A genuine love story

One of the most touching love stories is found in the Bible. This story is found in the Old Testament between Judges and I Samuel. It’s only four chapters long and well worth the read. If you enjoyed the 1970 blockbuster movie, “Love Story,” featuring Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal, you will forever treasure reading “Ruth.”

The story of Ruth is captivating. Ruth was a widow from an enemy country (Moab) with no future prospects for her life. Yet, God moved mightily in her life and used it to encourage millions. During the period of judges and before Israel had a king, there was famine throughout the land of Judea. This prompted Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, living in Bethlehem of Judea, to move to the fertile Moab (east of Judea). Elimelech traveled to Moab with his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Chilion and Mahon. Soon thereafter, Elimelech passed. After his death, his two sons married Moabite girls, Orpah and Ruth. Later, Mahlon and Chilion also died. This left Naomi with two daughters-in-law: Orpah and Ruth who were childless.

With the Judean famine ending and crops growing again, Naomi and her daughters-in-law headed back to Bethlehem. On the way, Naomi had second thoughts and encouraged Orpah and Ruth to turn back to Moab—to remarry and have children. Orpah reluctantly departed, but Ruth remained with her mother-in-law. Through a strong faith in God, Ruth reassured Naomi, saying: “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.” Rather than summarizing the remainder of the story, only four chapters long, I believe you will benefit by reading it.

The story concludes when Ruth, once a childless widow, became the great-grandmother of Israel’s greatest king, David. Her deceased father-in-law, Elimelech, was a blood relative of an Israelite grain farmer named Boaz—who married Ruth. Boaz and Ruth had a son named Obed. In the next generation, Obed’s son was Jesse who became the father of David, the king of Israel and a forbearer of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:1-17). The Scriptures (Joshua, chapter 2; Matt. 1:5) inform us that the mother of Boaz was Rahab—who was named to the “Honor Roll of the Faithful” in Hebrews 11:30-31.

To summarize, Ruth was a simple Moabite widow who became an essential character in the powerful story of salvation that is woven into the Scriptures. Unfortunately, women’s stories have taken second place to the interests of many Bible readers, but this doesn’t mean their stories weren’t important in the eyes of God. A strong woman is fearless when it comes to facing tough situations. They are confident in who they are and in what they believe. It is through their fearlessness that they encourage others to be courageous and to make a difference.

Centuries later, a descendant of Ruth (Matt 1:1-17) said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.” Ruth’s descendant also said: “In My Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you…so that where I am, you will be also.”

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