“Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 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. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. Ruth 1:15-18 (NIV)
Naomi and her family had moved to Moab because of a severe famine that had decimated Israel. While there, her husband and two sons had died, leaving her destitute with two daughters-in-law. Naomi decided to go back home and she encouraged her daughters-in-law to return to their paternal homes and find husbands to provide for them. One finally did but Ruth absolutely refused to leave Naomi. What a great story of commitment, sacrifice, and determination!
Ruth had lost her own husband. She had no blood ties or legal responsibilities to Naomi. There was nothing to bind her to Naomi but her love and devotion. Yet, that was enough to ensure Ruth’s support and faithfulness to Naomi. Such determined loyalty also got the attention of everyone in the community. It brought her to the attention of Boaz who recognized the quality of character in this young woman. And of course he fell in love with her and they lived happily ever after. This may be the greatest love story of all time.
Despite famine, death, loneliness, and voluntary exile Ruth is an icon of faithful determination. Her example is a standard for anyone pursuing any dream. In 2009, success in our lives, spiritual and natural, will require faithful determination to our goals.
Dear Father, thank you for the determination you instill in our hearts. Grant that we may be faithful to you and the purpose to which you have called us. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today and refuse to be diverted,