Loyalty Meets Company:

BIBLE STORY: 

In Ruth 24 a woman named Naomi marries in Judah and births two sons. They go on to live in Moab where Naomi’s husband dies, but the two sons marry, one wife named Orpah, the other Ruth. Ten years later, both of Naomi’s sons die. Naomi is now left with no husband, and no kids and is heartbroken. Naomi decides to go back to Judah where she’s heard the Lord has been providing food for the people there. In the midst of her heartbreak she tells her two daughters-in-law (now widows) to go back to their mother’s house because she cannot provide for them. She is too old to bear sons to be wed and she thinks she’s better off alone. After some resistance, Orpah leaves Naomi but Ruth “clings” to Naomi. When Naomi asks Ruth why doesn’t she follow Orpah, Ruth says to her “Do not urge me to leave you. Where you go I will go, and where you sleep I will sleep. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried." When Ruth and Naomi return to Judah, Ruth finds Boaz, a relative of Naomi and they are married. 

My Takeaway: 

There are people who are connected to your destiny and there are people who's time with you is limited. When Orpah and Ruth marry into the family, they have no idea of what lies ahead. Imagine the memories and connections Ruth and Orpah made with their Mother-in-Law and how close they probably grew to one another. The one thing they all shared was the love they had for Naomi's sons. When their husbands die, their mutual connection goes with them. Orpah is quick to leave Naomi when the opportunity is made available. The bible said she resisted, but I'm sure she did that so she wouldn't seem like a bad person. Ruth however, is convinced that she will stay with Naomi. Even with knowing that Naomi cannot birth any more sons for her to marry, Ruth binds her soul to Naomi's just as Jonathan had done for David. The loyalty Ruth had toward Naomi connected her to the blessing of finding a husband Boaz. To the naked eye, Ruth's decision to continue with Naomi was foolish because it looked like there was no future in staying with Naomi. But even through the difficulty, Ruth stayed with her friend. Shout out to the friends who are with you no matter what. Their blessings appear in special ways. It got Ruth a husband, what can your loyalty do for you?