Naomi lost her two sons in Moab and decided to return to her home country alone. Naomi’s daughter in law Ruth refused to part ways with her and was determined to follow her home. Ruth’s resolve was that Naomi’s people would be her people and she would serve the same God who Naomi served. We can surmise that perhaps Naomi was a good mother in law to Ruth. This would have meant that she had grown attached to her and did not want to leave her alone. Another possible suggestion could be that Ruth did not like her own family of origin. She may have felt that staying with Naomi was a better choice because she felt safe with her.
Whatever the driving force behind Ruth’s decision to follow Naomi, we know that their meeting was one of destiny. Ruth may have felt a connection to Naomi that she could not explain. God saw ahead of time the plans that he had in store for Ruth and the part that she would play in the redemption story. “Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons” (Ruth 1:12). Ruth had two daughter in laws who wanted to return with her. She managed to convince one of them to return to her family but Ruth was adamant that she would stay with her.
“But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before” (Ruth 2:11). Ruth soon caught the attention of Boaz who was a relative to Naomi. As the story unfolds, Boaz later decided to make Ruth his wife. I don’t imagine that Ruth had the faintest idea that she would find another husband when she decided to follow Naomi.
Ruth must have felt an inner conviction that her time was not up with Naomi. Her God given destiny compelled her to stay connected to her mother in law. God will strategically position us with people who are assigned to assist our destiny. There are people who we can tell have been ordained and orchestrated to be in our lives. We have to be sensitive to the move of God to know the people who we need to be connected to. The people in our lives have a major part to play in the fulfilment of our destiny. May we move in alignment with the will of God and stay in right relationships.
A.P.-Y.
Devotional Inspirations 