Loyalty is defined as “Faithfulness or devotion to some person, cause or nation.”
In the Bible, Ruth defines fierce loyalty to her widowed mother-in-law Naomi. She was a very young widow but willingly left her home, people, and nation Moab. She chose to live with and support Naomi who was old when she returned to Israel after the famine knowing it would be difficult for her. When Naomi persuaded her to return to her home, she refused, and here is her famous reply.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.” Ruth 1: 16-18. Ruth pledged herself to Naomi, the Jewish nation, and the Jewish Torah till death, invoking punishment from Elohim in case she failed to keep her vow. History tells us that Ruth was a princess, a relative of Eglon, the King of Moab, and no ordinary citizen. But she was humble enough to go and harvest leftovers from the barley crop to feed the two of them.
When Boaz met her on his farm, he was touched by her demeanor and invited her to stay on his farm to glean the barley making sure she got more than enough to take home. Boaz was a cousin of Ruth’s father-in-law Elimelech, and therefore the second kinsman redeemer ( go'el in Hebrew). When the first relative refused in the presence of ten witnesses, Boaz redeemed the property of Elimelech and Ruth as his wife. The first child would carry the dead father’s name and grow up to own his property, and carry forward his father’s name. ( Ruth 4:1-12)
Because of this, YHWH ADONAI blest her with a home, wealth, and family. After her marriage to Boaz, they had a son named Obed. The book ends with the genealogy of David, Obed’s grandson. Ruth is honored in the genealogy of Yeshua the Messiah. Though this story seems so ordinary, there were eternal reasons for this to happen. This book could have been named after Boaz, who is mentioned more often than Ruth, but it is about her commitment and loyalty that made it happen.
Recently I met a person who double-crossed his best friend and shifted the funds and project to his account, all in the name of God. I remember the shock and pain his friend felt when he discovered it. A siren took off in my head and I thought,’ Be warned and careful, stir clear of him.’
Yeshua the Messiah is our kinsman-redeemer, who gave His life to redeem us from the clutches of satan and sin. ( Titus 2:14; Gal 5:1)
May YHWH ADONAI bless you with loyalty and integrity towards Him and your family and friends.
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