The
Book of Ruth was probably written during the time of King David, but
the story takes place “When
the Judges ruled”
Israel. It is a story of loyalty and love and offers hope to anyone
that is fearful, brokenhearted and grieving. We are told there was a
famine in the land and “A
man (named
Elimelech)
from Bethlehem in Judah together with his wife (Naomi)
and two sons (Mahlon
and Kilion),
went to live … in the country of Moab“.
Next we read that Elimelech, Naomi’s husband died, leaving her
with two sons in a foreign land so “they
married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other named Ruth“.
After they lived in Moab for about ten years, “both
Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons
and her husband“.
This was an incredibly desperate situation. Not only were they
grieving the loss of their men, but women alone in that society could
not survive without the support of family.
Naomi,
realizing her hopeless situation, compassionately released the
daughters-in-law from their obligation as she prepared to return to
Judah. “Go
back, each of you, to your mother’s home… may the Lord grant that
each of you would find rest in the home of another husband. Then she
kissed them and they wept aloud.”
There is a genuine love between these women and they desire to
remain with Naomi, but she pleads with them, “Return
home my daughters, I am too old to have another husband“.
As they wept again, “Orpah
kissed her mother-in-law good-bye, but Ruth clung to her“.
Ruth then expressed her unconditional loyalty: “Where
you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will
be my people and your God will be my God“.
We can assume that Naomi’s faith never failed in spite of all she
endured. Ruth observed her faith and wanted to know her God.
Together
they traveled on the dangerous and exhausting journey across the
Jordan, back to Israel, “And
the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem“.
After a ten year absence, the entire town was stirred. They
excitedly asked, “Can this be Naomi?” Naomi’s answer reveals
her heart. “Don’t
call me Naomi (meaning
pleasant). Call
me Mara (bitter),
because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full,
but the Lord brought me back empty.”
Realize that going to Moab was contrary to God’s will, and
marrying Moabite women was contrary to God’s will and the entire
detour was a bitter experience. This is often the case when we make
decisions that conflict with God’s written Word. But it is the
bitter experience that draws us back to Him. The chapter ends with
the promise of good things ahead. “Naomi…
accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess… arriving in Bethlehem as the
barley harvest was beginning“.
Jesus, in John 10:10 contrasted the life of the one without Christ
to the one that has received His forgiveness. “The
thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy; I have come
that you might have life and have it abundantly“.
Feeling empty? Return to the source of all abundance.