Life Lessons from the Book of Ruth

The Beginning

The story begins with an Epharthites family. Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. There was a famine in the land so the family traveled to Moab. During this time, Elimelech died and left Naomi a widow with her two sons. Her two sons married Moabites named Ruth and Orpha. Then tragedy struck again when both of Naomi’s sons died leaving her alone with her two daughters-in-law.

Ruth and Naomi’s Journey

Naomi had heard that there was food in Judah so she prepared to travel back to her native land. Before she left, she instructed her daughters-in-law to return to their family because she no longer has anything to offer them. Orpha followed her instruction but Ruth reacted differently. Ruth said to Naomi “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried”(Ruth 1:16-18). Naomi realized Ruth’s dedication to her and the two began their journey to Judah.

Ruth and Boaz

During this time, reapers of fields were instructed to leave some grain for the poor to glean. When Ruth and Naomi arrived at Judah, Ruth went out to glean after the reapers to provide for her and Naomi. As she gleaned she ended up in a field belonging to Boaz. Boaz was a wealthy landowner in the clan of Elimelech. Boaz saw Ruth in his field and asked his servants who she was. Once discovering what she had done for Naomi, he asked her to only glean in his fields and for his servants to leave grain aside for her.

One night Naomi instructed Ruth to visit Boaz on the threshing floor as an act to propose marriage. The threshing food is where the grain was separated from the straw. She did as her mother-in-law instructed and laid at Boaz’s feet. When Boaz awoke seeing Ruth at his feet, he said that if another redeemer won’t accept her request then he will. This redeemer denied so Boaz married Ruth and provided for her and Naomi.

Boaz and Ruth later have a son that they named Obed. Obed grew up to be the grandfather of David, who would become king and an ancestor of Jesus.

How This Story Applies to Your Daily Life

In life, you will face hardships. The reason Ruth is so powerful is that it shows all Christians that God will bless those who are obedient to Him. No one is promised a simple life, Naomi and Ruth both suffered great challenges. It was Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law and unwavering faith in God that resulted in her great blessings.

If you are in a season of tribulation, you can find comfort in the Book of Ruth because it serves as an example that God is always with you. Have the heart to love others through your struggles, have the faith to trust Gods plan, and have the ears to hear Gods calling for your life. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).