I remember when my daughter first met her husband and how she assessed every logical reason why she should not date him and then later why she should not marry him, but love won the day and all reason was left behind. Now after almost six years of marriage and two beautiful daughters, she confesses that marrying him was the best decision she ever made!
Scripture actually gives us examples of actions that appeared unreasonable or illogical. Mary breaking the alabaster jar of precious ointment worth a year's wages just to pour on the feet of Jesus (Matthew 26:7) to some seemed unreasonable. The woman who was a sinner coming to Jesus and letting her hair down to wipe his feet in front of others (Luke 7:44) seemed unreasonable. Fishermen leaving their livelihoods to follow an itinerant preacher (Matthew 4:20-22) seemed unreasonable. A widow giving all that she had to a collection plate (Mark 12:41-44) seemed unreasonable. What would make these people act in such an illogical or unreasonable way?
It appeared unreasonable for Ruth to follow Naomi after Naomi's instruction to her and her sister-in-law in Ruth 1: 8-15. Naomi instructed them both to return to their own home for she could neither care for them nor provide them with any more husbands. Following Naomi was uncertain, dangerous and meant, more than likely, a life of loneliness, suffering and poverty.
In the last post I noted that Naomi's decision to return was based upon her remembrance of home, and the goodness of her God in restoring to the land the bread that was needed in ending the famine. Naomi knew the true God of Israel and she knew the blessings that He had promised His people in the land He had given them. In spite of Naomi's failures and probable disobedience in leaving the land, she was willing to make the long journey back and return to her God and the place of blessing.
Ruth however, was not from Bethlehem and her decision to follow Naomi would truly seem unreasonable. After watching her sister-in-law, Orpah make the decision to turn back based upon what seemed like good reasons from Naomi, what would Ruth do? Orpah's decision was based upon logic and reason and it made good sense based upon the information she was given. But, Ruth decided differently. When we look at Ruth's decision to follow Naomi we have to conclude that her decision was based upon two things, faith and love; faith in the true God of Israel and love to Naomi, her mother-in-law. These are of course two great principles of Christianity, faith in God and love to all His children.
We don't know from the human standpoint what it was that led Ruth to make a different decision. Was it the kindness of her husband and his witness in the short time they had been married? Was it the faith, love and kindness of Naomi to her and Orpah? Did Ruth see something in this family and in Naomi herself that made her want to discover the true God of Israel? We are not told the specifics but we can conclude from Scripture itself that God was working in her heart to bring her to faith in Him and to love for His people. To leave one's homeland, one's god and family was no easy thing and it was especially hard for a young widow with no promise of a future in the land she had chosen to go. But, there was something about this "goodness of God" that Naomi witnessed to that drew Ruth to Him and to His people. She was brought to faith and love by the grace of God.
What would be the outcome of her belief in the true God of Israel and love to God's people? We will see in the next few posts how God "repaid her kindness" and if she did truly enter into the blessings of Abraham. But for now, how about you? Have you come to believe in the God of Naomi, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Have you heard Jesus' call that he gave to his disciples when he said, "Come, follow me"? Are you trying to reason why you should not follow him? Are you being called to a ministry that from the human standpoint, just makes no sense logically? Is faith and love leading you opposite of sense and reason? We do need to be careful here that we are not reasoning as far as sin is concerned. Genuine faith never leads to sin but away from it. Are you being led to follow Jesus and are you willing to allow it to cost you everything? Ruth was willing to make that seemingly blind choice to get to know the true God of Israel and His goodness to his people, for after all, "love has reasons that reason cannot understand". Do you love the Lord Jesus with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and all your strength? If so, then follow him where ever he leads even if it seems unreasonable!
"He always wins who sides with God-to him no chance is lost;
God's will is sweetest to him, when it triumphs at his cost.
Ill that He blesses is our good, and unblest good our ill;
And all is right that seems most wrong, if it be His sweet will."
F.W. Faber
God's will is sweetest to him, when it triumphs at his cost.
Ill that He blesses is our good, and unblest good our ill;
And all is right that seems most wrong, if it be His sweet will."
F.W. Faber
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