The Story of Ruth

 The Book of Ruth teaches that genuine love at times may require uncompromising sacrifice. Regardless of what this life brings us, we can live according to the precepts of God. Genuine love and kindness will be rewarded. 
God abundantly blesses those who seek to live obedient lives. God extends mercy to the merciful.



Summary

The story of Ruth occurs during the time of the Judges and begins in the heathen country of Moab and then moves to Bethlehem. A famine forces Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, from their Israelite home to the country of Moab. Elimelech dies and Naomi is left with her 2 sons, who soon marry 2 Moabite girls, Orpah and Ruth. Later both of the sons die, and Naomi is left alone with Orpah and Ruth in a strange land. Naomi decides to return to Israel after her loss of husband, sons and the famine had ended.  She told her daughter-in-law(s) that they did not have to return with her but could stay in Moab and find new husbands. Orpah returns to her parents, but Ruth determines to stay with Naomi as they journey to Bethlehem.

"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.'

Naomi and Ruth both return to the city in the beginning of Barley Harvest.

In those days an owner of the crop field would send his laborers to harvest the grain, but the law in Israel stated that they were to leave a portion behind for the poorer people to gather, this was called ‘gleaning’.

Since the women were poor, Naomi sent Ruth to glean the fields.  Ruth happened to come across ta field to glean that was a rich relative.(Boaz) Unknown that they were related at the time, Boaz noticed Ruth in the fields and asked about her and he was told of her story and how she was faithful to Naomi and Jehovah.  Boaz being a good servant of the Lord, instructed his workers to leave extra grain for Ruth to glean. 

Boaz told Ruth:

‘The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward will be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust’

This story of love and devotion tells of Ruth's eventual marriage to a wealthy man named Boaz, by whom she bears a son, Obed, “He was the father of Jesse, the father of David,” And the ancestor of Jesus. Obedience brings Ruth into the privileged lineage of Christ. 

What does God teach us?

Isn’t it awesome how the Lord works his will in our lives?  We may not know where he is taking us, but trust in Him and it will all turn out for Good.

Boaz, a relative of Ruth on her husband’s side, acted upon his duty as outlined in the Mosaic Law to redeem a bankrupt relative from his or her circumstances (Lev. 25:47-49).

This scenario is repeated by Christ, who redeems us, the spiritually impoverished, from the slavery of sin. Our heavenly Father sent His own Son to the cross so that we might become children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ.

The power of our great God is clearly seen in the story of Ruth. He guided her every step of the way to become His child and fulfill His plan for her to become an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5).

In the same way, we have assurance that God has a plan for each of us. Just as Naomi and Ruth trusted Him to provide for them, so should we.

We see in Ruth an example of the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. In addition to being devoted to her family (Ruth 1:15-18; Proverbs 31:10-12) and faithfully dependent upon God (Ruth 2:12; Proverbs 31:30), we see in Ruth a woman of godly speech. Her words are full of love, kindness and respect, both to Naomi and to Boaz. T

The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 “opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness” (v. 26). We could practice being a role model such as Ruth.