Ruth

The story of Ruth occurs during the Judges period. It records the story of a Moabite lady who marries the son of an Israelite widow called Naomi (who went to Moab at a time of famine). Tragically, both Ruth's husband and Naomi's other son die. Orpah, Naomi's other daughter-in-law, returns to her family but Ruth tells Naomi: "Do not urge me to leave you, or to turn back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God." 


Naomi  and Ruth then go back to Bethlehem. Naomi is understandably devastated by her loss and tells the people to call her Mara - meaning "bitter" - saying: "the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”







Naomi and Ruth have no way of supporting themselves so Ruth goes out into the fields to collect what the reapers have left behind. A relative of theirs, called Boaz, makes sure Ruth is safe which gives Naomi an idea! She tells Ruth to go in the night to Boaz and uncover his feet (presumably indicating her desire to marry him!). Boaz wants to marry Ruth but there is another man, more closely related to Ruth's deceased husband, who has the right to buy Naomi's family's land (and marry Ruth). 


Boaz therefore speaks to this man and he decides not to exercise his right. Boaz and Ruth then get married and then have a son and this son turns out to be the grandfather of King David :-)

The story of Ruth is particularly interesting against the backdrop of the Mosaic law, within which the people are instructed not to marry people from the surrounding nations (e.g. Deut. 7:3). In fact, they are even warned: “No Ammonite or Moabite, even down to the tenth generation, may become a member of the assmbly of the Lord...” What this apparent contradiction demonstrates, however, is that God is not against the people of other nations per se but rather their religions, which - as time will demonstrate - repeatedly draw the Israelites away from worshipping God. Thus here, as with Rahab, God demonstrates his desire that people from all nationalities know him and serve him and thus welcomes (and even honours) a Moabite woman when she demonstrates faithfulness to him.