Ruth, loyal and faithful Moabite, married to an Israelite who migrated due to famine in Israel. Ruth’s Israelite husband died after some years, his father had died before he married Ruth and his brother also died. Every male member of the family had died and there was no male figure in the family any longer. Naomi now being the only Israelite, She was surrounded by foreign women and people. All her immediate family were dead and she had only her daughter- in-laws with her. But one demonstrated love, loyalty and trust.
Naomi Goes Back Home “Empty”
Hearing of how GOD has visited the Israelite and looking at how she has become the only woman standing and having come out full but everything seems to have been taken from her, she chose to go back to her homeland
“When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.” Ruth 1:6-7
But she didn’t see the full picture and see that it may look like she lost all and a lot but she gained all that she needs in her daughter in law. God blessed her with a good daughter-in-law that loved her. Now Ruth came to know the God of her new family. Even after the deaths of her husband and father in law, she chose to stay in that home because she had found the truth. When Naomi decided to return to Israel, Ruth chose to go why? because she had found God and could not go back to the Moabite way. That was the clear difference between and her sister-in-law.
“But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!” At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. “Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” Ruth 1: 11-15 NIV
Two women, One experience, Different outcomes
Both women experienced the God of Israel. Both experience loss and heartache. At the juncture in Judah Naomi reminded them both how much they have lost and she had no means of giving them another husband. Oprah chooses to go back to her people and gods. But Ruth chose to be loyal to the God of Israel. She knew going to Israel meant that she would be able to experience more about the Israelite God. Ruth chose to leave and cling to her new family. She was loyal to the end, a kind and virtuous woman. She told her mother in law that wherever she goes she will go and her God will be her God.
This foreshadows the disciples leaving all and following Christ. The journey ahead would not be easy but God was sufficient and provided at every corner. A instance, Jesus sent the disciple Peter to the sea to get money from a fish to pay the temple tax. Matthew 17:24-27.
Ruth Demonstrates Loyalty and Faithfulness
“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.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.” Ruth 1:16-18 NIV
Naomi tried persistently to persuade Ruth to return to her family and gods as she had nothing left to offer but Ruth chose to stay and trust in a God. Imagine trusting in a God that three members of the family died, Naomi was left childless and with no husband but Trust in him Ruth still did. This highlights that even when everything feels dark we should still absolutely trust in God.
At the point of talking to Naomi at the junction of Judah – Ruth illustrates the foundation of loyalty and marriage. She reiterates stating in “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 1:17 NIV, this shows loyalty, when things are good and when things are not, Ruth stood firm and remained loyal and faithful to her husband’s family. We may be all too familiar with the Christian marriage vow said at the altar
“I, [Name], take you, [Name], to be my wedded [husband/wife], to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part; according to God’s holy law. In the presence of God I make this vow.”
Ruth Extending Love
Ruth also displayed love in its purest form, she had no reason to follow her mother in law if we think about it logically. Even Naomi.reminded them that there is no way she could give them more husbands and even if she tried will they wait. But Ruth still chooses to follow. All of a sudden in Israel the option of a kinsman redeemer was available. Is God not good! And not just any man, but Boaz, a man that fears God, well respected in the community and wealthy. God gave Ruth favour in Boaz’s sight.
“One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for.”
Ruth 3:1 NIV
“Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.”
Ruth 2:1 NIV
Christian marriages today can learn a lot from Ruth when it comes to being faithful and loyal to the end and even beyond. Who would have thought that a foreign wife would go over and beyond. Ruth teaches us to have faith in difficult times, trusting God to the end and he would bring us to a land flowing with milk and honey. For Ruth when she trusted God, He brought her to Israel and He blessed her because she trusted and obeyed both God and her mother-in-law. God qualified the unqualified. Out of all the women in Israel at that time, He used a Moabite woman to bring about the lineage of Jesus. She found favour in the sight of a good Israelite kinsman named Boaz and was redeemed by him. She conceived and gave birth to Obed.
“Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.” Ruth 4:21-22 NIV
Ruth’s Obedience
We can also learn a lot from Ruth’s Obedience. She loved and respected her mother-in-law’s instructions and followed them. This brought her to Boaz and restored her in her husband’s family. While Oprah’s story in the bible ends at the junction of Judah, God continued Ruth’s story and wove her into Israel’s legacy.
“One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.” Ruth 3:1-6 NIV
As Christian’s in Godly marriages, we are to learn how to be loyal and faithful in marriage, trust in God and be obedient to his will for our lives. God is sure to reward our loyalty and trust in him.
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