Rejection. Failure. The unknown. What did you feel when you read those words? Many people would say they feel fear. My last two articles have been about instances where I was fearful. Let’s look at a story in the Bible about a woman that did something that required her to face some everyday fears. Lots of the stories in the Bible seem hard for the average person to relate to because of the circumstances. We rarely picture ourselves leading armies, splitting the seas, spying out land to conquer, or fighting a giant. But what about the story of Ruth?
Ruth made a few key decisions that show us she was a woman that faced the fear of rejection, the fear of failure and fear of the unknown to find God’s blessing on the other side. Ruth chose to go with her mother-in-law Naomi to a foreign land. She had not been there. She had not seen it. She had no way of knowing how she and Naomi would survive. As the Bible tells the story of Ruth, there are no specifics as to how she was feeling, but we know she was human. She had to have had emotions about leaving her home to go with Naomi, but she went anyway. Let me also mention that Naomi wasn’t in the best of spirits. The scriptures say she was bitter. Ruth wasn’t heading out with a woman filled with encouragement. She was walking in obedience despite her fears. Ruth was facing the unknown head on.
What about failure? Naomi and Ruth were two women with nothing. They were not given a promise that going back to Israel would lead to a life of prosperity. Ruth did not allow the fear of failure to keep her from going with Naomi. She was not captive to the fear of acknowledging she had nothing. Ruth saw the extreme needs in her and Naomi’s lives and she got to work. She went from being married and comfortable, to working collecting wheat that the servants left for her. She was not focused on the loss of her title and she was not afraid to try. Failure was not holding her back from doing something and simply starting somewhere.
So what about rejection? This part of the story is where it gets really good. Does anyone else realize that this Bible story gives women full permission to make the first move??? I know when it comes to relationships we have been brainwashed into thinking there is a formula and we, girls, have to wait until the perfect guy is brave enough to make the first move, but the book of Ruth is straight up real life and it crushes those expectations. One day I will write about how similar my story is to Ruth in the area of dating, but for now lets focus on her.
Seriously think about this story and the fear Ruth must have experienced after Naomi gave her instructions to make the first move. First of all, she was just married and had been out of the so called ‘dating scene.’ It was the perfect storm for the fear of rejection!! I can imagine that working in the field harvesting was not where she wanted to make her first impression on Boaz if he was to be her future husband. She was doing the work of a servant, relying on help. Ruth wasn’t a well groomed princess waiting in the tower to be rescued where her only concern was brushing her hair and getting her beauty sleep. She was working. She was sweating. And most likely, she messing up her cute, manicured nails.
Ruth says to Boaz in verse 8 of chapter 4, “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” This is a bold move. After doing a little research, I found in one study that this same custom is referred to in Ezekiel 16:8. God is speaking of his love and commitment to the people of Israel. What he describes is the same scenario we see with Ruth and Boaz. God says, “I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you.”
Ruth is boldly communicating that she is looking for a covenant relationship. How scary is that? We all want to sit back and let the other person put their feelings and intentions on the line. Ruth just goes for it. The chapter goes on to explain the process of a kinsmen redeemer in the case of Ruth and Naomi and how Boaz was a man of integrity. We all know this story has a beautiful ending. Ruth has a son that is in the lineage of both David and Jesus, but Ruth didn’t know the ending from the beginning. She faced her fears of the unknown, of failure and of rejection one at a time. God’s blessing in her life was on the other side of her fears.
We have to truly look at this story and apply it to our own lives. What are the fears you are facing? What does God have for you on the other side? While we may not realize it, we know that the same enemy that messes with our thoughts was messing with Ruth’s. I imagine he was throwing every possible scenario and doubt her way. Remember, Satan has wanted to destroy Jesus since the beginning of time and Ruth was key to completing His lineage. She had a target on her back.
I write in my devotional, “Encouragement Between Loads of Laundry” that one of my favorite verses is Ruth 4:15. It says that Ruth was more valuable than seven sons. Her value was not based on speaking to millions of people, making lots of money, volunteering 40 hours a week at her kid’s school, acquiring thousands of followers on social media or writing a best seller. Her value was based on simple obedience that could not be thwarted by fear.
Rejection. Failure. The Unknown. Still feel fear? Well, the book of Ruth is proof that God uses all 3.