You Are A Beautiful Creation with Great Purpose
At times we may feel as though we are outsiders, but we must remember that we are never outsiders in God’s eyes.
The Story of Ruth is a wonderful telling of how God turns what seems to be a very ordinary life into and extraordinary life to communicate the wellness of humanity. In the story of Ruth, it is an inconsequential outsider who turns out to complete the story of God’s way among us. I love this line from my study: We count—every last one of us—and what we do counts.
I began a new study on Ruth, in the hopes of having a more keen understanding of the different facets of the story. As I read through my chapter four notes, I thought, ‘Wow, God, you are so amazing in how you map out each of our lives if we are willing to be humble to your mercy and trust in you as our God the Almighty, El Shaddai.’
I began to think about different circumstances in my life. I know we all may recall moments that were not the best of times. At those moments, we may have questioned who we are and our purpose.
I thought about Ruth’s path. She was a Moabite, an outsider. She was not accepted by the “in” group of the time, yet she was still willing to support Naomi on her journey, because she saw a difference in her. She knew that Naomi’s God was the almighty God—who is our God and who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
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. Ruth 1: 15-16
God led Ruth to Boaz, who saw she was a humble, caring woman. He later chose to marry her. Their son would begin the lineage of King David. In addition to being a courageous love story, this is also a story of dedicated faith and redemption. Ruth was an ordinary woman and, although she was frowned upon by society, she was used to reveal an extraordinary path for God’s purposes.
When I reflect on many of the women mentioned in the bible, a common thread is their faith and courage to trust in God for all things. In turn, they allowed God to use them to impact the lives, cities and nations for His purposes. Many of the women did not fit “the mold” of society at the time. Some faced life struggles and challenges, yet inside their hearts, they knew they could look to God the Almighty, Our Heavenly Father, with great faith and hold onto Him for guidance and comfort through all things.
A couple of my favorite stories are:
· The Story of Deborah found in the Old Testament Book of Judges (chapters- 4-5).
· In the New Testament the story of the Samaritan woman found in the Gospel of John (chapter 4) has become another favorite of mine. She trusted her faith to believe in who Jesus was, and shared his good news to her village. Some historic records reference her as the first New Testament evangelist to win a city for Christ.
On the next stage of my journey, I found myself in the Epistle of
1 John 4: 10 which read:
This is love: He loved us long before we loved him. It was his love.
Suddenly, I realized why the story of Ruth spoke to my heart so much. I put my journal down with my bible, study book, pages of printed notes, and references to stop for a moment. I now understood why our Father God led me into the Story of Ruth.
It is all about His love for us. He Loves us and wants us to have the faith and belief to love Him and trust Him on our Heart Paths of Life, so He can guide us through all seasons. Sometimes these paths are winding and uncertain yet, as I am learning from Ruth, God’s road for us is a straight path of blessings for his purposes.
Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make.
Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (TPT)
I really enjoyed these study notes. I hope they will bless your journey:
Who was Ruth in the Bible?
Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David and the daughter-in-law of Naomi. She said the well-known words, "Whither thou goest, I will go" (Ruth 1:16 KJV). Ruth, a traditionally feminine name with Hebrew roots and origins in the Bible, means "companion" or "friend."
Ruth was “of the women of Moab” but was related to Israel through Lot, the nephew of Abraham (Ruth 1:4; Genesis 11:31). Ruth lived in the period of the judges. She married the son of an Israelite family while they were living in Moab, but then her father-in-law, husband, and husband’s only brother all passed away. So Ruth had a choice whether to remain in her home of Moab or to go with Naomi, her mother-in-law, to Judah, a place she had never known.
Why is Ruth Important from Scripture?
Ruth adored her mother-in-law and had great sympathy for her, witnessing that she lost her husband and both of her sons. Ruth could not endure to part from Naomi or from the God of Israel that she had come to know. Ruth and Naomi made the voyage back to Judah to the city of Bethlehem. Ruth’s testimony spread, and Boaz heard of her faith, as noted in Ruth 2:11-12:
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. 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!"
Like the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28, Ruth acknowledges that she does not deserve Boaz's favor because she is a stranger. Like Christ, Boaz blesses her with his favor and protection. Ruth is rewarded for her dedication by an invitation to eat with Boaz.
The story of Ruth in the Bible illustrates a theme of redemption, a word that occurs 23 times in the book of Ruth. Boaz acts as a redeemer by buying back Naomi's land, marrying Ruth, a Moabitess, and fathering a son to keep the family line alive. Such a "kinsman-redeemer" is symbolic of the mediating work of Christ. Ruth's position as a Gentile in the ancestry of David (and thence of Christ) signifies that all nations will be represented in the Kingdom of God.
As a Moabitess, Ruth was a descendant of Lot. Twice does Scripture record that Moab, situated east of the Dead Sea, and Israel warred against each other. During a time of famine in Israel, Naomi and her Israelite family moved to Moab as a matter of survival. After the death of her husband and with the famine past, she and Naomi return to Israel, to the city of Bethlehem, later to become the city of David.
What Can We Learn from Ruth in the Bible?
The Power of Faith
Ruth showed remarkable faith for such a young believer. Faith that there was still a purpose for her ahead. Faith to believe that God was who He said He was. And faith to believe that God would provide for her and Naomi.
If you’re in an unsure place, start with faith. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as, “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
You might not be able to see what God is doing, but trust that He is moving.
Trust in Redemption
Against all odds redemption is always possible. Ruth had no reason to believe she had earned anything but believed God was everything she needed. Ruth believed God would provide and in that place of faith God did a miraculous work to redeem Ruth.
He took a poor, hurting outcast and healed her, provided for her, and brought her a great love with Boaz.
Redemption is possible in your life. No matter where you come from or what you've been through, God has a plan for you that far surpasses all of that.
In closing, I encourage you to read (or re-read) the Book of Ruth and search for some studies. For further reading, click here.
Finally, consider responding to these questions:
1) The name Ruth means friendship. Think of someone who has been a “Ruth” for you and think of the reasons why.
2) Think about a time when God arranged things to provide you an unexpected blessing or teach you a lesson.
3) How has God been active in your life so that what is ordinary becomes extraordinary?
4) Who has shown you special kindness? How do you respond when you become aware of God’s caring for you?