Amazing Ruth

The story of Ruth is an outstanding piece in the Bible. The story keeps inspiring me every time I read it. I have been a Christian for exactly Twenty years now. I have read the book of Ruth severally and it amazing how Ruth plunged herself into the faith and beliefs of the Jews.

It is undeniably true that Ruth was a one of the great grandmothers of Jesus Christ. How can you reconcile an outsider to the faith of the Jews sharing in the lineage of the Saviour? Technically speaking, everyone on the family tree of Jesus should be a Jew. But Ruth got herself grafted there by unequalled devotion and unwavering commitment.

Can you imagine an Indian lady married to a Pakistani (countries that have always been at loggerhead) followed her mother-in-law to Pakistan after the death of her husband with no child born to him? What Ruth did was quite unthinkable, but I consider it was out of sheer commitment to her husband and by extension her mother-in-law. Moab and Israel were always at one another’s neck. Ruth did not even think that she would be stigmatized or segregated. She followed Naomi all the same.

Orpah her mate wasted no time after a little persuasion to go back. What Ruth said to Naomi has not failed to astonish me over the years: But Ruth answered, "Don't ask me to leave you! Let me go with you. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and that is where I will be buried. May the LORD's worst punishment come upon me if I let anything but death separate me from you!" Ruth 1:16-17 (Message Bible). I kept wondering whether Ruth knew the superiority of the God of Israel over the numerous gods of the Moabites. She plunged into that covenant by absolute loyalty.

Another thing that caught my attention about Ruth was her relentless industry. She was extremely diligent when she was gleaning at Boaz’s field. It was recorded that she was on that field all day working. Ladies like that are difficult to come by these days.

The unseen hand of God was also at work in the life of Ruth. How did Ruth find herself on Boaz’s field? Why not another man’s field? I like what Gill commentary says “the providence of God so ordering and directing it; for though it was hap and chance to her, and what some people call good luck, it was according to the purpose, and by the providence and direction of God that she came to the reapers in that part of the field Boaz, a near kinsman of her father-in-law, was owner of, and asked leave of them to glean and follow them.”

I also love Naomi’s kind approach. She was very considerate and supportive for Ruth. God cannot but reward such wonderful gesture. Ruth getting married to Boaz – a rich man, will definitely bring some level of comfort to Naomi.

Ruth finding herself in the genealogy of Jesus Christ validates that principle that God is not a respecter of persons. If we position ourselves aright by the leading of His Spirit, we will be greatly used of Him. Act 10:34-35 Peter began to speak: "I now realize that it is true that God treats everyone on the same basis. Those who fear him and do what is right are acceptable to him, no matter what race they belong to.