The Grief of Release: Embracing God's Sovereignty in Our Losses
"Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me." - Ruth 1:13
In the midst of deep sorrow and anguish, we find Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, uttering words heavy with loss and profound insight into God’s sovereignty. The verse from Ruth 1:13,
"Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me,” invites us into an intimate moment of understanding God's plan and the painful realities of human experience.
At this juncture in the narrative, Naomi and Ruth have endured significant hardship—famine, loss of husbands, and the struggles of widowhood. While Naomi is weighed down by her grief, she speaks not only of her personal suffering but also of the pain she feels for her beloved daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah. Here, we witness a mother's heart; her despair is magnified by her love for them. She recognizes that their futures are at stake, and she cannot bear the thought of them remaining with her indefinitely, possibly foregoing their own opportunities for happiness and fulfillment.
The phrase, "the hand of the LORD is gone out against me," presents a complex mix of anguish and theological insight. Naomi acknowledges her feelings of abandonment and the calamities she faces, yet in doing so, she does not turn away from God. Despite her overwhelming sorrow, she still recognizes the sovereignty of God, even when it seems He is operating against her. This moment serves as a powerful reminder that believers can voice their grief and confusion to God without fear. It reiterates the fundamental aspect of faith: it allows space for honesty amid suffering.
Another layer of this verse is the significant choice Naomi faces. Should she urge her daughters-in-law to remain with her, or does she recognize that true love sometimes means letting go? At times in our lives, God calls us to release what we hold dear, whether it be our loved ones, our dreams, or even our plans. Naomi's decision comes from a place of selflessness and genuine care—it grieves her to let them go, but she understands that clinging to them could hinder their God-given opportunities. The weight of her grief is palpable, yet it’s tinged with an underlying acknowledgment of God’s purpose.
In today’s culture, we often struggle with the idea of letting go. Whether it’s out of fear, a sense of duty, or love, we sometimes grasp tightly to what is meant to be released. Naomi invites us to consider that true love and faith sometimes require us to step back and let those we care for follow their own paths. God may have different plans—for Ruth and Orpah, for instance, were not just meant to remain in Moab with Naomi; they were called into a future that would ultimately lead to redemption and hope.
Moreover, through the journey of Ruth, we see unwavering loyalty and a fierce commitment to Naomi, despite the potential loss of her own prospects. This is a moment of divine intersection where heartbreak leads to fidelity, and at other occurrences in scripture, we see how surrendering to God’s plan opens the door to blessings we would never have imagined.
As we meditate on this verse, let us reflect on our own lives. Are there areas where we are resisting letting go despite the possibility of God’s greater blessing? Are we clinging to something that may be holding us back from the fullness of God’s plan for ourselves or others?
Naomi's lamentations usher us into a space of trust, where even in our lowest moments, we can proclaim that God is still in control. Grief may cloud our vision, but it can also deepen our understanding of love and sacrifice. May we find courage to release, to grieve, and to trust in God’s sovereign hand that is ever so guiding, even when the path before us seems shrouded in darkness.
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Ruth 1:13 - "Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me."
"Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me." - Ruth 1:13
Ruth 4:13 - "¶ So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son."
Ruth 1:3 - "And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons."
Ruth 1:14 - "And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her."
Ruth 1:4 - "And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years."
ruth, the loyal daughter
"And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons." - Ruth 1:3
Ruth 1:22 - "So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest."
"¶ So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son." - Ruth 4:13
Ruth 1:16 - "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:"
Ruth 3:1 - "Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?"
"And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her." - Ruth 1:14
Ruth 1:10 - "And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people."
Matthew 1:5 - "And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;"
"And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years." - Ruth 1:4
Ruth 1:18 - "When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her."
Ruth 1:5 - "And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband."
Ruth 2:1 - "And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz."
Ruth 2:13 - "Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens."
Ruth 1:20 - "And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me."
"So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Beth-lehem in the beginning of barley harvest." - Ruth 1:22
Ruth 1:17 - "Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."
Ruth 1:1 - "Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons."
Ruth 1:11 - "And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?"
Ruth 1:7 - "Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah."
Ruth 1:9 - "The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept."
Ruth 1:16-17 - "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 even death separates you and me.""
Ruth 3:13 - "Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning."
Ruth 1:15 - "And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law."