Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.”
NL Daily Devotion for Thursday, August 18, 2022
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Ruth must have been a tough cookie. Yeah, yeah, I know she’s just given an impassioned speech probably accompanied by tears and made it clear what her intentions were. But I just imagine a toddler standing on the dusty road with her feet braced and her little chubby hands in fists, with eyes blazing and a scowl painted on her tiny mouth saying, “No! You can’t make me! I’m not going home!” And I imagine Naomi sighing deeply, shrugging, and muttering, “Suit yourself,” before continuing on.
Not that Ruth was immature or unreasonable. Just strong. So strong of spirit that Naomi knew it was pointless to try to dissuade her any further. I still don’t know Ruth’s motivation in any of this. Naomi’s suggestion that she return to the security of her family made a lot of sense. What would lead Ruth to reject it out of hand and cast her lot entirely in with her mother-in-law when it was a total unknown?
The reason probably doesn’t matter, and anyway, we’ll never know it. What does matter, and what we would do well to remember, is that this story is not about some hapless, stereotypical damsel-in-distress, but about a woman of incredible strength, determination, loyalty, and faith. We would do well to aspire to be just like her.
Is there a woman role-model in my life with the kind of strength and fortitude Ruth displayed? What influence has she had on me?
