When Ruth began her journey with Naomi to a foreign country, she had no clue what was up ahead. So why did she leave the familiar and branch out into the unknown?
1. Love for her mother-in-law.
The obvious reason is love. Marches for women's rights hadn't begun back in those days. Such a thought would never cross a female's mind. Social Security and Medicare didn't exist either. Men in the family were to take care of the widows and orphans. Naomi had no husband and no sons. Naomi had a faithful, loving daughter-in-law who shouldered the responsibilities. Ruth was willing to take on duties that should have belonged to her husband. She loved Naomi.
Hmmm. She sounds like a modern lady, right? Many women these days are assuming men's responsibilities. Is that good or bad? Remember, Ruth wouldn't have stepped in if she'd had a husband.
Ruth's previous Moab god, Chemosh, was not real. Through the testimony of Ruth's new family, Ruth came to believe in the One and Only God. In Ruth 1:16, she tells Naomi, "Your people will be my people and your God my God."
Wow! What did Ruth see in this Jewish family that made her want what they had?
Would your lifestyle
bring someone to your faith? Do you have someone willing to give up parents, country, and privilege to move away with you?
3. The Commitment is Certain. The Decision made.
Ruth tells Naomi, "Where you die, I will die. Where you are buried, I will be buried"
In other words, Ruth says to Naomi,
"I'm not going back. I'm staying."
FAITH MOVES FORWARD. NEVER BACKWARD.
Hebrews: 11:1 says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." KJV.
Ruth hoped and had faith in God that she and He could take care of Naomi. Even though Ruth couldn't see around the bend in the road, or what was over the mountains, her faith kept her plodding forward. One step at a time. Doing what she needed to do.
Ruth set a good example for us, didn't she?
Take heart dear woman or man of God. Even if you don't know how to get across the hardship, God already knows.
As we study Ruth. We'll soon see how God rewarded Ruth's faith.
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