How does Ruth 3:5 demonstrate obedience and trust in godly authority? Setting the Scene Ruth and Naomi, two widows in Bethlehem, face an uncertain future. Naomi devises a plan rooted in the customs of kinsman-redeemer marriage. Ruth’s simple response opens the door to God’s providence. The Verse “I will do everything you say,” Ruth answered. (Ruth 3:5) Recognizing Naomi’s God-Given Authority • Naomi is Ruth’s elder, mother-in-law, and mentor in Israel’s covenant life. • By listening to Naomi, Ruth honors the fifth commandment (Exodus 20:12) and reflects a heart that values spiritual guidance. • Naomi’s counsel aligns with God’s revealed order for redemption through the kinsman-redeemer (Leviticus 25:25; Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Obedience Displayed in Ruth 3:5 • Immediate: Ruth gives no delay, excuses, or negotiation—just a willing “I will do.” • Complete: “Everything” shows submission without reservation. Partial obedience is disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22-23). • Humble: Ruth accepts guidance from someone older and culturally wiser (1 Peter 5:5). • Faith-motivated: Her obedience flows from confidence that Naomi’s instructions are rooted in God’s covenant promises. Trust Expressed Through Action • Ruth acts on Naomi’s plan that night—obedience moves from words to deeds (James 2:17). • She risks her reputation by approaching Boaz at the threshing floor, trusting God to guard her integrity. • By submitting to the kinsman-redeemer process, she entrusts her future welfare, marriage, and lineage to God’s design (Proverbs 3:5-6). Spiritual Principles for Today • God often directs us through credible, godly authorities—parents, pastors, mentors (Hebrews 13:17). • Genuine faith yields prompt, wholehearted obedience even when instructions seem unusual or costly. • Obedience positions us to experience God’s redemptive provision beyond our imagination (Ephesians 3:20). Scripture Connections • Genesis 22:1-14—Abraham obeys immediately, trusting God with the unknown. • Luke 5:4-6—Peter lets down the nets “because You say so,” modeling the same heart posture as Ruth. • John 2:5—Mary tells the servants, “Do whatever He tells you,” echoing the spirit of Ruth 3:5. Takeaway Truth Ruth 3:5 captures a posture every believer is called to cultivate: a willing, unquestioning, faith-filled “Yes, Lord,” voiced to God and echoed through submission to the righteous authority He places in our lives. |
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