Remain in your place of destiny

The book of Ruth, like that of the Song of Solomon, is full of grace and truth. It belongs to the times of the judges and the early years when Gideon served as a judge. This was a period when the Midianites prevailed and destroyed the crops of the land thereby causing famine. It derives its name from the principal character, Ruth.

This was a period when the people of God would go through a vicious cycle of disobedience of commandments to defeat and captivity by their enemies, then deliverance. Since everyone did what was right in their own eyes, sin was rampant and people had hardened their hearts.

A severe famine struck the land and there was no food. The times were difficult. The nation was in a total mess and many people were enticed to worship idols. These circumstances led Elimelech, Ruth’s father-in-law, to leave the House of Bread and move on to Moab.

Adversity will either drive you to your destiny or away from it. Many times we try to find ways to run away from our problems but we must learn to stay where God has placed us, regardless of the challenges.

Elimelech and his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, died and trouble came in like a flood. Sometimes it will look as though problems are plaguing you, one after the other. Things move from bad to worse. The rent is in arrears, school fees are due, you have lost your job, your marriage is failing, and you have been diagnosed with a terminal disease.

Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, were drawn closer together not necessarily because they loved each other, but because of this tragic incident. It is amazing how problems can unite people who do not even like each other. Naomi arose with her daughters-in-law that she may return from the country of Moab, for she had heard that the Lord had visited his people by moving in that country and had given them bread.

Thank God she heard because faith comes from hearing the word of God. Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundant rain” (1 Kings 18:41). You must hear it before you see it! Naomi did not only hear it, she put action into it by rising to go to Moab.

The Prodigal Son, too, arose after coming to his senses and said, “I will arise and go to my father and tell him that I have sinned against heaven and before him.” (Luke 15:18).

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Naomi tells her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband” (Ruth 1:8-9).

She kissed them and they lifted their voices and wept; and said to her that they will return with her to her people.

But Naomi told them to turn back because she was not capable of siring more sons to marry them and it grieved her for their sake that the hand of the Lord had gone against her. Then they lifted their voices and wept again, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. Ruth said to her, “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and whenever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts you and me” (Ruth1:16-17).

As a widow, Naomi was old and had no social standing and nothing to offer her daughters-in-law. But Ruth knew down in her heart that it was God who had connected them. Naomi was a harsh and difficult person to follow but Ruth’s destiny was tied to her hence the reason she clung to her. The two walked together back to Bethlehem. Two people cannot walk together unless they are agreed. Orpah’s story ends here and we do not get to hear of her again, but the rest of the book of Ruth gives a detailed account of Ruth’s abundant life.

Ruth got married to Boaz and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! And may he be to you a restorer of life and nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, and who is better to you than seven sons bore him” (Ruth 4:14-15).

Naomi took the child into her bosom and became a nurse to him. The woman called the son Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David. Stay in your place of destiny!