Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Feb/85

Contributor - Freda Witteveen

Title - Love and Trust

Topic - Women

Love is associated with the month of February, a kind of love which unfortunately, because of the power of the media, has been commercialized as a commodity to be purchased with cards, flowers, jewelry and sweets. The Bible provides us with examples of other kinds of love relationships. The story of Ruth in the Old Testament in particular illustrates several forms of love in a meaningful way so that we may learn from these people who lived so long ago.

In this short book we find mother love, marital love, romantic love, love of friends, love of homeland and through and above all of these, the love of God.

The dominant characteristic of love that emerges as we study these four chapters is TRUST, which we see in several instances.

1. Ruth loved Naomi enough that when the older woman made the decision to leave the land of Moab, she, Ruth, trusted in that love and left behind the familiarity of her homeland to travel many weary miles to a strange land. Israelite custom would be strange to her and sure prejudice awaited the foreigner. The God who would sustain Naomi through the upheaval in their lives was totally unlike the gods Ruth had known since childhood. But the example Naomi displayed to her daughter-in-law attracted some searching within Ruth's heart. The trust Ruth experienced in her love is clearly expressed in the words she utters while she still has a' chance to return to the life she had known. "Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God." Ruth 1: 16

Ruth, I deduce, learned much of love from her husband whom she lost and the example of her in-laws. Even when they arrived in Bethlehem, Ruth continued to love and support Naomi, obeying her instructions as they sought a new life in the midst of their poverty.

2. When there was a famine in Israel Naomi and her family journeyed to the land of Moab and settled there. Her two sons married women of the land and we presume Naomi was happy there with her family. Now all the male members of her immediate family had died in circumstances unknown to us, and with no means of support Naomi yearns to return to her own people. Naomi trusted in the Lord to protect her on the perilous journey and to provide for her in Bethlehem, for the future of a widow was uncertain indeed.

After Ruth encounters Boaz while gleaning in his barley fields, Naomi made use of her knowledge of the customs of the land and trusted in the Lord for a favourable outcome.

3. After Ruth had slept the night at the feet of Boaz on the threshing floor, knowing they were attracted to each other, she was no doubt elated when he declared his wish to marry her. There was, however, another relative, who according to the law, had first claim on Ruth. Boaz also utilized his knowledge of people and the tradition of the Israelites to have the outcome to his advantage. Meanwhile, Ruth had put her trust in him that he would do as he had declared and that they would become man and wife.

4. By observing the everyday living of Naomi and Boaz as faithful followers of Jehovah, Ruth too placed her trust in God after the bewildering course of events in her life. Boaz speaks of her character and that which she had been seeking unconsciously since she left Moab. "All that you have done for your mother-in-law has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord recompense you for what you have done, and a full reward be given vou by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." Ruth 2:11, 12 (RSV)

The trust of these believers that God was in control was rewarded when a son was born to Ruth and Boaz. Further evidence of God's favour is found in the fact that from their descendants came King David and eventually our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The old song says, "Love and marriage, love and marriage, go together like a horse and carriage . . . ", but from our examination of Ruth we learn that it is love and trust that go together.

Therefore, to all recipes for a happy and lasting marriage, and other love relationships, add a generous measure of trust. Even when circumstances buffet us and seek to shatter the foundations of our trust, we must hold on with all our might so that our love will be strong.

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