Written by Michelle J. Goff, Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
“I was always a sucker for foreign accents. But Mahlon’s accent was different. And his family was different. I had only met a few Israelites prior to his family’s arrival in my hometown and none had settled there. My unfamiliarity with Israelites, other than the fearful tales of their powerful God, became apparent the more I got to know the family.
I had met them in the village shortly after their arrival and began a friendship with Mahlon’s mother, Naomi, since we frequented the same market. They had come to Moab for a time while a famine ravaged Israel.
Elimelek and Naomi spoke often of the god of Israel. Jehovah, they called him. They recounted stories of him saving his people from slavery under the Egyptians and separating the Red Sea so they could cross on dry land. Every story I heard of their God’s provision and power fascinated me more and more about Jehovah God and drew me closer to this Israelite family.
As a result of our budding relationship, I was saddened with them when Elimelek died suddenly and unexpectedly. Naomi’s and my friendship grew even more with his passing. I had never lost anyone in my immediate family, but to see her pain, walk with her through that time of pain, so far from home… It was an honor to join with her in that time of grief…”
Have you ever inserted yourself into a Bible story in such a way that you imagine how someone might have felt? What they were thinking? It is a moment to “walk in their dusty sandals” and discover some of the depth of the relational truths behind the scenes of the stories of the Bible.
The teaser written above, from Ruth’s perspective, is the beginning of the ePetal study, Iron Rose Sisters: A deeper look at Ruth and Naomi. I take some creative license at the beginning of the study, presenting a plausible monologue from Ruth. Then, we dive into the four-chapter book of the Old Testament in order to reflect on the story of the relationships found there.
I invite you to read the ePetal study and invite a friend to read it with you! It is a single lesson from the book of Ruth, inviting Christian sisters to serve as Iron Rose Sisters—iron sharpening iron while encouraging each other to be as beautiful as a rose, in spite of a few thorns. Ruth and Naomi took turns being Iron Rose Sisters for each other, just as we go through seasons in which we need our Iron Rose Sisters to lean on. And after God rebuilds that strength in Him, through those women, we are able to be the hands, feet, ears, and shoulders of God for them.
Aside from the one-another relational elements in the book of Ruth, we hear the story of King David’s great-great grandparents. And when we connect this story to the big picture story of the Bible, we remember that God loves and recognizes foreigners and women, even mentioning them by name in the genealogy of His Son (Matt. 1:5).
It is a story of redemption with Boaz foreshadowing the way in which Christ buys us back as a kinsman redeemer, elevating us from a place of bitterness and loss to a place of joy and hope!
Yet this redemption would not have been possible if Ruth had not maintained her commitment to Naomi and to God.
The monologue in the ePetal study concludes the narrative of Ruth 1 in this way:
“A third attempt to convince me to return home was imminent; therefore I carefully prepared my words in response to Naomi’s forthcoming arguments. ‘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.’
She was finally convinced of my determination to stay with her, which allowed us to continue on our way. We had already been through so much together. I was fully committed to our relationship. And while the road we traversed carried us to Bethlehem, the journey we commenced when our friendship began left much to be seen and experienced.
Early on, I had no idea the ways in which Jehovah God, who I also now serve, would use me, His humble servant Ruth, as His instrument to bless Naomi and her family. I never imagined that I would be included in the lineage of Christ, and be abundantly blessed by a life dedicated to Him.”
Is there an Iron Rose Sister with whom you can make a commitment to walk with each other as you each walk with God? How have you seen God bless a relationship like that in the past? Or what hope do you hold for an Iron Rose Sister relationship in the future?