The Resolute Daughter and the Redeeming Kinsman 

By Danny Saavedra

“But Ruth clung . . .” – Ruth 1:14 (NLT)

The story of Ruth starts out kind of sad. Naomi’s husband and two sons died. She told her two daughters-in-law to go back to their parents. Naomi wanted to return to her family in Judah. One daughter-in-law did what Naomi said, but the other, Ruth, wanted to stay with Naomi to care for her. 

Ruth didn’t know what would happen in her future, but she chose to take care of Naomi before thinking of herself. Ruth didn’t know God before she met Naomi, but now she wanted to follow after Him like Naomi. Ruth said, “I want to go with you, Naomi. I love you, and I want to take care of you. Every place you go, I will go. Every place you live, I will live. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God.” 

To take care of Naomi, Ruth worked very hard in barley fields, gathering grain all day. The owner of the field was named Boaz. Boaz was kind to Ruth. When he heard her story, how she stayed with Naomi to take care of her made him love her. Soon Boaz and Ruth were married. 

So, even though Ruth’s story started off sad, it ended up happy! God provided for and blessed Ruth and Naomi because they continued to follow after Him. Boaz loved Ruth and took care of her and Naomi for the rest of their lives.