“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!” (Ruth 2:12, ESV)
There is something quite remarkable in
the story of Ruth. We often speak of Ruth’s love for Naomi but there is more to
the story. The real story of Ruth, is most powerful as it glows moment after moment
showing the ever present and attentive faithfulness of God towards Naomi and
Ruth. Of course, Ruth shows tremendous love towards Naomi and gives us a
timeless example of courage, dedication and devotion as she commits and offers her
vows of love towards Naomi. Ruth’s forsaking of her home and earnest commitment
to Naomi is truly inspirational and significant but without the hand of God,
honoring her true and sincere love, the story lacks its power and significance.
It is God’s faithful provision in the course of events that completes the theme
of the story. God honors faith, God
honors love, God honors His promises, God remembers the covenants with His
people and He honors those covenants in the people who love, trust and honor Him
like Boaz, Ruth and Naomi.
When there is nothing around us but bleakness
and our very continence drifts towards bitterness; God’s ever present faithfulness
and steadfast love is working on our behalf because of His great and steadfast
love. He was working on the countless
details that would replace the place of famine and hardship in the life of
Naomi to a place of honor and blessing through Ruth and Boaz. Even though the story of Naomi and Ruth is
centuries old; our Father in Heaven loves and provides in the same mighty and
caring ways in addressing our positions and situations. In the end, it is our
perspectives and our hearts that He changes as He works out our good in His
plans for each of us. His benevolence
and provision will always come to those under His wings as a refuge. When Naomi speaks of her life being “bitter,”
(Ruth 1:20) because God has forgotten her; the simple truth although unseen, is
that her loving God is working feverishly through everyone around her to bless
her.
God’s faithfulness is not fleeting in
the bleakness of any situation but attentive in the countless details of His loving
actions which we cannot see. He will use
all things to bring about good in our hearts and lives. God’s faithfulness remains fixed upon us as
it was fixed on Naomi. Rest assured, there
are people like Ruth and Boaz of true faith, integrity and love, midst the famine-like
situations surrounding us, which God will use to eventually bless each one of
us. Our Heavenly Father is always faithful
and will always take care of those that come to Him for protection and
provision in the refuge, He provides under His wings.
“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! 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’” (Ruth 4:14-15, ESV).
Suggested Reading … The Book of Ruth
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