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7 Points to Remember About God's Plan-Lessons Learned from the Story of Ruth

Writer's picture: Dr. Lou Ella V. TaylorDr. Lou Ella V. Taylor

Updated: Aug 23, 2020


Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to 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:


August 23, 2020

The story of Ruth is a perfect example of how God will use your circumstances to fit you into His master plan. That’s an important point that we have to keep before us. God doesn’t fit His plan into you - He fits you into His plan.

Ruth was the daughter in law of Naomi, who had been recently widowed, and on top of that, she lost her children, her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. So, Naomi was left with just her two daughter-in-laws because they were widows as well. Devastating, right? Can you imagine, losing your family? I can’t even imagine.

When I became a widow at 26 years old, I vividly remember being alone with my 28 year old husband in an eerily silent room in the Emergency Department as he lay still and cold on the gurney. I tried to process what what had happened, what was happening. I remembered that I had read I Thessalonians 5:18 that morning for my devotion- In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. And that’s why it’s good to start your day out with prayer to God and a scripture or passage to carry you through the day because you never know what the day may bring. Because I had read that scripture, I begin to thank God as I sobbed over my husband’s lifeless body. I thanked God that I still had my two children, my daughter who was almost 8 years old and my son, who was 6 ½ years old. They were so young and innocent and had so much life yet to see and live. It brought me such comfort in my grief to know that I still had them and they still had me. So again, I can’t even imagine what Naomi was going through.


Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Orpah, returned to her people at Naomi’s request. But Ruth vowed to follow and remain with Naomi for the rest of her life. Spoiler alert- That was part of God’s plan.

Ruth and Naomi sojourn to Judah where they are both poor and Ruth does what she can to take care of Naomi and provide for her, as was her promise. While gathering grain in the field, Boaz, a wealthy kinsman-redeemer of Naomi’s husband, Elimilech, notices Ruth. A kinsman-redeemer had rights to redeem or marry a widowed near-relative. Boaz is aware of Ruth being widowed, but he really notices her because he heard of her vow to never leave widowed Naomi and he was touched by the story.

Boaz makes sure that Ruth has plenty of food for herself and Naomi, and that Ruth is well protected, being that she is a young, single, and virtuous woman. Naomi is looking out for her daughter-in-law as well. She wants to make sure that Ruth is well taken care of, so she encourages Ruth to go in to Boaz while he was asleep and lie down next to him, which was customarily Naomi saying that she wanted to marry him. Boaz, being an older man, is deeply moved because Ruth has chosen him over all the young men her age, and he takes Ruth’s hand in marriage.

What a beautiful story of redemption. As a kinsman-redeemer, Boaz had to pay a price to redeem Ruth. Jesus, the Great Redeemer bought you and I and paid the ultimate price; He gave His life. 1 Corinthians 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Just as with the events that unfolded in Ruth and Naomi’s lives, God has a plan for ALL that you have gone through and ALL that you are going through. But remember, you fit into God’s plan-God’s plan doesn’t fit into you, because no one is big enough and never will be to hold God’s plan. And unless and until He reveals it to you, His plans are beyond your understanding. Isaiah 55:8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. 9- For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Furthermore, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose Romans 8:28. It’s not about your purpose in God’s plan, but about how you fit into God’s purpose in His plan. Do you see the difference? If it were about your purpose in God’s plans, you would control the narrative. But if it’s about how you fit into God’s purpose in His plans, God controls the narrative, which is actually the way it is and will always be. God has just allowed those who love Him and are the called, to be used for His purpose and His plan. And in doing so, He allows those who love Him and are the called to reap some of the goodness in His Good plan. That’s what Romans 8:28 is really all about.

With every experience, every trial and tribulation, I’m understanding God’s purpose for my life more and more, puzzle piece by puzzle piece. I know that I love God with all of my heart, mind, body, and soul. I know that I am part of the called, to heal. I know that this ministry is part of how I fit into God’s plan. And I know that the things that I have gone through and survived are all part of how I fit into God’s plan.

I know that God’s ways are so far beyond my understanding until I just have to trust that WHATEVER happens to me is in my being part of the called, and is for the good of God’s plan. How humbling to know that the Almighty God Himself, the Creator of the Universe, The Great I AM that I AM allows you and I to be a part of His plan. I feel so very special and I hope that you do too. In what way do you feel you are part of the called and part of God’s plan?

So, there are 7 points in the story of Ruth to remember about God’s plan.

1- Your loss is part of God’s master plan.

Naomi lost her husband and two children and Ruth lost her husband, which set off a chain of divine events.

2- God will redirect you in your loss and pain to the place that He wants you to be for His purpose and His plan. Naomi and Ruth’s loss redirected them from Moab to Bethlehem, which was part of God’s plan.

3- Temporary lack leads you to where God wants you to be.

If Naomi and Ruth had been left with wealth from their husbands’ deaths, Ruth would have never been gleaning in the field and she would have never met Boaz, which was part of God’s plan.

4- God makes ALL provisions for ALL characters that are a part of His plan. Boaz, being very wealthy, told Ruth to take more than enough for her and Naomi.

5. God will move some people out of your life, to bring or ALLOW other people into your life as part of His master plan. After Ruth lost her husband, Mahlon, she met Boaz, who felt that she chose him over all the young men her age. But, it was not actually Ruth who chose Boaz, but God who chose Boaz for Ruth- because God had a plan. ALL of the characters in your life –including the ones you lose or the ones you've lost- are part of God’s master plan.

6- Your loss and pain has divine purpose as part of a master plan designed by the Master Himself.

Naomi and Ruth’s loss caused them to leave their country. Ruth being alone, and seeing Naomi all alone, caused her to vow to never leave Naomi, so they both relocate. Ruth and Naomi not having wealth caused Ruth to glean in the fields, which led to her meeting and marrying Boaz. From this union came Obed who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David- Yes, that David, King David who begat King Solomon, all the way down to -you know where this is going- The King of kings, Jesus Christ of Bethlehem! Wow! Did God have a plan!

7. Everything is connected to and for the King, King Jesus.

So as you go about this day, this week, seek the Holy Spirit for God’s purpose for your life and even if you feel you know it, seek Him to take your understanding to a deeper level in Him. Affirm and/or reaffirm your love for God, not only with your mouth, but with your actions. And pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, knowing that whatever you face, God has a plan.

Prayer:

Dear Father God,

Thank You. Humbly, I thank You Lord for allowing me to be a part of Your plan. I can see how all of my losses, no matter how painful, were a part of Your master plan. Each loss drove me closer to You Lord. I learned how to call on You more Lord. I learned how to depend on You more Lord. I learned how to trust You more Lord, even in my lack. Thank You for all of the people that You have allowed in my life, whether they are in or out, they are all part of Your plan in my life. Thank You for the pain and losses that I have encountered as part of Your divine purpose in my life. All of those experiences have brought me here to this day, this place, this moment with You. I Love You Lord and I see how all of my experiences are divinely connected to You my King, all for the good as part of Your divine plan.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

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