Hope and Faith – 5 Lessons we Learn From Ruth
Ruth is also one of the few women who are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus found in the book of Matthew.
Ruth was a daughter-in-law to Naomi. Unfortunately, Naomi lost her husband and two sons. Broken and empty, Naomi decided to move back to Bethlehem in Judah. Her daughter-in-law Ruth came with her since she had also lost her husband. Ruth was a Moabite woman, and she was now moving to Judah as a foreigner. She wanted to follow Naomi and her God – the God of Israel.
While in Judah, neither of them knew how they would survive. But both had faith that somehow things would work out. They had hope for their future. God worked out an amazing plan for a man named Boaz to take Ruth as his wife, give her a child, and provide for her and Naomi. What is remarkable about this plan was that Boaz was qualified as a “kinsman-redeemer” to take her as his wife.
When life brings devastation, it is not easy to hope. It is hard to have faith. But when things are the most difficult, that is when we need faith and hope the most. The Bible however encourages us to just have faith. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1(RSV)
Here are some lessons we can learn from the story of Ruth
1.There is hope in adversity
Ruth had a complete family, a husband, and two sons. She did not know that she would be a widow and lose her sons in a span of ten years. God however came through and restored her at her lowest point in time when she seemed to have lost it all. Are you facing a similar situation today where you have lost your income, position, wealth, success, and everything that seemed to make you whole? God is still at work and will make a way where there seems to be none.
2. Dedication to God is never in vain
It was a sacrifice for Ruth to refuse to return to her family even after Naomi had set her free to do so. Her commitment to journey on with Naomi was a beautiful, selfless act, and a stunning example of the love of Christ who calls us to walk with Him. She chose to follow the God of Israel who always turns situations from worse to good.
3. God uses events in our lives to accomplish His plan
Someone once said that God does not waste any experience in our lives. Ruth’s life had a series of happenings that all added up to important pieces in God’s big plan in her life. God intended for Ruth to be a part of the story of the lineage of Jesus. So, He pulled together events such as the famine, Naomi’s relocation to Moab, their return to Bethlehem, Boaz’ bloodline, and his choice to marry Ruth, just to ensure that she could be a part of His plan. Even today God does that same thing in our lives. In moments when we feel like all is lost, God is still at work.
4. We should live lives of character
Character is who you really are when no one else is watching. Ruth had no idea that millions of people would read her story. She lived a simple life, yet she showed incredible character. Let us strive to live lives that will count not only now, but for generations to come.
5. God uses unlikely people to fulfill His purpose
Ruth was a poor and hurting widow. She was childless. She moved to a foreign land where she knew only her mother-in-law. They struggled with poverty. She had to go gather behind the harvesters in the fields to get a bit of barley so they could survive. No one would have never guessed that God would choose Ruth’s bloodline for the line of the promised redeemer – Jesus.
From this story, we learn that God uses the most unlikely people for his purpose. We should never underestimate the power of God in our lives. Our identity should always be in the fact that we are special to God and he has a good plan for our lives. God can pick us from the lowest pit in our lives and raise us up to levels we could never have imagined.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
Prayer
Father thank you because you created us for yourself to accomplish plans which you predestined for us. Help us never to look down on ourselves or think that we are not worthy of your use. We surrender our lives to you today that you may fulfill your purposes in our lives, even as we trust in you. Amen.