#DevotionsWithTee: From Dejected to Redeemed

I LOVE THIS BOOK IN THE BIBLE OMDSSSSSSS!

I must confess I’ve never actually read it. So when it came up as the next thing to read in my bible study guide I was so excited. I thought I was going to read about some romance story. The reason being whenever anybody mentions the book of Ruth it’s always how Ruth found Boaz and how we as women will find our “Boaz too”. *rolls eyes*

But when I read it, it was more than that. For a book that barely mentions the name of God, you can see the hand of God working. For me this story was about characteristics and a lesson on character development. We see different traits that are deployed and depicted when we act through Faith and not emotion. When we don’t accept defeat and we try again.

For this devotion I’m simply going to pick out the themes I got from each chapter (there’s only 4 chapters) and the story overall. I really do encourage you to go back and read it. Maybe even share with me what you took from it and let’s discuss!

Chapter 1

Chapter 1 we are introduced to a family unit.

The wife Naomi & the Husband Elimelech. They had 2 sons. They lived in the land of Judah which at that time was suffering from famine; so they moved away to Moab. In Moab the husband died. Which is one loss already. The sons then take wives (Orpah and Ruth). After a number of years the sons die. 3 deaths in the first 5 verses. Life has come pretty fast at Naomi especially. First her husband and now both her sons?

Judah has now recovered from famine, so Naomi decides to go back to her people. At this point Naomi has lost all hope and tells her daughters in law to go back to their families and try find happiness there because Naomi felt she couldn’t give them anything more as the “Lord had dealt bitterly” with her. In the end Orpah ends up going back but Ruth decides she’s going to Judah – a foreign land to her – with Naomi.

Right so Naomi has suffered loss but so has Ruth. We can argue Naomi lost more but death is never easy no matter. The separation of a family unit causes so much pain. Sadness. It can leave you feeling dispirited and dejected.  But see what I took from this was the way in which Naomi reacted vs the way in which Ruth reacted. They were both widowed, heartbroken and poor -

Naomi: exclaims God has dealt with her bitterly (verse 20) and all in all it’s as if she no longer has a purpose as she tells the girls she’s too old to remarry and she can’t give birth, so she’s done. Now I’m not saying Naomi gave up believing in God. What I’m saying is she operated out of emotion. She was upset and spoke within that sadness whereas -

Ruth: Demonstrated the characteristic of tenacity. I remember my mum told me this is what she was actually going to name me. I thought it an ugly name because I didn’t actually know what it meant. But to be tenacious is a beautiful thing. Tenacity is being persevering, persistent, not readily willing to just give up. Orpah after the first try was like alright, I’m out. Ruth said Naomi I am still coming with you. She pushed through the heartbreak, probably fear as she was about to enter a foreign land. Listen, when you fall, please learn that this is not the end of the journey unless you decide that it is. It’s actually up to you if you want to wallow in the misery or if you want to pick yourself up and keep stepping out of comfort zones. Keep pushing against all odds. To keep searching and fighting.

Chapter 2

At the end of chapter 1 Naomi and Ruth reach when the people are harvesting the barley.

In this part of the story we meet the famous Boaz who, funnily enough, was related to Naomi’s husband. Ruth went to go work in the field to collect Barley and “coincidentally” – nah I actually don’t believe in coincidences. I think everything happens for a reason. God doesn’t work on luck or coincidence please. To everything there is a time and a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Boaz notices Ruth. He then tells her all the nice things he’s heard about her and lets her tarry with his workers and gives her food and drink. He even instructs his workers to just leave her alone and don’t hurt her. Ruth takes back everything she collected and gives it to Naomi. The lesson that I got from this chapter firstly was about humility. Ruth humbled herself and went to go work in the field picking up what people dropped so she could take back to her mother-in-law. When you humble yourself, you will receive blessings you know. Jesus even said in Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”. Secondly, the characteristic of integrity. Ruth proved time and time again that she was a person of morals and principle in her actions. Even Boaz was able to see that from the stories he had heard (verse 11) he says … I also took from this chapter than people are watching you. The way you move. The way you behave. The way you treat people. I’m not saying be nice just because you want to portray yourself as one way. I’m saying you need to be careful how you tread. How you speak. What you do. What are you showing the world? That you’re a person of integrity? A person with positive morals and values? Or when people hear your name do they turn up their face and roll their eyes? I always hear the quote you could be the only version of Jesus that someone ever meets. Are you like Jesus? Are you striving to be? Also don’t fake it because everything that’s done in the dark that needs to be exposed will most certainly come to light.

Chapter 3

This chapter you really see God’s hand at work through Naomi. Naomi instructs Ruth to basically dress up. Put some perfume on (verse 3) and go and carry out a task in relation to Boaz. I won’t lie the task left me a bit bewildered something about feet. Have to go and read that again. Anyhow, then Naomi says do this and Boaz will give you instructions as what to do next (verse 4). So Ruth follows the instructions and sure enough Boaz acknowledges whatever she done because it was a kind act and blesses her and gives her more food to take back to Naomi. He also makes a promise to help her if another man in her family will not. At the end of the chapter Naomi tells Ruth to be patient, almost as if Naomi knows what is coming next…

In this chapter I see obedience, faith and again humility. Ruth without hesitation takes heed to her mother-in-law instructions and does exactly what she says. She even says in verse 5 that whatever Naomi says, she will go and do. The humility and the obedience once again reaped reward. When we are obedient to God He will surely bless us. However, I don’t think Ruth was obedient in order to get reward because remember she is a woman of integrity. She was obedient and humble because she loved and respected Naomi and would do anything for her. In like manner when it comes to being children of God. We don’t obey God to receive things and avoid hell or bad things happening. We obey because we love Him and why do we love Him? Because He first loved us!

Chapter 4

Remember at the end of Chapter 3, Naomi essentially tells Ruth to be patient so she can see the outcome of her actions…

Well in chapter 4 we see blessings upon blessings upon blessings!

Boaz himself was a man of integrity and from the time we meet him, he has shown positive values correct? So it’s no surprise that he keeps his promise to Ruth. He asks the other family member if he would buy the land that was owned by Naomi’s husband and if he did, he would have to marry her so the land would stay within that family. The man basically says he isn’t in a position to, so he won’t. As promised, because the family member wouldn’t help out, Boaz did and as a result he married Ruth They even had a son.

The lesson I got from this chapter was that giving up is actually not an option. In fact not just this chapter, the entire story. This chapter just shows the benefits and the fruits you reap when you fall but get back up. When you don’t allow circumstance to overcome. When you trust in God and find restoration. When you are patient in the midst of tribulation for God’s hand to just work.

Ruth went from being a heartbroken, poor widow to a wife, technically a landowner and a mother. I am not saying that we will always reap physical benefits, but we will reap eternal, spiritual and emotional benefits. You may not get the husband, the wife, the gold, the silver, the jewels, the Chanel, the Balenciaga – N0. What you will receive is emotional healing and spiritual restoration That peace you find when you just sip the living water that Jesus offered the woman at the well (John 4) is like no other. A year ago around this time, I went through something really traumatic. Upon reflection, I’ve seen how it has affected my behaviours. The mentality I had last year though, is definitely not the mentality I have this year because I prayed to God to allow me to forgive, to allow me to take accountability, to be obedient to His voice, to humble myself and for Him to cleanse my heart and soul so that I could heal.

MOREOVER not only does this story show what God can do for YOU when you allow Him in your life but how He can bless you so that you can bless others. Look at the Naomi we met in Chapter 1 verses the Naomi we leave in Chapter 4. The joy has been restored. Her husband’s land saved. Her loved one is happy. A grandchild is given to her. ALL BECAUSE RUTH HAD FAITH AND DEMONSTRATED ALL THOSE TRAITS. This story was just beautiful and again I’m begging that you go back and not just read but STUDY IT AND PRAY ON IT.