Ruth is one of the most well-known women in the Bible. Her story was the original “rags to riches” story, while also being one of the most amazing love stories ever. She was a person of loyalty, love and obedience, even when she did not completely understand why she should follow the advice she was given. She was diligent and hard-working, and at the same time tender and loving. Despite growing up with a pagan background, she turned to God with her whole heart.
The lineage continued to be based in Bethlehem, as evidenced by Joseph being required to return to Bethlehem for taxing purposes at the time of Jesus, which was many generations later.
The book of Judges explains how this worked; rather than being ruled by kings, the Israelites had men and women that God raised up to correct their wrongdoing. The first king of Israel was crowned about two generations after this event’s occurrence.
Ruth’s story came about because one of the punishments God sent during the time of the judges was a famine in the land.
When the famine made it difficult to feed his family, Elimelech moved them to Moab, where there was food. While they lived there, he died. His wife and two sons continued to live there, and the sons each chose a wife from the Moabite women. Mahlon and Chileon married Orpah and Ruth. After a few years, they, too, died in Moab.
Naomi heard that there was food in Israel again, and decided to return. Her daughters-in-law walked with her for a while, but then Naomi told them to return to their mothers’ houses. In Israel at that time, those who were widowed without children were married to their late husband’s nearest kin – usually a brother – and the first child was considered her late husband’s and received his property as inheritance. Naomi reminded her daughters-in-law that she had no other sons, and even if she were to have one, they would not want to wait for him to be grown, so they should go home instead.
Orpah gave her mother-in-law a hug and kiss and departed, but Ruth determined to stay with her. Her speech of devotion has been repeated many times and is considered one of the most beautiful expressions of family love. She said, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
The meanings of people’s names in those days was an important part of who they were. People were given names with meanings on purpose. Naomi’s name means “pleasant,” and it would seem appropriate, since her daughters-in-law loved her very much. However, when she returned home without her husband and sons, she changed her name to her friends and family to show her change in spirit. She asked them to call her Mara, which means “bitter,” because she had been through so much grief.
Another tradition of the day was for the farmers and their farm staff, when reaping, to leave anything they didn’t get on the first pass through for the homeless and destitute, who followed them in the fields to pick up the grains that were left on the ground and on the stalks. Because of their situation, Ruth went to the fields to join this band of reapers. It just so happened that the field she found herself in belonged to Boaz. He saw her there and asked his foreman who she was. The servant explained that she was Naomi’s Moabite daughter-in-law, who had asked if she mayglean in their field and had been there all day.
Ruth was very thankful for this and asked him why he was so kind to her, who was a foreigner. He replied that he was aware of how she had been a support to Naomi, and that she had be willing to leave everything she knew to come with her mother-in-law.
Boaz told Ruth not to glean anywhere else, but to stay in his field, drink from the water provided to the reapers, and to eat with them at meals. He also told his reapers to drop handfuls of the grain on purpose for her to find.
When she returned home with a bushel of grain – much more than was commonly reaped by those who followed the reapers – Naomi asked about it. When she heard that the field was owned by Boaz, she recognized that he was a close relation, and realized that he may be able to be the kinsman redeemer for Ruth. She gave Ruth specific instructions for talking to Boaz about this possibility while he was in the threshing floor. Ruth followed the instructions meticulously, and Boaz acknowledged the possibility but cautioned that there was a closer kinsman that he must talk to first.
During this conversation, he offered her a blessing and mentioned that he was aware of her virtue.
Boaz went to meet up with the nearer kinsman and asked if he planned to redeem Elimelech’s inheritance. At first, the man was interested, but when he was informed that it included Ruth, he declined.
Boaz had the elders witness this declension and went on to marry Ruth. Their son Obed went on to become the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David; this is the lineage that resulted in the birth of Jesus many generations later. This shows that God can use anyone, regardless of background and upbringing, to serve His purposes and bring about His will.