“But Ruth said, ‘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
my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and
more also if anything but death parts me from you.’” (Ruth 1:16-17)
Elimelech and Naomi serve as examples of those who turn from the Lord to trust the world. When the crises and troubles arose, they trusted in themselves, their own strength and resources, which is why they left the Promised Land. Thus, when they failed, they had no one to look to for help. Naomi sank into hopelessness and despair. And yet, in the midst of the chaos of the period of the Judges and in the depths of the sorrow and despair that Naomi experienced at the loss of her family she seized upon a faint glimmer of hope: her daughter-in-law Ruth. Though Naomi felt that God had punished her and her family for their lack of faith, He had blessed her with Ruth.
Ruth was a Moabitess, not a member of the Chosen people of God. She had a pagan upbringing and lived in a land surrounded by idolaters. Naomi and her family were a poor witness for their faith in God for they had left the place God wanted them to be. Somehow through this poor witness, Ruth had become a believer in Almighty God. Perhaps it was because she saw the hope of this Almighty God, a God who demonstrated compassion, love and real power, quite unlike the cruel and capricious gods the pagans worshipped.
Ruth became the great grandmother of King David and a direct ancestor of Jesus the Messiah. More
significant for us is the example she set for we who believe. Ruth serves all of us as a perfect example of
Christlike love and unselfish devotion. She felt love and compassion for Naomi in her helpless condition. She put aside her own needs, wants, desires, her whole life, and made a lifelong commitment to serve God and her mother-in-law.
Isn’t this what Jesus did for us? He felt love for us in our helpless condition of sin. He dedicated His life to honor His Father by perfect obedience and by His commitment to us. We are called to do the same. We are called to dedicate our lives to bring the hope of forgiveness and faith to those wandering in the darkness and chaos of this pagan world.