It wasn’t easy convincing her parents that Elimelech’s son will make a good husband. Not only were they new in Moab, they just had an attitude that made one wonder. The Elimelechs walked around as if they owned the land. The history that Moabites were a product of incest between Lot and his daughters probably was the reason.
Elimelech never said this but it was clear he felt he deserved the best in the land of Moab. Rumour, however, had it that he relocated to Moab because he was unable to cope with the strain that the famine had put on him and his resources.
Ruth had another problem. Mahlon, the son whom she had fallen in love with, even though very handsome and nice, was also very sickly. Every day, he either had a cold or he had a fever. Rumour had it that he and his brother Kilion were carriers of the Sickle Cell strain. It was the reason they were always pale looking and could never exert themselves through hard, back-breaking work, which unfortunately was the only kind of work available because of the famine.
Ruth loved Mahlon nevertheless! What he lacked in strength he made up for in looks and romance, the guy could write a love song. He knew how to make a woman special. She didn’t mind that they had to live in the family house, or that she had to work for both of them, she loved Mahlon, and isn’t this love walk meant to be for better for worse?
Her parents had given in when they saw how determined she was, they gave her a warning however, she couldn’t return if things didn’t work out. Ruth knew that she loved Mahlon and he loved her back and that once you get close to his family they were a nice bunch. So she was sure she was never going to find a reason to want to go back home. Her life was with Mahlon and his family!
The only snag was that death didn’t give notice. Nobody warned her, not even in a dream did she think that her husband was going to die. When her father in law passed, she was sad, but knowing her husband was still there with her was enough consolation. Then Killion also passed!!! This one was much closer to home than she bargained for, but Mahlon assured her he was fine and nothing was going to happen to him.
Then one day, while at work she heard that Mahlon had collapsed in the market place. By the time Ruth got to the hospital, he could barely speak. She held his hands tightly, as if in a bid to stop him from dying. His words came in quick gasps as he struggled for breath, “am so sorry darling, I didn’t mean to put you through this… I love you so much…” His hands went limp and just like that; Ruth became a widow like Orpah and Naomi. She was inconsolable but she also knew she had to be strong.
After the days of mourning were over, Naomi decided to go back home. She was so depressed and had become difficult to live with. Orpah realized that that moment was an opportunity to right the mistake of her youth, so she said her goodbyes and left. Ruth on the other hand couldn’t bring herself to leave. Her people were still not happy that she disobeyed them in the first place. So going home was going to take some adjusting.
It wasn’t an impossible feat, but Ruth remembered that she had promised Mahlon that no matter what happened, she was going to take care of his mother. And come to think of it Naomi wasn’t exactly a bad mother in law, agreed she had become difficult since the deaths, but she wasn’t always like that. The thought of letting her return to Israel alone was more than Ruth could bear.
So Ruth made up her mind and made that very famous declaration found in Ruth 1:16-17
“…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 there I will be buried…”
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Question is, was Ruth impulsive? She does strike me as an impulsive person, because if she had thought it through, she might have realized that relocating with Naomi to Israel was a very bad move. Surely there was no one in Israel who may want to marry her. It was clear that the Israelites weren’t exactly crazy about the idea of marrying from Moab. (Remember the little incident between Lot and his daughters).
This was why after Ruth made the declaration, and she came to the realization of the enormity of what she had committed to, she probably might have wanted to renege. Only thing is Ruth is a woman of her words. She doesn’t change her mind even when it might hurt her. She went with Naomi and in no long a time they arrived in Israel.
The entire town came out to see what had become of Naomi, the one who used to be a delight, but now was no better than bitter! Then there was the issue of the Moabite girl. Hmmm, how did Naomi let her sons marry from Moab? Why did she come back with her? What does she intend to achieve by this?
Naomi had no plans at first! I mean not even for immediate feeding! So again Ruth had to look for something to do, she choose to hire herself out as a labourer in the fields so they could feed. Then she came to Boaz, and then even though Naomi had no plan, it became clear that God was in the shadows all the while working things out for Ruth’s good.
She needed advice and Naomi provided same, and within a short while, she became Boaz’s wife and the rest, as they say, is history. Ruth did not only marry, she married into the genealogy of Jesus and most of it can actually be traced to the son she had with Boaz.
At the beginning Ruth looked like a write-off. She looked like someone who wasn’t going anywhere but in circles but all the while God had a plan. What about you? What decisions did you make in the past that still seem to have been impulsive, and as such difficult to live with sometimes?
Maybe you married a man your parents said you shouldn’t marry, and while they shouldn’t be choosing for you, now that things are not going as they ought to, you cannot seem to forgive yourself.
If you will make a declaration today, to hold on to God who never sleeps nor slumbers, you will be amazed how he will be able to bring you through into destiny. Didn’t He say that what the enemy meant for evil he is able to turn around for your good?
Or maybe your husband died, and he was the only person in his family who stood by you and all hell has suddenly broken loose, remember God has a plan. What promises did you make in the past and right now wish you didn’t? God does have a plan. When Ruth started out, even she didn’t realize that inside of all the love, hate and death, God had a divine assignment hidden somewhere.
The issue wasn’t if Ruth qualified for her place in God’s agenda for mankind, the issue always was, would Ruth receive grace when she met with it? Your beginning may look like a joke, but I have come to tell you that you cannot lose with God.
Ruth’s famous declaration will have been just words had she not backed them with up action; her famous declaration would have been a sham if she didn’t recognize that there was a God who rules in the affairs of men!
Ruth pursued God, and he showed up for her big time. What is before you today? If you will pursue God with all that you are and have got, I can assure you that you will find the treasure that is hid in your clay. It might be very dark where you are right now, but didn’t they say that the darker the night the closer to day it is? You are closer to your miracle than you can ever envisage. Because God does have a plan! His plan for you is for good, not of evil, to give you a hope and a future, to bring you to an expected end in Christ Jesus.
Believe me, God is working out a plan, you will see it if you do not give up. Keep pursuing and in no time, He will come and find you.
God bless you!