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by Michelle Brinson
But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."
Ruth 1:16-17 NIV
In the Old Testament, Ruth was known for her selfless devotion to her mother-in-law. Ruth, a Moabite, demonstrates her complete loyalty to this Israelite family into which she was received by marriage. She exemplifies the truth that coming into the kingdom of God is not about birth or blood, but is about conforming one's life to the will of God through obedience which comes from faith. Her place in history as the great grandmother of David and an ancestress of Jesus signifies that all nations will be represented in God's kingdom.
In my life, Ruth was a committed follower of Jesus Christ and a devoted wife to Shem. She also bore a very striking resemblance to the Ruth of the Old Testament.
After a much needed break, the return to my writing this column is dedicated to my sister in Christ and my friend, Ruth, who has now gone home to be with her Father.
I met Ruth on my second mission trip to East Africa in April 2004. Every so often I would notice a slight limp in her walk and I realized she must have been in great pain but was going to great lengths to hide it. She never complained. Faithfully, every day, Ruth would walk with our mission team as an interpreter sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout Uganda.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Romans 10:14-15 NIV
Ruth had beautiful feet.
What made Ruth so special to me was that I had met her husband Shem two years earlier on my first mission trip to Kenya. Shem and I have developed a friendship stretching across the many miles that separate us. He is like a big brother to me. Considering I don't have a brother, I value having Shem in my life. So meeting Ruth was like meeting a long-lost relative. We spent close to two weeks working together and during that time, our friendship grew and blossomed as well. I most definitely considered Ruth and Shem my family.
I saw Shem and Ruth together this past September while in Kenya on another mission trip working with the Masaai tribe. We were able to enjoy a breakfast together on my first day there. It was truly a blessing and honor to spend time with them.
Over these last several years we've been in regular contact as a result of the blessing of email. We've seen each other go through highs and lows. Unfortunately, as of late, my dear friend Shem has seen more lows than highs. I've seen him lose so many people in his life, a sister, a brother-in-law and now his wonderful and amazing wife Ruth.
My heart simply broke into a million pieces when I heard the news. "How can this be?" I asked God. "Why?" I pleaded with Him.
As I started asking these questions, several thoughts occurred to me. Who am I to question God? And why should I - a mere human being (not eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent) expect to be able to fully understand God’s ways?
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD."As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
I think of one of the first questions God ever asked Adam.
But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"
Genesis 3:9 NIV
(I'm pretty sure God knew where he was.)
This question reverberates throughout history, and I believe it is being posed to every person. The response must be an individual one, for each of us are being asked to enter into a dialogue with our Creator.
Similarly, but in an inverse way, we like to pose the question to God – "why do You, God, who is just and merciful, allow bad things happen to good people?" In other words, "God, where are You?" This question may take on the form of an accusation, a cry of pain, an expression of submission, a philosophical query, or even despair. But this question too, stems from a desire to enter into a dialogue with God, in one form or another.
"Why" may never become clear to us. We may never be able to answer the question why bad things happen, because our human minds simply cannot comprehend the Divine Mind. But a lengthy account explaining all the whys and wherefores is not the purpose of the question anyway.
More importantly, I know God’s answer to the cry of the suffering human soul is, "I am with you." And the result of this is, as God says to Adam, "Go and plant. True, there are thorns and thistles, but you shall eat the herbs of the field when you plant and toil" – your suffering can bring benefit to you and to the world.
So, what I am left with is this...let us not try and find the meaning of suffering, but rather make suffering meaningful.
Ruth was a dear friend, a faithful wife, a devoted teacher and a lover of Jesus. She has left a legacy that will live on, but she will be sorely missed.
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Michelle sees her marriage as a ministry and desires for it and herself to be used by God. She and her husband and son are active members of their church. She is also passionate about spreading the good news locally as well as internationally via mission trips to East Africa and wherever else the Lord leads.
Michelle is a talented writer and speaker who prays God will use her in sharing His hope and truths to those who are hurting and in need of love.
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