Have you ever been tempted to stay somewhere comfortable and refuse to walk the harder path, only to look back later and wish you had taken the road less travelled?  

 There are times when we make choices we come to regret, and these moments challenge us to remember that God never abandons us. That being said, just because we know that the roads we take and the regrets we may feel about them later on are God’s plan, it does not necessarily mean that the pain of those regrets is lessened! It is precisely in these moments that we are invited to rest in the knowledge that He has a plan for each of us, a plan that is far greater than we can imagine. This is beautifully expressed in Ephesians 3:20:

  “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21) 

 Each of us has faced (and will face) pivotal moments in life when we must make a choice that could change the course of our lives. In these moments, even when fear and uncertainty grip us, we must trust God and fully rely on him as we make our decisions. It may take some time for the realization to settle in that it was the right decision, but you will know when that moment comes. It is unmistakable. It’s a moment when  you close your eyes, take a deep breath, and say: thank you, Lord. I’m so glad I said yes. 

 One of my favourite stories in the book of Ruth highlights two women, Ruth and Naomi, who faced unimaginable challenges yet found the strength to persevere. I love Ruth’s tenacity and Naomi’s persistence throughout the book of Ruth.  There was a famine in the land of Israel, and Naomi‘s husband, Elimelech, journeyed to Moab to find what they needed to survive. While they were there, the two sons married Moabite women, and Ruth was one of the wives. 

In a series of tragic events, Naomi lost her husband and her two sons, leaving herself and her two daughters-in-law widows. Back then, being a widow was a very scary situation for a woman to be in. Not that it isn’t scary for modern women as well, but in Ruth and Naomi’s day, women depended on the men in their lives for survival. Without their husbands, it was very difficult (if not impossible) to maintain a source of income, and the death of a husband meant that a woman would be left unprotected, and potentially in harm’s way. 

With all of their husbands now gone, Naomi and her daughters-in-law had a choice to make. They could have stayed where they settled, but Naomi (now an Israelite widow) said they needed to go to Bethlehem. Naomi had heard, “The LORD has visited his people and given them food” (1:6).

 Ruth 1:6-18  Ruth’s Loyalty to Naomi 

 [6] Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the LORD had visited his people and given them food. [7] So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. [8] But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. [9] The LORD grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. [10] And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” [11] But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? [12] Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, [13] would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me.” [14] Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 

 [15] And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” [16] But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return 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. [17] Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the LORD do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” [18] And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. 

 Naomi and Ruth ended up travelling together. Verses 16-17 represent a choice made in faith, to go toward what was unfamiliar, trusting that there was a plan ahead that was greater than her own. Ruth made a decision to accompany her mother-in-law into the unknown, even though both of them were still suffering. To lose a husband is such a tragic thing, an irreplaceable loss that leaves a gaping hole in your heart. Those of you reading who have suffered the loss of someone you love know only too well the depth of Ruth and Naomi’s pain.  

 Their arrival in Bethlehem turned some heads and piqued conversation. Naomi was back with a Moabite daughter-in-law, asking for her name to be changed to a word that meant “bitter” – Mara.  

 

Ruth 1:19-22  Naomi and Ruth Return 

 [19] So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” [20] She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. [21] I went away full, and the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the LORD has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” 

 [22] So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. 

 The women needed food, and Ruth asked Naomi to glean what had been left behind in the field.  

As she did this, Ruth met Boaz – and it changed her life forever! 

 Ruth 2:1-13  Ruth Meets Boaz 

 [1] Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. [2] And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” [3] So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. [4] And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.” [5] Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” [6] And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. [7] She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.” 

 [8] Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. [9] Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” [10] Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” [11] But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. [12] The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” [13] Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” 

 

In chapter 3, Naomi has a plan! She tells Ruth to go to the threshing floor, and thus begins the story of how Ruth became Boaz’s wife and bore a son, Obed.  

Usually when I talk about scripture, I include only short passages, but this time I wanted to include larger portions of the book of Ruth because it demonstrates so beautifully the importance of Ruth saying yes, even when she felt unsure. You, dear reader, can soak in the fullness of the story on your own and be so encouraged by how God writes her story, because he is in charge of yours (and mine) too! He is writing them even as I write these words, even as you sit here and read them. 

The story in Ruth is one of sorrow, trust, faith, love, endurance, and perseverance. It is such a beautiful story with so much going on that we can learn from. Despite Ruth and Naomi’s struggles, pain, and loss, they chose to go by faith. God had a plan and was writing a story for them, a story of redemption and restoration that ultimately points to our Redeemer in Jesus Christ. Boaz was Naomi’s Redeemer, and our ultimate Redeemer is Jesus!

We all have moments of indecision in our lives when we need to take a step forward, yet it’s hard to know exactly what to do. There is no other way except to trust the Lord to be the one to write our story, and to walk us through every decision. 

And now the finale!

Ruth and Boaz Marry 

13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. 

The Genealogy of David 

18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David. 

 

One response to “God Has a Plan for You: Part Two of Jesus Loves Women”

1. Thank you Sandee-rereading the story of
   Ruth -most encouraging
   I. Mom

   Reply