Warriors Arise: June 6, 2021
Ruth 1:7 (NKJV) Therefore Naomi went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
Naomi had lost her husband followed by her two sons. She had no one to turn to in this foreign land. She took her daughter-in-laws with her and they began their trip back to Judah. While on the way she is not thinking this is a good idea. These women are not Hebrew. They are Moabites. Naomi and her husband had no intention of returning to Israel. So they allowed their sons to marry local girls rather than returning for Israelite women.
Ruth 1:8-13 (NKJV) And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother's house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.” So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!”
Naomi, she had nothing to offer her daughter-in-laws. She would be taken care of by a kinsmen redeemer but not her foreign daughter-in-laws. Maybe her people would not take care of her if she had them with her. However, if they remained behind, going back to their own people they might have a potential future. Naomi had nothing of value to offer her daughter-in-laws. Nothing, that is, other than her God.
Ruth 1:14-17 (NKJV)Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”
16 But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”
What was Ruth thinking? She would not have a child by her son. Naomi is too old, she will not produce an heir that would become Ruth's husband. Naomi was not staying in Moab. Ruth was having to leave her homeland, she was going to a foreign country. The people of this foreign country would not be welcoming her.
Ruth 1:18 (NKJV) When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her.
I do find this verse absolutely hilarious! Naomi can't get rid of Ruth. She doesn't want to Ruth coming with her. But now Ruth has made this vow! I picture Naomi in a huff and she herumphs as she turns away from Ruth and walks away. Naomi will not speak to her! And we have the first recording of the silent treatment!
There are times when you have to do the right thing even if you aren't going to get anything out of it. Naomi had nothing to offer Ruth. Ruth was ready to serve Naomi even though she had to give up her homeland, her people, her family, her god, and her womanhood as she became a servant to Naomi.
This was an important day. As you know Biblical history, you know Ruth marries Boaz and is grafted into the bloodline of Jesus. Today may be your day to lay down your dreams and honor someone else. The very avenue that leads to your heart's desire just might be through the person you need to serve.
I have a wonderful mother-in-law. However, she absolutely loves to shop and I don't go shopping unless I have to. When I know what I want and there is a need then I am in and out as quickly as possible. I do not like to window shop or browse. I do not like to needlessly be going through racks and racks of clothes. I do not want to be tempted to spend money I don't have, possibly buying something that I will never wear. When she arrived nearly 5 weeks ago she wanted to celebrate me and the 67 pound I had lost since we saw her last fall. So she insisted on taking me shopping. I told her I couldn't even plan a date until after Josiah graduated. I just didn't have the time with all of the end-of-the-school year events and so on. Finally, I was able to get my work done ahead of time and plan the day. Just she and I made a 3 1/2 hour trip up to Mall of America, leaving shortly after 8 in the morning. I like to drive and we listened to an audio book I knew she would like. We spent the day in the mall. I think it was so much better for me, because we weren't just going shopping but sightseeing as well. I thoroughly enjoy sightseeing. Mall of America has rollercoasters, mini golf courses, an aquarium, Legos, the Crayola Experience, the usual theater and restaurants throughout the mall. In between all the shopping, we could look at the other things people were doing. It was a wonderful day and we got home a couple of minutes before midnight.
I yielded to something I had no desire to do and we were both blessed. We didn't buy it but I tried on a $3,000 dress. I didn't know how much the dress cost until I took it off but when a dress makes you feel that good, you consider taking out a loan to pay for it. LOL! I reverted into my unusual pattern and we bought more for the kids and Scott than the reason we went, but honestly, I am totally ok with that. My sacrifice was a huge deposit of love into my mother-in-law. I totally understand it really doesn't compare to what Ruth had to give up but in my own little way, I had to put myself aside and what I would have preferred to do for the day. If I had not made the time I would have stolen the blessing my mother-in-law wanted to give. She wanted to celebrate what I had accomplished in my weight loss and the only way she knew how was to take me shopping.
Today may be your day to bless someone else or receive from them the blessing they want to give.
Father, I ask for You to continue to bless my mother-in-law and each of my family members. I have so many family members that are gifted shoppers and they have blessed my family for decades. Thank you for all they have done to use their gift to bless us. I pray you would heap a blessing of provision, prosperity and peace upon those who are gifted in giving. I pray for wisdom as they give and that their giving be kingdom investment. I pray You would always take care of their needs and they would have resources at their disposal when they feel the leading of the Holy Spirit to give into another's life. I pray for the receivers of the blessing to fully receive, to position themselves to receive the fullness of what you want to give them. No one can outlive You. I am extremely thankful for Your amazing love to position people who are so good at blessing others to pouring into the lives of those who need to receive. I ask to be aware of when I need to align myself with the gifting of another and give them the opportunity to use their gift. I pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit to keep me aware of when I am preventing someone from using their gifting. I am thankful for the people You have placed in my life to be a blessing and who continually bless my life in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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