Lessons from Ruth

I've been studying Ruth this week and am so in Awe of the depth of her character and faith in God that I had to share some of this with y’all J.  Bear in mind this is by no means a comprehensive list of all Ruth was, just the character traits that stood out to me at this juncture in my life.

Quick Re-cap:

Ruth is a Moabite woman who married an Israelite man but within ten years both her husband and her father-in-law are dead. Her mother-in-law (Naomi) decides to move back to her own people and urges Ruth to remain in Moab and remarry. Ruth refuses to leave Naomi, declares her loyalty, follows her back to Israel, where by God’s divine provision they meet a relative of Naomi’s (Boaz) who eventually marries Ruth and redeems their family. Ruth is also King David’s Great Grandma J (#funfact). –Read Ruth (book in the Bible) for details

1. Loyalty

This is probably the most obvious characteristic Ruth demonstrates. We continue to quote Ruth’s proclamation of loyalty to Naomi to this day;

“Do not persuade me to leave you or go back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”

I can’t imagine bolder words than these, yet here is Ruth tying her future to an elderly, helpless, and hopeless woman. She demonstrates loyalty that goes well beyond the majority of most friendships (and marriages for that matter). Her loyalty, like many of her actions, is underlined by incredible love and unshakable, selfless commitment.

2. Diligence

Ruth works from dawn to dusk gathering food in the field for herself and Naomi. She works so hard that strangers note her diligence and she works with a proactive and willing heart. She is a humble worker and the way she carries herself is noteworthy in the eyes of everyone who sees her. NB: She’s not working hard for money for the sake of it, or for notice. She’s diligent because she wants to provide for her family, Naomi, and to honor her commitment.

3. Faithfulness/Obedience

Ruth is obedient and loving towards her mother-in-law, and she is committed to keeping the promise she made before the Lord. Her level of love and obedience exceeds simple people-pleasing. In fact, she loves so selflessly that she’s willing to risk social awkwardness and get left overs for her mother-in-law after the first dinner Boaz invites her to. She also looks to Naomi for wise counsel concerning a potential suitor… I’ll be first to say here that as young women we need to look to older women around us more for guidance in such matters; we’d probably escape a Lot of heartbreak and “complications” – same goes for guys.

4. Patience

Ruth doesn't say much, if anything, about her own desires, but given her cultural context I think it’s safe to assume that she wanted to marry and have children, and experience financial stability and food security. However, despite these implied desires, Ruth faithfully does all she can to live within her current means. She waits patiently on the Lord’s timing for each of these with little certainty that any will become reality.

Meanwhile, she is not too proud to receive the help she needs.

 …and graciously accepts Boaz’ acts of kindness. This aspect of Ruth’s character struck me so much firstly because it’s so counter-cultural in our increasingly individualist and sometimes hyper-feminist society, and secondly because I tend to idolize self-sufficiency and independence. Ruth demonstrates courage in letting Boaz help.

5. *On Ruth “pursuing” Boaz

In my more forward days (not so long ago) I read Ruth as the book that validates girls pursuing guys. My views have since changed, and we’ll leave the details to some other conversation. Here’s my current understanding -

Ruth has this beautiful way of showing her interest (for the brave ladies out there) and making herself available to the man who has her attention without attention-seeking, manipulation, or sexual enticement. Her strength of character and virtues precede her such that a God-fearing man is drawn to her. When this man decides to pursue/marry her, she only has to continue in habits she’s already been developing before; she doesn't have to work hard to keep up an image because he loves her very essence, "the real her". This understanding of Ruth’s behavior puts patience (and Wisdom*) in romantic relationships in perspective.

Ruth Rocks!

*art piece "African Fulani Lady" by Kanayo

My Father – The Faithful One

It’s been a while since my last post (I promise there’s a handful of good reasons for that) and though life’s still a tad hectic I couldn't help but write this post.

This past summer has been a painful but wonderful growing process for me in numerous ways but one of my biggest realizations through it all has been the massive difference between my biological and my heavenly Father. Whereas the former started out as my biggest role model then quickly taught me to fear, hide from, and mistrust him; the latter started by welcoming me in my mistrust and continues teach me to depend on Him in all his love and faithfulness. With that in mind I write firstly to the glory of my beloved God, Abba, and secondly for the many who’ve been abandoned or abused by a parent (in the hopes that you may succeed in learning to forgive, to love, and to let go).

Gracious God you know my woes

My heart’s your open canvas

You know my closest friends and foes

My deep desires and failures

Gracious God ‘tis you who gives;

The source of all my treasures

You who gently strips away

My excess stress and baggage

Gracious God you take away

My ever changing idols

You lovingly allow the pain

That builds up my endurance

Gracious God you wipe away

My tears of pain and failure

You let me know I’m not alone

When all the World’s against me.

Gracious God you let me go

When I give in to pride

You let me re-discover why

It’s you I can depend on.

Gracious God you welcome me

When I come crawling home

You hold me tight and let me know

You’re always by my side.

Reflecting on Uncertainty

If you've ever helplessly watched someone die you know how it feels to be aware of a glaring problem, yet unable to intervene. If you've had a conscious near-death experience you know how it feels to be fully aware of a problem, unable to intervene, and paralyzed with fear because it’s your life ending. Having experienced both these situations, I can say facing uncertainty in my own life isn't nearly as dramatic as either. However, I deem it comparable because I am just as aware, just as helpless, and sometimes just as afraid when I don’t feel like I’m in control of my own life and/or future.

For the past few months my life’s been a huge mix of uncertainty. I’d love to bore you with all the intricate details (trust me, I really would!), but for the sake of getting the message across (and to prevent a potential pity-party) I’ll jump straight to my thoughts and feelings J and share what Abba has been teaching me through this. Since this life-stage is on-going, this post will be more like an open diary than a wise post-hoc reflection.

I spend most challenging times in my life in mildly depressed passivity punctuated with moments of either despairing panic or hopeful resilience. I detach and pretend it’s someone else experiencing said hard times.

As an aspiring WoG (Woman of God), I wish my struggle portfolio read a little better. It would be awesome if I could tell you that I brave my battles like a valiant warrior; that I’m as faithful as Ruth and I pray like Hannah, that I sing my sorrows to the dust and dance like David in joyful faith.

I’m not there yet.

However, I've come to realize that as each challenge presents itself, I grow a tiny bit in faith, and I’m just a little more engaged with God every hard season. It’s becoming apparent to me that uncertainty must be the mother of all faith. Abba uses uncertainty as a tool to carve character and enduring faith into my baby soul. He’s been teaching me to Trust him when He says;

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Him-self perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”                                     

1 Peter 5: 10

I've been waiting months to overcome the challenges I’m facing so that I can write about them and give you a neat post with a clear-cut happy ending, a verse, and a moral of the story. God gave me the verse, He’s working on my heart, and for now, that’s all I need. 

Faith-filled Gratitude

6 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” (Side-note, Jesus wasn't wasteful)

...23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.

I recently read this passage and was hit for the first time with the emphasis not only that Jesus gave thanks, but that he did so before feeding the people. I could not in all my contemplation figure out why the Author chose to dwell on and emphasize this seemingly insignificant part of the story, giving thanks, given the scope of what happened that day (feeding 5 000 people on so little). A friend of mine highlighted to me one compelling reason why the emphasis rests on this point. I found her interpretation noteworthy and will elaborate on it below.

Jesus was faced with a situation in which, without divine intervention, it would be impossible to feed the people (PS I love that they take responsibility to feed these people and I don't know if that was a cultural norm or exceptional hospitality..?). However, Jesus, due to his faith in God his father, did not find these circumstances as limiting as his disciples did. He knew and truly believed that "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). Jesus demonstrated beautiful faith by praising in advance for the miracle he knew/believed God would perform, and he praised God in advance for his provision. Moreover, Jesus expressed his faith even more when he went on to "distribute to those who were seated as much as they wanted." He clearly did not have a shadow of doubt that this food would be enough for everyone.

I found this interpretation both enlightening and convicting.

Enlightening - because Jesus models a faith so obviously founded on a solid relationship with the Provider. In addition, this brings in a whole new dimension to the concept of giving thanks (before meals and in general); not only for past and present, but also for future events out of expectant faith.

Convicting - because though I claim faith, I cannot remember the last time, if ever, I praised God out of faith and actually thanked him in advance for blessings not yet received.

After some reflection and many conversations I stand encouraged that though I struggle through having faith in a Trustworthy God, He is faithful enough to reveal my shortcomings and gently redirect me into a more wholesome relationship with Him. I sincerely wish you an ever growing relationship with our marvelous God, and if you've never encountered him, my prayer is that you may come to know him soon.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1