We all love stories with happy endings. Such stories uplift our spirits and give us hope. They inspire us to emulate the goodness of the characters depicted. One such story with a happy ending in the Bible is from the book of Ruth. Set about in the time of Judges, this idyllic story from the Old Testament teaches us how God works everything for our good (Romans 8:28) when we love, trust and fear Him.

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The story, in brief, is about a poor and pious widow, Naomi, who after a sojourn of ten years in the foreign land of Moab returns to her native land in Bethlehem in Judah accompanied by her young widowed daughter-in-law, Ruth. While working in the barley fields, Ruth meets the owner, Boaz, a wealthy Israelite. Boaz and Ruth marry and have a son, Obed who eventually becomes the grandfather of the famous king David of Israel. Thus Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz become associated with Israel’s history of salvation in an intimate way. Let us examine each of the three characters and discover which Christian trait they exemplified and why were they so abundantly blessed.

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Naomi-Naomi must have been an exemplary mother-in-law!! Or why else would Ruth and Orpah, her young widowed daughters-in-law, been so distressed to part ways and return to their maternal home! Why were they ready to follow her even if it meant forgoing the land of their ancestors, their traditions and their customs? (V 1:10) No doubt it was the love in Naomi’s heart that made them react in this manner.

 So, what kind of love was Naomi’s heart full of?

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a) Love for God-Naomi was a pious Jewish woman. She remained faithful to her religion despite living in the foreign land for ten years. This godly love radiating in Naomi’s heart brought about the conversion of her eldest daughter-in-law Ruth who renounced her pagan religion totally as observed by her famous faith statement. Wherever you go, I shall go, wherever you live, I shall live and your people shall be my people and your God shall be my god (V 1:16)

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b) Unconditional love for others- Naomi made no coercive demands on her daughters-in-law, either to provide for her physical or monetary needs even though she had lost her husband and two sons. On the contrary, it was she who advised them to return to their mothers’ home and find suitable bridegrooms for themselves (v 1:12-14). She overlooked her own needs and focused on their future instead.

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Once back in her native land of Bethlehem, Naomi was concerned about Ruth’s welfare. No wonder God blessed her so abundantly although Naomi herself had envisioned a grim and lonely future. She spent her last days being cared for by the god-fearing Boaz and her daughter-in-law Ruth who according to the women of Bethlehem was worth seven sons (V 4:15). She had the privilege of raising up their son Obed as her own son (V 4:17). This book could as well be renamed the book of Naomi as it ends with copious praises being showered on Naomi by the women of Jerusalem (V 4:14-15).

 

Reflection: - Naomi had her share of tribulations and hardships-coping with times of famine, acclimatizing in a foreign land, enduring financial hardships, dealing with the loss of her husband and two sons. Yet this did not deter her from being the person God wanted her to be. She fulfilled the two essential commandments- ‘love God’ (Deuteronomy 6:5) and ‘love your neighbour’ (Leviticus 19:18). In doing so she earned the beautiful destiny of becoming the great grandmother of David.

The character of Naomi shows us how we as Christians ought to live in love. Let us not forget our calling as Christians, to be the ‘salt of the earth’ and the ‘light of the world’ (Matthew 5: 13-14). It is only our love filled witness that will ultimately attract others to Christ and Christianity.

 

Ruth- Even though both Orpah and Ruth were heartbroken at the prospect of parting with Naomi, it was only Ruth who took the leap of trust into a seemingly grim future. She followed Naomi to Bethlehem; to a land alien to her not knowing what awaited her there. She placed her complete trust in God and in her mother-in-law, Naomi.

In a brief span of time, Ruth won the admiration of the people of Bethlehem and of Boaz for her sterling character.

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a) Love and affection for her mother- in-law (V 2:11)

b) Obedience to Naomi’s instructions (V 2:22, 3:5)

c) Industriousness and diligence-as she labored and toiled in the fields without a moments rest (V 2:7)

d) Thoughtfulness and concern–in taking the leftovers for her mother-in-law (V 2:18) and above all her

e) Trust-Whether it is the place that she must toil or the chores she was required to do or the person she should marry, Ruth displayed total trust in her wise mother- in- law’s decisions. She preferred Naomi’s choice of a husband-the elderly god-fearing Boaz, to the younger men of Bethlehem.

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Her faith in God and in Naomi did not go unrewarded. God blessed her with a worthy partner and a son Obed, who later became the father of Jesse, the father of King David. Thus, Ruth became the great grandmother of King David.

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Reflection: -The Character of Ruth shows us how a virtuous life is eventually rewarded. The trust she placed in the living God and her godly mother-in law bore fruit even though she was a Moabitess, a gentile who according to the Israelites had no share in God’s blessings. St. Peter expressed it aptly -God shows no partiality but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him (Acts 10:34)

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Boaz- Boaz, the wealthy Israelite of Bethlehem; is the third person in this story who inherited God’s blessings. That he is a god-fearing man is evident from the following traits.

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a) Obedience to the Law-He showed consideration for the poor, widowed foreigner Ruth by allowing her to glean from his barley fields (V 2:15-16) as per the requirements of the mosaic law (Deuteronomy 10:19,24:21)

b) His kindness towards Ruth-He did not consider it below his dignity to speak to a gentile woman. He addressed her with respect and was concerned about her safety and security (V 2:8-9)

c) His priorities-He preferred the poor but virtuous, gentile Ruth to the other affluent women of Jerusalem.

d) His honesty-Boaz was honest enough to admit that the next of kin had a greater right to marry Ruth than himself and to inherit Naomi’s property as per the Law of Moses. Even though this could jeopardize his chances of marrying Ruth, Boaz made this matter known to the community elders. His honesty was rewarded as the relative publicly relinquished his claim to take Ruth as his wife.

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Boaz married Ruth who bore him a son. Thus, Boaz became the great grandfather of the messianic king David.

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Reflection: -The character of Boaz shows us that it is indeed the fear of the lord which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Not only does it enable us to live wisely; it is also the doorway to many blessings in our life-personal happiness, prosperity, a contended life, blessings on our posterity, love, esteem and honor from our community (Psalm 128).

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Besides the numerous lessons that the book of Ruth teaches us, may we be inspired to love like Naomi, to trust like Ruth, and to fear God like Boaz. Then in our lives too, we will find God working everything for our good!! (Romans 8:28)

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