"And Ruth Said" Part 2...

Ruth 2:1 - 2:19

The Worst of Times...

The Bible really stresses the fact that Ruth was a Moabite woman. After doing research, I learned that Moab and Israel during this time period were very bitter enemies, and Ruth took an enormous risk immigrating to a land that might treat her as an outsider, or despise her as a "foreigner". You would've thought that Ruth was crazy, but she wasn't. She was just good hearted.

Ruth Meets Boaz...

So Naomi had a relative on her husbands side who's name was Boaz. Ruth decided that she was going to go work in the field and pick up leftover grain, from the people who may have forgotten it. As it turned out, the very field she was working in belonged to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.

When Boaz arrived in the Field and said " The Lord be with you, May the Lord bless you".
He noticed Ruth and asked the foreman who she was. The foreman explained that she was the Moabitess, and that she had worked in the field from morning to night, with just a short rest in the shelter.

Then Boaz told Ruth not to glean in another field, and not to go away. He asked her to stay with his servant girls.

Ruth could not believe that Boaz, a stranger, was offering this great favor. She asked him "why?" "why have I found such favor in your eyes?" Boaz explained how he had heard everything that she had done for her mother-in-law (Naomi). He then offered her dinner with the servant girls and wine. Ruth was extremely grateful and blessed him.

When Ruth returned home to Naomi she explained to Naomi that she had worked in the field belonging to Boaz. Naomi explained to Ruth how Boaz was a close relative, and that he had a good heart.

Ruth:
She arrived in Israel with no money, a outsider and a widow, with her mother-in-law as her only friend. Considering that her home country of Moab was often at war with Israel, and that the two nations worshipped two different Gods, Ruth hardly figured to thrive in Israel. Yet she went to work without anything daily.

Even though she was a foreigner she showed herself as a model Israelite woman, modest, hardworking, and deeply loyal to those she loved.

Ruth Never complained about hardship, she actually responded with gratitude when anyone showed her even the least bit of kindness.

I know that I said I would finish up Ruth tonight, but I don't think I can express all that I feel in one post. I will try to finish up Ruth tomorrow.

Kale

"And Ruth Said" Part 1...

Ruth 1:1 - 1:22

Due to my "slump", I have explained that I am having extreme difficulty doing my daily readings. I have decided since I am trying to keep my Journey going, that I will do this post on my favorite book in the Bible.

The Book Of Ruth. This story has always held an extremely precious place in my heart and I am not sure why. Most people do not receive as strong of a message from this book than others, but this one speaks to me in a way I cant explain.

Here We Go...

In the time when the "Judges Ruled" in the land of Judah, there was a great famine in the land. Elimelech (originally from Bethlehem), along with his wife Naomi and his two sons Mahlon and Kilion, went to live in the country Moab.

While in Moab, Elimelech passed away and the sons married two Moabite women. Mahlon married Ruth, and Kilion married Orpah. After they lived in Moab for about ten years. Mahlon and Kilion also passed away.

At this point in time Naomi has lost everything. She has lost her husband who took her to live in the country of Moab to escape the famine, as well as her two sons. Who took care of her for ten years in Moab. Now all Naomi has is two daughter-in-laws.

While They were in Moab, Naomi heard that the Lord had come to aid in the land of Judah ( the homeland of Elimelch, Naomi and their sons) by providing with food. Naomi, Ruth and Orpah prepared to return home to Judah.

So while traveling, Naomi breaks down.

"Go back, each of you, to your mothers home. May the lord show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband."

This break my heart every time. Naomi deeply cared for these girls, and although she had nobody, she was willing to live alone then have them unhappy in any way.

The girls refused to go, they felt as though they belonged with Naomi, Naomi was their family, but she explained to them that the Lord had gone out against her, and she could not have more sons for them.

After telling the girls a few times to go back, the girls were both crying and weeping. Orpah kissed Naomis head and headed back home. Ruth however would not go. She would not leave Naomis side.

This is by far my favorite quote from the Bible... Ruth 1:16

And Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave thee, or return from following after thee. For whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."

Ruth has such a big heart. Every time I read this quote I feel like I am going to cry. Ruth had no legal ties to Naomi. She was setting off to an unknown land with a woman who had nothing but herself.

When looking for pictures that related to Ruth and Naomi, I noticed that all the pictures gave a false interpretation of Orpah.

In most of these pictures, it shows Ruth and Naomi having their moment while Orpah walks or stands away unaffected. I do not think that is what happened. I think their was probably a strong moment with Orpah and Ruth, as well as one with Orpah and Naomi. Orpah turning back was not a bad thing. Orpah was only carrying out the wishes of her Mother-In-Law. She did not want to turn back. She was doing what she thought was right for Naomi, and what Naomi wanted.

Naomi and Ruth were unlikely Friends. They were an entire generation apart. Ruth was young and strong while Naomi was well past middle age.

Even stranger than the age difference. One was the others Mother-In-Law, and came from an entirely different ethnic and religious background.

Ruth was a great person. She had (in my opinion) what we are all missing today. She had the strength and courage to give her life, family, and home up just for the happiness of a lonely woman. Ruth deeply cared for Naomi. This is very sweet to me.

I will finish Ruth Later Tonight.

Kale

Puzzled?

Lately Ive been having this crazy dream...

The dream starts out with me, sitting at a glass table putting together a puzzle. Only a small portion of the puzzle is put together, and there are hundreds of puzzle pieces sitting on this glass table where I am sitting. All of the sudden the pieces start to jump, like an earthquake. I look around and nothing else is moving or vibrating.

All of a sudden the pieces start to pop up at me, hitting me in the face and falling everywhere, then all of the pieces start coming at me. I try to run but this mob of puzzle pieces is coming at me like a tidal wave. It catches up with me and out of panic I close my eyes, when I open my eyes, It's thundering, lightning, and raining, and I'm swimming, in an endless ocean of Puzzle Pieces. The puzzle piece ocean is moving and swaying like an actual ocean. The waves are coming up over my head as I am trying to get back to shore. That's when I wake up.

I am having a hard time interpreting this dream. I'm obviously puzzled. But this dream cant be that obvious. It has to have some meaning and moral behind it. Maybe there is something I am having trouble putting together. Maybe there is something I should be trying to put together. As if life isn't already confusing enough as it is. What is God trying to tell me?

Slump...

This is my first post for about two months now. I know some of you have been disappointed that I haven't been writing. I am back, and plan on finishing my journey.

I have been in a small slump lately. I have been struggling internally for some time now, and it doesn't seem to be getting much better. Although my "Journey Through The Bible" has helped me more than I could even explain. My "slumpness" still remains. I have having an extremely difficult time finding where I am, and what to do in life. I find that people I want to be close with are deceiving me.

I feel like I have fallen down the rabbit hole. But instead of finding myself like Alice did. I feel like this hole is making me lose myself.

I'm not sure what to do. I have decided that while I am in this slump, I will not read the Bible. I do not want my negative thoughts and mind to tamper with the words and essence of God. Right Now, God is all I have left.

I cant move. I cant go forward or back. Life right now is difficult.

Kale