‘More than seven sons’
LAST time in our Say Her Name series, Women & Faith featured Rahab, mother-in-law of the woman in the spotlight this week — Ruth — another sister listed in the genealogy of Jesus.
Many single women speak of getting their “Boaz” when dreaming of a good husband. Ruth is the woman who, in fact, got Boaz and conceived Obed in the holy scriptures. But this positive outcome of her story is prefaced by her amazing agency, resolve, character, and friendship. Ruth was a loyal and loving woman, the kind of sister-friend you want to keep close.
Here is what she said in the book of Ruth 1:16 after she and her mother-in-law, Naomi, became widows. Depressed, heartbroken, and trying to escape a famine, Naomi was leaving Moab (Ruth’s hometown) behind to return to Bethlehem. She told Ruth, and her other daughter-in-law Orpah, to go back to her family. But Ruth wouldn’t have it.
“Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you. And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.” (Ruth 1, 16-17)
The bond, friendship, and commitment that Ruth developed with her mother-in-law is astounding. “Where you die, I will die?” That’s not a typical mother and daughter connection much more a mother-in-law/daughter-in-law one. Ruth’s commitment to Naomi shows the beauty of a holy bond that women can enjoy.
Seeing Ruth’s resolve, Naomi takes her back to Bethlehem and the two try to start over. They live together. Ruth works, brings home food, and Naomi provides wise advice and counsel. Their bond demonstrates the strength of support that women can provide to each other. A younger single woman can work to support and provide for an older single woman. An older single woman can provide wisdom and insights to a young single woman. Of course, Ruth goes on to get married, but as life changing as marriage is, the bond between the two women is, to me, one of the most heartwarming examples of faithfulness and friendship.
In chapter 3, after Ruth marries, Naomi’s friends praise God and celebrate not only the birth of a son, Obed, but the mother-daughter relationship. “Blessed be the Lord who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
What a tribute it is for a daughter to be deemed more valuable than seven sons. What a politically incorrect thing to consider in today’s gender-sensitive culture. I don’t believe Naomi’s friend’s comments were meant to emasculate men. Far from it. I believe the statement simply shows that Ruth is special, a loving and loyal woman, a provider. Ruth provides what Naomi’s sons could not.
Recently I heard a speaker comment that Christian culture can be so ‘sexualised’ and focused on romance and marriage that we lose out on the array of other fulfilling special holy bonds of friendship that are available, like the one between Ruth and Naomi.
Which female friendships can you do better to cultivate today?
Passionate about faith and women empowerment, Shelly-Ann Mair-Harris is the author of several publications, including God’s Woman and The Goodies on Her Tray. A woman of faith for several years, Shelly-Ann is the creator of Family and Faith Magazine and Women & Faith. She is also a podcaster, an award-winning playwright and poet as well as a trained and experienced media, marketing, employee engagement, change management, and strategic communications professional.
