The book of Ruth opens with loss and grief. Naomi has lost not only her husband, but her two sons as well. Ruth and Orpah have also lost their husbands, and are now faced with a devastating choice. They can either return home and start over, essentially abandoning their mother-in-law, or they can join her in what they can only anticipate will be a life of mourning and poverty.
Women in the ancient Jewish world had far fewer rights and freedoms than we do now. The loss of a husband could be detrimental, especially since women had no way of earning a living on their own. Orpah stays behind, as Naomi requested, but Ruth refuses to leave her side.
Do not let the gravity of Ruth’s decision go unnoticed. Ruth chose to move to a foreign land and leave her home, her family, her culture, and her sense of comfort. Not only that, but she chose a foreign God. She pledged her loyalty and put her hope in the God of Israel, trusting that He would provide for them. Had Ruth not made this decision, think about where we might be as Christians today. Ruth and her future husband Boaz welcome a son, Obed, who becomes the father of Jesse, who becomes the father of David. And “from the stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1), our Savior is born.
In our daily lives we have many opportunities to pledge our loyalty and put our hope in the God of Israel. These opportunities range in scale and scope this side of Heaven, but their value is immeasurable in the Kingdom of God. We never truly know the impact of these choices, but the Lord uses all of these interactions to bring glory to the Kingdom and pave the way for future believers. It is my prayer that we all may have the strength and determination of Ruth as we continue on in the Christian journey.