Ruth

Showing God’s Love

Sandwiched between the books of Judges and 1 Samuel is a story of healing, protection, restored hope and a legacy of faith. 

Ruth gave up her home and everything she knew to follow her mother-in-law Naomi back to Bethlehem after the deaths of their husbands. Her sacrificial love led her straight into the arms of God. It is with His strength and guidance that Ruth followed Naomi. The details that unfold from the book of Ruth can only come from God’s good and perfect plan.

When I picture Ruth, I see my friends who are nurses who give everything they have for the needs of the sick. I see those around me who are caregivers for their elderly or disabled loved ones. But mostly, I see mothers – women who have given up sleep, independence, sanity (I’m right there with you), clean homes and sometimes careers of choice to care for their children. 

And throughout her story, God’s faithfulness prevails. “As it turned out” (Ruth 2:3), Ruth stumbled upon Boaz’s fields to pick grain left behind by the harvesters - another of God’s divine interventions – and Boaz offered her drink, food, protection and God’s blessings.

Because of Ruth’s kindness to Naomi, Boaz shows Ruth the same kindness. This is the perfect model of God’s love for us and how He blesses us in return for our kindness. God knew all too well that Boaz, son of Rahab the Canaanite, would come to the aide of another foreigner. He gets his protective instincts from his mother. What an amazing legacy!