Let’s turn together to the Book of Ruth. Today, I want to draw our attention to the first chapter of this beautiful story. Ruth is set in a time of great chaos and darkness in Israel’s history—the period of the Judges. It was a time marked by widespread immorality, idolatry, and war. But within this turbulent backdrop, the Book of Ruth offers us a profound story of love, devotion, and faithfulness.
The narrative centers around a Moabite widow named Ruth, who unexpectedly decides to live with her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi, in Israel. Here, we see the hand of God guiding Ruth to the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi. Through this journey, Ruth finds a place in the lineage of King David and, ultimately, in the genealogy of Jesus Christ Himself. This book serves two purposes: it illustrates how God rewards wise choices and steadfast loyalty, and it explains how a Moabite woman became an ancestor of King David and, ultimately, Christ.
Let’s look at the beginning of Ruth’s story. Naomi and her family left Bethlehem during a famine and settled in Moab, a nation often in conflict with Israel. While in Moab, Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, dies, and her two sons—Orpah and Ruth —who had married Moabite women—also die. Naomi is left grieving, a widow who has also lost her sons.
With nothing left in Moab and hearing that the famine in Israel is over, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. She urges her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab, return to their families, and remarry. Orpah eventually agrees, but Ruth clings to Naomi. And in this moment, Ruth makes a powerful declaration: “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16). This is a profound choice—Ruth is choosing not only to stay with Naomi but to embrace her people, her land, and her God.
When they return to Bethlehem, the town is stirred. Naomi, grieving deeply, expresses her bitterness to the women of the town, asking them to call her “Mara,” which means “bitter,” instead of Naomi, which means “pleasant.” She feels that the Lord has dealt harshly with her, that she left Bethlehem full but returned empty. Her grief is deep, and she feels afflicted by God.
But look closely at Ruth’s choice here. Ruth could return to her family, homeland, and gods, but she chose a different path. She chose to embrace Naomi’s God—the true God. She didn’t choose the easier path; she chose the best path, the path of faithfulness and loyalty, the path that leads her into the very lineage of Christ.
So, what can we learn from Ruth’s story? First, Ruth recognized who God was and chose to follow Him, even when it meant leaving everything familiar behind. Her story teaches us about the importance of our own choices. Every day, we face decisions—sometimes between good and better. Ruth’s story challenges us to seek God’s kingdom first and trust that when we choose Him, all that we need will be provided (Matthew 6:33).
Ruth made the best decision to follow Naomi and, more importantly, to follow God. In doing so, she reminds us of the beauty of making wise choices rooted in faith. As we move forward in our lives, let us remember Ruth’s example and always choose the path that draws us closer to God. Next week, we will continue with chapter 2 of Ruth and see how God’s plan unfolds even further in her life.
