Naomi and Ruth

Continuing through Through His Eyes: God's Perspective on Women in the Bible by Jerram Barrs- today, Chapter 8, Naomi and Ruth.

Barrs opens this chapter with reflection on the faithfulness of God towards His people throughout history. He writes, "we know that God has promised to build his kingdom. God is always active among those who love him, always seeking a people out to draw them to himself, always committed to caring for them, always eager to safeguard them against all their enemies. He is ceaselessly working to establish his reign in his people's lives and, through them, into all the world." (p.121) Barrs reminds us that the Old Testament "is a missionary book" (p. 122), that from the beginning, the Lord charged His people to be a blessing to the nations. Those are good reminders to me. He has been, is, and will continue to be Sovereign and purposeful in all of His ways.

But onto Naomi and Ruth. Many are familiar with the basics facts of this story. It's a women's Bible study and devotional favorite. However, through this chapter, I was able to consider some of the details in a new light.

First, I have not before really considered the historical context of the book of Ruth- that this time, the end of the 12th century BC, was a time "of unbelief and of idolatry among God's people, of disobedience and rebellion against the Lord and against his commandments." (p. 125) Barrs points out that our own times might be described similarly, a time when "everyone is doing what is right in his or her own eyes." (p. 126) The book of Ruth is a story of faithfulness, "of three people who honored and loved God, who were faithful to him, and who obeyed his word despite the pattern of life in the culture around them." (p. 125) Despite the times, are we, as believers today, described in the same manner?

I have not before considered the story of Naomi and Ruth in the context of immigration. We know that Elimelech and his family leave Bethlehem, cross the Jordan, and move to Moab- perhaps due to famine, drought, pestilence or disaster, perhaps due to political unrest. And then in a span of a few verses, the sons marry, the father dies, the sons die, and two of the widows travel back to Bethlehem. In that context, we witness the graciousness of Boaz in recognizing Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi, and that beautiful blessing he asks of the Lord over 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! (Ruth 2:11-12)

Barr points out that this is the promise, the blessing, to all who are God's people, no matter what nation they come from, "that the Lord will richly reward us and repay us when we commit ourselves to serve Him." (p. 135)

Finally, I have never considered Naomi's response to grief, her self-described bitterness, as a right response. The key must be not self-wallowing, but indeed, crying out to the Lord in times of absolute despair, and looking only to Him for relief and comfort. Jeremiah describes in his prayer, "You know me, O LORD; You see me; And You examine my heart's attitude toward You." The mourning of Lamentations 3:25-26 acknowledges, "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord."

I think it is that faithfulness of Naomi and of Ruth, that we read of in this chapter and will be grown even more in the chapter to follow, which makes the story so sweet. It is my prayer that, as God works through my family, we will be found to hold to and act with the same trust and faithfulness as these two women used so mightily by God.

Don't stop here! The Ch. 9 continues this story to it's beautiful ending. Check in for more from Belinda at Upsidedown Bee soon!

(art credit: The Story of Ruth, by Thomas Matthew Rooke, 1876)