This story of a migrant woman has inspired thousands. Now it is your turn.
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. Ruth 1,16-17 (NLT)
A few years ago, I met a West African woman who had a calling to serve Jesus in Central Asia. It had already taken her several years to prepare for the move. Along the way, she was approached by several young men who wanted to marry her. Her first question, in response, was whether they had a calling to serve Jesus in Central Asia. All of them answered no and were, in return, informed that there was no hope of marriage. Finally, seven years after she got the calling, the woman, who remains unmarried, was ready to go.
I greatly admire individuals who steadfastly follow their convictions, regardless of their sacrifices. The narrative of Ruth in the Bible is a testament to such unwavering commitment. Her profound dedication to her mother-in-law and persistent focus on doing what she deemed right is a source of inspiration for us all. Her loyalty is beautifully encapsulated 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.”
Ruth's journey as an immigrant from an adversarial nation to Bethlehem in Juda was far from easy. Her love and commitment, coupled with her diligent service to her mother-in-law, endeared her to the people and to Boaz, who would later become her husband. Her dedication at the workplace served as a gateway for her. Already midway through her first day, as she gathered leftovers in Boaz’s fields, the field foreman testified about how hard she had worked and how she had only taken a few minutes to rest. Ruth 2:7.
Hesed is one of the Hebrew words for love. It is usually used about God. Bible scholar Darrell L. Bock writes that Hesed is “wrapping up in itself all the positive attributes of God: love, covenant faithfulness, mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty–in short, acts of devotion and loving-kindness that go beyond the requirements of duty.” For instance, the word is used in Isaiah 54:10, saying, “For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love (hesed) for you will remain.”
Hesed is also used two times to describe Ruth's love, indicating that God's love flows through this immigrant woman who is passionate about serving her family and the people of her mother-in-law.
Most of us want to leave a legacy in life, and we tend to think it has to happen through work accomplishments. From Ruth, we can learn that character, commitment, and devotion are equally important. She also shows the significance of making life choices based on the calling God has given to us. Her uncompromised love made her the great-grandfather of King David, and she appears as only one of three women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel.
Let us all follow Ruth’s example when we are at a crossroads in our lives and evaluate our options based on the calling God has given us. Only then will we know that God can work fully through us to accomplish what he wants.
Challenge
How can the story of Ruth be an example for you? Are you willing to make life decisions based on what you sense God has called you to do? Who can help you to consider things if you do not see clearly what God wants?
Pray
Dear father, Thank you for Ruth’s faithfulness to you. Help me to always make choices based on what you want and have called me to do.
