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Ruth Is Loyal to Naomi
1-2Before Israel was ruled by kings, Elimelech from the clan of Ephrath lived in the town of Bethlehem. His wife was named Naomi, and their two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. But when their crops failed in Israel, they moved to the country of Moab. And while they were there, 3Elimelech died, leaving Naomi with only her two sons.
4Later, Naomi's sons married Moabite women. One was named Orpah and the other Ruth. About ten years later, 5Mahlon and Chilion also died. Now Naomi had no husband or sons.
6-7When Naomi heard that the Lord had given his people a good harvest, she and her two daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab and go to Judah. As they were on their way there, 8Naomi said to them, “Don't you want to go back home to your own mothers? You were kind to my husband and sons, and you've always been kind to me. I pray that the Lord will be just as kind to you. 9May he give each of you another husband and a home of your own.”
Naomi kissed them. They cried 10and said, “We want to go with you and live among your people.”
11But she replied, “My daughters, why don't you return home? What good will it do you to go with me? Do you think I could have more sons for you to marry? 12You must go back home, because I am too old to marry again. Even if I got married tonight and later had more sons, 13would you wait for them to become old enough to marry? No, my daughters! Life is harder for me than it is for you, because the Lord has turned against me.”
14They cried again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth held on to her. 15Naomi then said to Ruth, “Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and to her gods! Why don't you go with her?”
16Ruth answered,
“Please don't tell me
to leave you
and return home!
I will go where you go,
I will live where you live;
your people will be my people,
your God will be my God.
17I will die where you die
and be buried beside you.
May the Lord punish me
if we are ever separated,
even by death!”
18When Naomi saw that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her, she stopped urging her to go back.
Reflect
Welcome to one of the only stories in the Bible told from a woman’s perspective. Quickly read, it is a beautifully told ancient love story. But slow it down, and you find penetrating truths about God’s goodness and about faith.
Today, we meet the main character, Ruth, who could never have imagined we would know her name 3,000 years later! That she would have something to teach us. She was a Moabite (v 4), an ethnic group that worshipped false gods (v 15) and had a tense relationship with Israel (Judges 3:12-14).
So, most of what Ruth knew about God would have come through her marriage and her relationship with Naomi. Here’s what she knows: her husband’s family needed to leave their home country because of famine (v 1), her father-in-law has died (v 3), her husband and her brother-in-law have died (v 4). Now, her mother-in-law has no one to care for her financially. Neither does she. Further, Naomi believes God is against her (v 13). This is hardly a ringing endorsement of the Lord and his goodness.
Yet, when Ruth refuses to leave her mother-in-law, she says (vv 16-17): “…your people will be my people, your God will be my God. I will die where you die and be buried beside you. May the Lord punish me if we are ever separated, even by death!”
She not only believes God is real, but he is all-powerful – and good. She has absolute confidence that God would not want this older woman to be left alone. There is no logical reason for her faith, yet she wants God to be her god. And here’s the kicker: she will follow wherever he leads, no matter how scary and uncertain the path. Wow.
I want faith like that! Do you?
Respond
Heavenly Father, who knows our fragile faith and every thought in our doubting minds, help us understand what it means to place all our trust in you. Not in ourselves and our plans, but in yours. We want to be the children you deserve. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Jo Lynne Duck (Sheane)
Once found on the national airwaves as a reporter, Jo Lynn Duck (Sheane) now lives in Windsor, Ontario joyfully living as a wife and mom of two school-aged children. She also completed a Master of Theological Studies at Tyndale Seminary. She taught journalism at St. Clair College and worked as a local producer until she switched gears completely. She is now the Admissions and Marketing Coordinator for Maranatha Christian Academy in Windsor.