THE HAND THAT GUIDED
The Book of Ruth relates that Ruth and Orpah, two women of Moab, married two sons of Elimelech and Naomi, Judeans who had settled in Moab to escape a famine in Judah. Unfortunately, the husbands of all three women die; Naomi plans to return to her native Bethlehem and urges her daughters-in-law to return to their families. Orpah does so, but Ruth refuses to leave Naomi, declaring: (1)
(Ruth 1:16–17), “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die—there will I be buried.” Ruth accompanies Naomi to Bethlehem.
(Scripture Emphasis)
One is left face-to-face with God at the end of that text! God alone can source such empathy. Only God can take the brokenness of this world and its glaring injustices and weave them into a garment of splendour to grace the soul.
First, meet Naomi, then when you meet God, your spirit will rejoice in God’s power to change something you thought to be quite ordinary into something exquisitely beautiful. To have that experience is like finding a rose in full bloom among an expanse of ashes.
But first, see the ashes! Naomi, herself, sees it everywhere!
Naomi was an Israelite woman from the tribe of Judah from Bethlehem. Her homeland and her faith were among her most treasured possessions. However, a severe drought in Israel forced Naomi, her husband, and two sons to migrate to the land of Moab in search of food.
For Naomi and her family, faith in the goodness of Israel’s God grew stronger with each passing day. Resolutely, they maintained the “hope that springs eternal in the human breast,’ that God would yet provide sustenance for their survival. Irresistibly, Naomi held to a child-like belief that nothing could resist the power of God’s Love to change and make all things new in every circumstance.
But now, as they entered Moab, it became painfully clear that Moab was a pagan land. The Israelite family soon encounters strange customs, unfamiliar social mores, and intonations to foreign gods. Everything combined to make them long for home. Only momentarily did a swamp of despair remain. Naomi, as usual, summons their faith once more, and with it, courage also arrives. God often hides beauty among what, at first sight, seems to be only ashes!
But, within a few years in Moab, Naomi faces even more challenges to her faith! Firstly, the love of her life, now surrounded by people with strange beliefs and who whisper the names of foreign gods, lies cold in death.
And, even yet, all is not told!
If we allow ourselves to reveal the wishes that flow from every mother’s Heart, all prefer their children to continue the faith traditions they experienced from birth. But Naomi sees both of her sons marry Moabite girls. One is named Ruth; the other’s name is Orpah.
But as alarming as it may seem, Naomi’s threatening ash heap does not increase due to those marriages. In truth, where others may likely see only ashes, Naomi observes a few green shoots of promising beauty! Could it be, she wondered, if the deity with strange-sounding names were, in reality, the same God she knew, only by a different name!
In secret, Naomi’s spirit made pilgrimages almost daily to her beloved homeland to find comfort and grace in the presence of the God she loved. How else would she find the strength, courage and fortitude to continue with life since her two sons had died within the ensuing decade?
Naomi’s virtual visits to Bethlehem, in spirit, were insufficient now. She must return home to Bethlehem in person!
Now deeply moved by it all, Naomi announces her decision to her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah.
Naomi knows only too well that the ties binding human hearts in love are never easily broken. Consequently, it is not surprising that the unpretentious witness of Naomi’s spirit had a lasting impact on her daughters-in-law. They felt Naomi’s faith in God which created such captivating beauty. Thus, the unseen Hand guiding Naomi’s life is now at work in Ruth and Orpah!
Empathizing with the girl’s unspoken determination to remain beside her to comfort her in her crushing loss, Naomi addresses their dilemma,” Remain here in Moab with what is familiar to you,” she offers, ” live your lives in the company of the people you know, and love. Share the customs and beliefs you have in common.”
In the Heart of both Orpah and Ruth, roses, planted by the Hand of Naomi’s God, broke into full bloom.
It follows, though, that such love induces an irrepressible desire to respond in kind.
Orpha chooses to remain in Moab. No doubt, there she will work in God’s rose garden, finding opportunities to promote the secret of Naomi’s beauty.
Ruth refuses to leave Naomi, declaring (Ruth 1:16–17), “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die—there will I be buried.” Ruth accompanies Naomi to Bethlehem and there surrenders to the secret of Naomi’s beauty.
Prayer To Follow This Meditation
Father, we believe You envisaged a world where the miracle of love between people, and the abiding mystery of faith, would recreate it.
Father, please show us again that supreme mystery of faith; and the transforming miracle of love.
At the precise moment that the world unleashes a barrage of heart-wrenching experiences to destroy us, you arrive on the soul’s stairway of faith with Your, “Be not afraid, it is I.”
When the world echoes sardonic laughter at our efforts to be good and honourable, and subsequently, we become abandoned and ostracized; into the picture, You introduce Someone to love us and Someone for us to love.
We bless You for the very human story of Naomi, Ruth and Orpah. For the work of Your guiding Hand that builds the stairway of faith between You and Naomi, and from Naomi to Ruth and Orpah. For Your vision of love’s power which creates such transforming relationships, we praise You, Father.
All of these things and even more are made available to the world through the mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. ” For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Herewith is the world’s present darkness dispelled, and then the golden chains of God’s love will bind together people all over the world.
” I’ll bless the Hand, that guided,
I’ll bless the Heart, that planned,
When throned where glory dwelleth,
In Emmanuel’s Land.” (2)
Grant, my Father, that I will not wait ’till then to offer You praise. Unabashedly let the rejoicing begin now!
In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord; then in Emmanuel’s Land in Thy mercy may praise continue. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: O Love, That Will Not, Let Me Go
NOTES
1. Suggested reading,
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ruth-biblical-figure)
2. Scripture quotations are from the NIV translation
3. From the hymn,’ The Sands Of Time Are Sinking.’
by A.R. Cousins.