Ruth

“A good example of the kinds of real circumstances good people face in this life can be found in the Old Testament in the very short, five-page book of Ruth. Would you ever have expected the small book of Ruth to foretell such a great event?” (Aileen H. Clyde)

Days to Read:1

I’ll be honest: the reason I picked Ruth as the first book was because it’s short. I didn’t realize until I read it that I confused Ruth with Esther. I thought they were one and the same.

Ruth’s story begins as her father-in-law died, followed by her husband and brother-in-law. Those three were the only males in the family. That left Ruth, her mother-in-law, and sister-in-law alone during a famine. Ruth’s mother-in-law told her daughters that they could leave and go to their own families again. Orpah, the sister-in-law, did. But Ruth answered and 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.” (Ruth 1:16)

I learned from Ruth that she was kind, hard working, unselfish, virtuous, loyal and probably most important, she trusted in the Lord (Ruth 2:12). She showed her mother-in-law that the Lord blesses them (Ruth 2:20). In chapter 4:15, Boaz says that because of Ruth’s love, she is “better to thee than seven sons.” Ruth and Boaz had a son named Obed, who begat Jesse, who begat David, whose line Jesus came from. I had no idea that Jesus came from Ruth’s line.

Ruth is a great example to me now. I hope I can remember her obedience, her virtue, her hard work and perseverance. I hope I can trust in the Lord as she did through famine and loneliness.

Next up: Book of Joel