012 - decision, det, des

UNIVERSITY of EXCELLENCE

012 - decision, determination, and destiny

DECISION, DETERMINATION, AND DESTINY

We received several requests recently after the teaching ezine titled The New You to do a writing on the Book of Ruth in the Tanakh (Old Testament). It never amazes me how the God of Israel has His eye on individuals and listens to their heart cry.

Several years ago a 14-year-old Arab girl named Neya wanted to know Issa (Yeshua in Hebrew, Jesus in English). At that time we distributed return mail business reply cards for people who wanted to study the Holy Bible by mail. People would then send the cards to us with their names and addresses. The postage on these cards was paid for by our office when received them at the post office.

The cards were only good, or honored, inside the USA. However, one day we received a card from a country in the Middle East. It had traveled from there, across the European continent, and to our post office box in the USA ... with NO postage on it. I still remember the girl's last name and address, but for confidentiality I will not reveal it. She finished the whole Bible course and became a wonderful believer in Messiah Yeshua. God knew that girl, where she lived and what she needed.

It was the same way with Ruth, who lived in Moab, which is present day Jordan.

In the days when the judges ruled (a period of backsliding for most of Israel) about 1300 to 1100 B.C., there was famine in the land of Israel. A man from Bethlehem, named Elimelech went to live in the land of Moab with his wife, Naomi, and their two sons. The two sons were named Mahlon and Chilion.

Elimelech's name means "My God is King" and his wife's name Naomi means "pleasant." Mahlon's name means "sickly" and Chilion's name means "a mental or physical decline." In other words, the sons were weak and puny. Bethlehem [Beit Lechem in Hebrew], of course, means "House of Bread." If you want to order white bread in Hebrew you ask for lechem lavan; if you want dark bread, you ask for lechem shacor.

In the Bible, in the Tanakh (Old Testament), God refers to Moab as His washpot. "Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph." (Psalm 108:9)

We see right away in the first two verses of the Book of Ruth a warning. Don't leave the place of promised blessing. Also, be constant in maintaining your testimony ... you never know how it will affect other people. You are the only Bible some people read. Whenever Elimelech walked down the street, people would think: "Here comes a man whose God is King.” And yet, Elimelech, because of the famine he saw, left the promised place of blessing – the House of Bread – and went to Moab, the garbage can.

After living in Moab a while, Elimelech died, leaving behind Naomi and her two sons. The sons took wives of the women of Moab; one was named Orpah and the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion died, leaving behind Naomi and her two daughters-in-law. Later, Naomi heard that the LORD had attended His people in Bethlehem by giving them bread; the famine was over. So Naomi started to return to her homeland.

She told her two daughters-in-law to return to their mothers. But they said, "No, we will surely return with you to your people." But Naomi answered them, "Turn back ... are there any more sons in my womb that they may be your husbands?" Under the Law of God a man could take his brother's widow as his wife so that seed (children) could be raised up in his brother's name, and his brother's name not be put out of Israel.

Naomi told them, "I'm too old to get married again, and even if I were to get married, would you wait until I have sons and they grow up so you can marry them?" So Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and said "God be with you" but Ruth clung to her mother-in-law. Ruth told Naomi, "Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you live, I will live. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God."

So the two of them returned to Bethlehem. When Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, the women recognized Naomi. The women said, "Is this Naomi?" But Naomi told them, "Don't call me Naomi [pleasant]; call me Mara [bitter], for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty." Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest. (Ruth Chapter One)

DECISION

Ruth's life, and the future blessing of people in every nation of the world, was about to be influenced dynamically . . . eternally. Why? Because of Ruth's decision! There were three (3) attributes of Ruth's life that propelled her from poverty to status as a world class influence. These attributes all had the same underpinning: willingness.

Ruth manifested a disposition, a willingness – whether as an acquired habit or as a characteristic tendency – to be able:

     1. To change;

     2. To learn; and,

     3. To receive.

Ruth didn't appear to be afraid to make a CHANGE. If she was afraid, her trust in Israel's God, the God of Naomi, helped her make the decision. Naomi must have been a wonderful testimony to her daughters-in-law.

Don't be afraid to leave your "comfort zone". If Ruth had not left her comfort zone, none of the blessings that eventually overtook her would have happened.

There are three important principles that need to be considered in any aspect of decision making:

     What effect will this decision have on others?

     What effect will this decision have on my future?

     What good (or, bad) can come from this decision?

In short, they can all be summed up in one principle: "What does Yeshua want ME to do?"

Sometimes we have to make a fast decision (or, we think we do). This is why we need to make sure we're constantly walking in the Spirit and listening to the Spirit. This is done daily by:

     1) Reading God's Word;

     2) Praying; and,

     3) Forgiving.

Start your day with the Holy Bible and prayer.

One very important thing to realize is that even "minor" decisions influence "major" decisions later in time; by virtue of the fact of "habit-making" or "habit-forming" patterns. Actions build patterns, and patterns build habits. (Also, habits build personalities!)

Another thing we need to realize is that contrary to modern educational philosophy, there is always a "right" or "wrong" decision? Even if you consider that one decision may be better (or, worse) than another … there is still only one BEST decision. This is why we need God's wisdom.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and does not blame for asking; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)

We have made this too difficult - if you ask, God gives you wisdom! If you're walking in the Word of God, most of the time you won't have to ask for wisdom: God's Word is wisdom! That's why it's important to read the proverbs daily (in addition to your other Bible reading).

Seeking wisdom in ordinary matters is just as important as seeking God for direction, even though it may not seem so. Again, the little decisions add up to BIG ones and build a "habit pattern" over a period of time. Strive for quality decisions, even in little matters. The COMPOSITE of the large MAJOR decisions in our lives is usually the summation of the smaller minor decisions and habit-patterns we have formed along life's way.

DETERMINATION

Ruth was thrust into a place where it was NECESSARY for her to LEARN. She had to learn a new culture, a new religion, and a new way of sustenance or income. If she had not been WILLING to learn – or had the DETERMINATION to learn – she would not have succeeded. Never grow too old to learn!

She was determined to go through, no matter what it took or how difficult it would be. And you will go through, my friend, if you have that same determination and trust in God. You're going to go through!

There was a relative of Naomi's deceased husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. He was a powerful man of good social standing and prosperous.

Ruth had asked her mother-in-law to allow her to go into the field and glean heads of grain in the sight of whomever she would find favor. Under the Law of God, farmers were required to leave the corners of their fields so that the poor could harvest them. (See Torah: Leviticus 19:9 and 23:22; also, Deuteronomy 24:19)

“And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.” (Ruth 2:3)

So Ruth went with Naomi's permission to glean and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz. The Hebrew word "miqreh" used for hap (or, happening) here means "a chance event, or fortune". In other words, it was by God's design that she landed in the field of Boaz. But notice ... if she had NOT made the right DECISION to come back with her mother-in-law ... and if she had NOT been DETERMINED to work ... she would NOT have been in the right place at the right time!

There is a spiritual place of blessing ... and a geographical place of blessing. Psalm 37:3 tells us: "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and truly you shall be fed."

Read Psalm 37. Notice that if you do four things:

     1. Trust in the Lord;

     2. Do good;

     3. Delight in (enjoy) the Lord; and,

     4. Commit (or, rollover) your concerns to the Lord.

Then, you will:

     1. Dwell in the land;

     2. Feed on God's faithfulness;

     3. Receive the desires of your heart.

Notice, these verses in Psalm 37 show you a place of blessing for both living and working: spiritually and geographically. This is what God gave Adam in the garden of Eden, a beautiful place to live and work – but because of sin, it was forfeited, or lost. (Read Torah: Genesis Chapters Two and Three.)

There is a "spiritual" place of blessing for you, and a "geographic" place of blessing. In other words, there is a ministry God has for you – a SERVICE to people – and a PLACE where God wants you to minister, or serve.

If you are shooting films, or teaching, or serving the homeless in Lome, Togo ... and God wants you in Accra, Ghana ... people will still be helped and God will still perform His Holy Word; however, the blessing in your personal life will not be as great because you are NOT where God wants you!

When Boaz came to the field that day, he said to his reapers, "The Lord be with you!" And they answered him, "The Lord bless you!" What an example for employer-employee relations! Then Boaz looked around the field ... and saw Ruth. He then said, "Whose young woman is this?" I think he said in the vernacular of the day: "Who is that chick?" Or, "Wow, who is that and where did she come from?"

Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Do not go to glean in another field, nor go away from here." At lunch time Boaz invited Ruth to eat with him and the reapers. After lunch, Boaz commanded his young men to purposely let grain fall in front of her so she could glean it.

When Ruth returned home that night, she showed her mother-in-law what she had gleaned. It was about four gallons (18 litres in the UK and 15 liters in the US). Naomi was amazed and said, "Blessed is the man who took notice of you." Ruth told her it was Boaz, and then Naomi told Ruth that Boaz was a close relative: a "goalenu" in Hebrew, which means a "redeemer" or "kinsman-redeemer". You can read about the "kinsman-redeemer" in Torah: Leviticus 25:25, 47-55.

DESTINY

The next night, Ruth's mother-in-law told her to put her best dress on, wash and anoint herself (put on her perfume) ... look nice for Boaz ... and go to the threshing floor that night. By the Law of God, the nearest of kin could buy the land of a widow (if she so willed) and, also, marry the widow of the deceased.

That night, after Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was cheerful, Ruth went quietly and laid down by his feet. At midnight he discovered that a woman was lying at his feet. He said, "Who are you?" She answered, "I am Ruth ... take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative." What she was actually saying was, "Spread the corner of your garment over your maid servant, Redeemer." [Hebrew:"goel"] The culture of that day involved the practice of the casting of the garment over the woman being claimed for marriage, and had no reference to any immoral action.

As mentioned above, by the Law of God, the "goel" – the kinsman redeemer – could buy the land of a widow (if she so willed) and, also, marry the widow of the deceased. However, there were certain qualifications:

     1. He had to be WILLING to perform the responsibility, or action.

     2. He had to have the money to PAY THE PRICE.

     3. He had to be a BLOOD relative.

In the same way, Yeshua Ha Meshiach – Yeshua, the Messiah – was our kinsman redeemer:

     1. Yeshua was WILLING to redeem us.

     2. Yeshua PAID our price with His own sinless BLOOD on the stake cross.

     3. Yeshua was the Son of Man and the Son of God: He was our REDEEMER.

Probably because Boaz was older he would have not approached Ruth about taking her as wife. Naomi, knowing this, coached Ruth as to how to approach the matter. Ruth was probably attractive, for Boaz said to her: "Blessed are you of the Lord, my daughter. For you have shown more kindness at the end than at the beginning, since you did not follow young men, whether they were poor or rich." (Ruth 3:10)

We know that Ruth was a virtuous woman because of Boaz' statement: " ... for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman." (Ruth 3:11) Boaz was willing to give money to Naomi for any property that pertained to her from Elimelech, and also willing to marry Ruth. However, there was a relative nearer than him who had the right of first redemption.

So here was Ruth, as a result of a major decision, living in a new land, immersed in a new culture, and trusting in her new God: the God of Israel. She was in a perfect place to RECEIVE God's blessings!

When Ruth came home that next morning she had six ephahs of barley – about 85 pounds or 38 kilograms – which Boaz had instructed her to give to Naomi. Ruth had stayed all night at the threshing floor and Boaz probably had a triple reason for giving her the grain:

     1. It gave an apparent reason for Ruth's being with him to those who might have harbored bad thoughts about Ruth being with him;

     2. It was a sign that Boaz would take care of her in the future; and,

     3. It was, in a sense, a sort of dowery (or bride wealth) as a sign to Naomi.

Boaz told Ruth, "Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law." (Verse 17)

When Ruth returned to Naomi that morning, Naomi asked: "Who are you, my daughter?" The Hebrew word for "Who" used here is "miy" and is an interrogative pronoun of persons. I believe it was a play on words, and that Naomi was actually asking Ruth: "Are you Mrs. Boaz?" ... or ... "Are you getting married?" Context also seems to bear this out as Naomi then said to Ruth: "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day." (Ruth 3:18)

The next day Boaz went to the gate of the city, where the elders confirmed legal transactions. He met with 10 elders plus the Naomi's nearest relative, who had the first right of redemption. He offered the nearest relative the option ... but at the same time he reminded him that he would have to marry Ruth as part of the package. Then the man did not want to perform the redemption. He said, "I will mar my inheritance." He may have had previous commitments as to inheritance for his own family members, or he may have been racially prejudicial, since Ruth was a Moabite.

Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's, and all that was Mahlon's, from the hand of Naomi. Moreover, Ruth, the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife.”

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he went into her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son whose name was Obed, who was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David, from whose seed line the Messiah Yeshua was born!

I wonder, today, are you bound in a situation that looks impossible? Do you feel that there is no way that the vision you have in your heart will ever come to pass? Is the devil telling you that God's destiny for your life will never be implemented. Don't believe that lie!

Remember:

     Ruth was shut out: by society and by the Law.

     Ruth experienced great loss and sadness.

     Ruth left her comfort zone.

     Ruth experienced great cultural change.

     Ruth was not ashamed to do menial work.

     Ruth pledged allegiance to Israel's God.

     Ruth found favor with God and man.

     Ruth was blessed with a new family and mate.

     Ruth was liberated permanently.

     Ruth was blessed with wealth.

     Ruth became the progenitor of Messiah and his seed line.

God can turn your situation around, too. You see, Ruth was shut out by the Law of God because she was a Moabite. The Moabites did not help Israel with bread and water when they came out of Egypt. They also hired Balaam to curse Israel, which God turned into a blessing, because God loves Israel. (Deuteronomy 23:3-5)

Just as God turned the curse against Israel into a blessing ... and just as God turned the exclusion of Ruth into the inclusion of His people, and into the royal seed line from which came Yeshua (Jesus), the Deliverer of the world ... so God can turn your situation around.

Make the right DECISION today ...

..... have DETERMINATION to change, to learn, to receive ...

......... believe God to help you fulfill your DESTINY!

Your friend,
Prince Handley
WWW.PRINCEHANDLEY.COM
Twitter: princehandley

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