| “And Ruth said, Intreat (persuade) me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go” (Ruth 1:16). |
| The story of Ruth involves an entire book of the Bible, and I recommend that you read the book in order to know all about her. It is a short book — only four chapters. But in summary, she was a Moabitish young woman who married one of the sons of Naomi, when Naomi, her husband Elimelech, and their two sons moved from Israel to Moab for ten years. They did this because there was a lack of food in Israel. But Elimelech died there in Moab, and so did Mahlon and Chilion, their two sons. The death of the two sons left their wives, Orpah and Ruth, widows at a young age, and of course Naomi was a widow as well. |
| Later, when she heard that there was food again in Israel, Naomi wanted to go home. Her two daughters-in-law wanted to go with her, but Naomi tried to persuade them to stay in Moab. One of the girls, Orpah, eventually went back, but Ruth insisted on coming to the land of Israel with Naomi. Somehow the Lord had worked in her heart, and instead of going back to Moab, where they worshiped idols, she came to Israel with Naomi. |
| At first she was a stranger there, but she was evidently a hard worker, and went out to gather barley in the fields after the reapers were finished. Later the owner of the field, a man by the name of Boaz, wanted to marry her. According to the law of Moses, those from Moab were not supposed to be admitted into the congregation of Israel, but everyone recognized that the Lord was specially working with Ruth, and she became the wife of Boaz. She was the great grandmother of David, and in this way was also one of the human ancestors of the Lord Jesus. |
| Ruth’s faith made her insist on coming to the land of Israel with Naomi. If you and I really love the Lord Jesus, we too will want to follow Him, even if it is a difficult pathway. Because the Lord was with her, Ruth was able to overcome every problem, and she prospered in the land of Israel. The Lord is well able to look after us too, if we follow Him. |
