Ruth and Rahab
Ruth 3:11
“And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.”
Ruth
Have you ever wondered how the women of the Bible lived compared to the modern woman of today…
You might be surprised that despite the differences in environment, social and religious lifestyles, they all endured similar difficulties to issues occurring in our day and age.
Take Ruth for example, she was the great-grandmother of King David and the daughter-in-law to Naomi. Unfortunately, her husband, Mahlon had died and his brother, Chilion, died shortly afterward, leaving both Naomi, and Ruth widowed, as Naomi’s husband had also passed away.
So, Ruth could either remain in her home of Moab, or venture out with Naomi, her mother-in-law, searching for something new, to places she had never been. Ruth loved her mother-in-law and after witnessing that she lost her husband and both of her sons, she was filled with compassion for her.
She could not endure the thought of leaving Naomi or from the God of Israel that she had come to know. Ruth had great faith that there was still a purpose for her and that God would provide for both herself and Naomi as well.
Rahab
Another strong woman that God used to save others…
As we progress into another woman of the bible, we see the life of Rahab. She was a prostitute living in Jericho and she risked her life and her household, in order to hide Israelite spies in her house on the wall of Jericho, because she too trusted in the God of Israel.
Rahab asked that her life and her family be spared when the city was conquered by the Israelites. What would seem like a woman with a tainted lifestyle, God still used for His great purpose. Rahab and Ruth both believed heavily in God, even though circumstances didn’t reveal any answers to the outcome of their lives.
They were an example of the importance of having faith in God, regardless of their situations and/or events that happened in the past.
Courage and Kindness
Rahab’s courage and Ruth’s kindness…
Rahab was very courageous to hide spies in her home, even at the risk of losing her own life and Ruth left the only home she knew to follow Naomi so that she would be taken care of. Both of these women teach us courage in the face of uncertainty and to act according to God’s will.
Nothing can separate us from His love. God’s love is stronger and more relevant than a person’s past and origins. Rahab’s example shows us that God is a merciful Savior. He does not show partiality; rather, He knows our hearts and can transform anyone who will trust Him.
Ruth was also kind to Naomi in her time of need, willing to sacrifice her lifestyle to benefit Naomi, teaching us to treat those who are in need of help with kindness. God rewarded Ruth with a wonderful husband named Boaz, who eventually took care of both women and provided for all of their needs.
Boaz was a relative of Naomi's deceased husband, Elimelech and under Jewish law, he had the right to redeem Naomi's family land and marry Ruth to preserve the family line. Ruth and Boaz had a son named Obed, who became the grandfather of King David, linking Ruth to the royal lineage of Israel.
Obedience turns into Reward
Both women followed their heart to obey God…
Due to Rahab’s obedience to God, she was eventually saved and became an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Showing us, that obeying God, no matter what our background, can bring many blessings into our lives. She went from a prostitute to a missionary.
By God's grace, Rahab's house was a place of salvation. After Joshua and the Israelites conquered Jericho, Rahab and her family also became part of the people of Israel. In Jesus' genealogy, we find that Rahab married Salmon, who was the son of Nahshon, who came from the tribe of Judah. Rahab and Salmon were the parents of Boaz, who later married Ruth.
In summary, we can see how both women acted on faith and courage during times of uncertainty. Neither knew the outcomes of their choices to follow their heart and listen to God. In the end, their pathways lead to greatness and eventually to the ancestry of Jesus. Remarkable how God used both women to stretch their faith, accomplish great things for Him and the Kingdom of God.
Trust
Stay faithful, even when you don’t have the answers…
If you are also in a difficult place in your life, begin with faith. You might not be able to see what God is doing, but in time, trust that He is moving circumstances on your behalf.
Ruth believed God during a difficult time of her life and in that place of trust and faith, God did a miraculous work to redeem her, as He also did with Rahab. So, don’t think that your life isn’t as important as Ruth or Rahab’s or they were just “special”.
No, we are all a work in progress and God sees us as His children and as a loving Father would, He only wants the best for us. Even in the smallest of acts, we can unknowingly impact the lives of many, many others. Stay strong and trust Him for everything in your life. He will never disappoint.
“God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”
Psalm 46:5