn’t comfort to the ways of the Moabites. They knew that their stay in Moab was temporary and when the famine is over they were going to return home.
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As Naomi spent her time with the two women Orpah and Ruth, she must have told them how God took them out of Egypt to the Promised Land. How God fought their battles as they passed through other countries on their way to the Canaan.
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However, we should note that this family lived in Israel during the time when the Judges ruled. This was a time when people lived as they pleased. They would do all sorts of evil things in the sight of the Lord. God would use other nations to oppress Israel in order to get them on the right track.
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So to have this family to live their faith in such a time as this and in a foreign land for that matter is something to be applauded. Their faith won Ruth’s heart and she didn’t want to stay behind and continue to live a mediocre life. She wanted to go with Naomi so that she could meet this God and know Him the way Naomi knew Him.
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Ruth’s decision to follow Naomi to Bethlehem impacted generations for eternity. Ruth is found in the genealogy list of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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LET’S PRAY
Father, I realize that the time that Naomi and Ruth lived is not different to ours; I pray that as we live this life, we will fearlessly share our faith and let others know whom we serve, the One True God. Like Ruth and Naomi, I want to live my life with reckless abandonment to you. Help me Lord in this decision I have made. In Jesus Name. Amen.
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YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
Answer one, or all, of the following questions below in our comment section:
- If you look at your own life, how are you living your faith?
- Are you living in such a way that someone can leave their lifestyle to follow you?
- What impact am I making for the generations to come?
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About Jackie Chingawale
Wow, Jackie!!!!! What an awesome, eye-opening post! We're two days until this study and I am already realizing that I can learn so much more than I thought I would. Being married I figured that I'd be here to pray for the study and the wonderful ladies involved in it and possibly learn some thingsbto teach my young daughter that I didn't get taught growing up myself. HOLY COW is there so much more!!!!!
Amen Tracy, there is so much more to learn for all of us. I am glad you are here with us in this journey. God is wonderful in that when we are not expecting anything, He gives us something.
Thank you Jackie for sharing your heart, and for 'teaching' today!
Thanks Christi, Thanking God for impressing this message upon my heart. I didn't know this first chapter of Ruth could give me so much to write and "teach" from.
Jacqueline what an awesome blog post!!! The question that I will answer is, "What impact am I making for the generations to come?" I would like to think that by doing ministry in the community that I have been assigned to work in, I am showing them Jesus through the way I talk, live, and share Him. The youth that I come into contact with everyday get a glimpse of who Jesus is, and I pray daily that it prompts them to want to have a more deeper relationship with Him and make that decision to follow Him and accept Him as their Lord and Savior. I have youth today that are grown now and are now working in ministry and I have to tell you that it is a joy to see them being used by God to bring more people into God's family!! I am a grandma in the ministry…I have grandchildren by my spiritual children! What an honor!! I know that God is even more proud!!!
Amen Tonya. its awesome to hear what you are doing in your community.
Reaching our Youth today, Tonya, is a big job! So glad YOU are doing this!!! 🙂
Great blog Jackie!! This study makes me stop and think about my everyday walk. I always want to think people can see Jesus when they see me. I have a 21 year old, an 11 year old and my mentally challenged brother (age 58), God has blessed me with. Up until 3 years ago I chose a lifestlyle totally against His will and Word. When I came face down at His feet, my boys saw the changes in me. So when I think of the impactr I am making on the generations to come – it is only through His grace I am able to impact anyone for Him. The impact of my testimony is one of hope to go against all odds (except His) and overcome a lifestyle unpleasing to Him and one that would be destructive. Those who have known me have seen His grace change my heart, which He has used to strengthen their faith. I have lead some women's ministries with young women and family members who have been given hope of change of heart and lifestlyle of themselves and their loved ones. I pray the impact of God's grace in my life goes out like 'pay it forward.' If we all impact one person, think of the changes in the world. Awesome!!
Amen Laurie. It is by grace that we are able to impact others for the glory of the Lord. What you are doing is "paying it forward". You are storing treasures in heaven. I love the saying that goes "Each One Reach One" and that's what we should be doing. Thank you for sharing with us.
Wonderful job Jackie! You are such a blessing 🙂
Thank you my dear sister. It means a lot coming from you.
Thank you Jackie!!!!!! I have come so far in living out my faith! I used to hide the God I had in me, now I live as HIS light. I want people to see Jesus instead of me. I stumble sometimes, I know I am not perfect, but I am thankful for a God who forgives and loves me anyway.
Amen Diane. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14,16. That is what Jesus says about us and I am glad that's what you are doing. He doesn't expect perfection from us but a willing and a humble heart.
The impact that I try to leave is a desire to know The Lord more intimately by study the Word of God for themselves. I teach how to study, challenge them as to why they believe what they believe and to live a life that is pleasing to The Lord. I not only have to set the example but I must live the example. My life has to be an epistle that they can see/read.
Amen Merol. Thank you for being a living example for others to follow. This is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I pray that we will all do the same.