Ruth, Loss and God
The book of Ruth has been a favorite of mine for many years. It seems to have lessons every time I need one, from an example of kinsman-redeemer to caring for widows and orphans. In this case, it is a vivid picture of a family in mourning. We have examples of how grief is different for each person and how God meets them both.
Live it differently
When we meet the two women Naomi and Ruth, we see contrasting outlooks. In Naomi, we find a woman who has lost all. She lost her homeland, her husband, and her two children. In declaring that she wouldn’t have any more sons, she almost embraces that she has lost her youth. She truly doesn’t seem to see any hope or future for herself. In Ruth, we see a different picture. Though apparently married for ten years, she does not lament the lack of sons or the loss of her husband. She does not dwell on leaving her homeland. She has mourned differently, perhaps she has moved through the grieving process at a different rate. They both suffered great loss, but their experiences are different, they live it differently. I suppose this is a lesson for us as well; no one experiences loss the same way as another.
God guides and provides
Naomi hears that God has been faithful to the people in her homeland, He has broken the drought. So, she decides to return. Was she thinking that maybe if God was faithful to bless the land, He would be faithful to bless her as well? Perhaps she wasn’t thinking that consciously, given her bitter ‘Mara’ state. But He does all the same. God provides through the entire story.
There is no mention of a wagon train of servants and such. It seems the ladies would have travelled the road alone, a real danger for two women. Yet they arrived safely. They were likely carrying very little, only what was required to make the journey. They had nothing. It isn’t clear if Naomi and Elimelek still had a house and land, but it certainly would have been in disrepair and likely the fields were not yielding anything in the drought. Yet they arrived at harvest time. Mara arrived bitter and shut down the community. Yet they had each other.
Here the story has barely encompassed two weeks and we can see quite plainly that God has provided safety, harvest time, and companionship. Then we see how the Lord guides Ruth to the just the right field, who just happens to notice the new woman of whom he had already heard had come to take refuge under the wings of the God of Israel (Ruth 2:12). God extends protection, abundance of food, and a blessing from Boaz’s lips all in one day of gleaning. We know through the rest of the chapters of the book, God molds Boaz’s heart and decisions in favor of these ladies.
Thanks for His provision
In the depression and doldrums of our losses, it is easy to close our eyes to the provision of God, to lose focus on Jesus as savior and center of our heart. But we have this example of all that God does daily, not only in a season of mourning but in all seasons of life. Looking here at these few days in the lives of two ordinary women (ancestors of kings and Christ himself, but ordinary nonetheless), I so easily find God’s provision and reason to thank Him. We see that God has indeed taken them under his wings, daily providing for them. He has provided for you and for me too. Daily.
When we look up from our situations and turn our eyes to Jesus, we will find his presence has been here all along. He provides, though we may only notice when we look back. That 20/20 vision doesn’t have to be only in hindsight, but in giving credit to God for those occasions when we think we just happen into something, like Ruth just happens to go to Boaz’s field, who just happens to notice her and just happens to have heard good things. His hand guides us. Daily.
