"He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age..."

Tucked away in the midst of the history of Israel is a short story that highlights the struggles of a woman and her daughter-in-law.  This story falls between the time of the judges of the tribes and the formation of the monarchy. It is a wonderful story that has much to teach us in our 21st century world.  This is the story of Naomi and Ruth.

Ruth and Naomi 

I'm sure you all remember the story.  Both of Naomi's sons and her husband died while they were living in Moab.  With no one to turn to, Naomi decides to go back to her own people in Judah.  She tells her daughters-in-law to go back home to their own families.  Orpah does go back, but Ruth refuses.  She takes up residence with Naomi and becomes a part of Naomi's family.

The rest of the story is about how Ruth provides food for Naomi and herself by gleaning from the fields of their neighbors.  She meets a kinsman, Boaz, and eventually marries him, gives birth to a son, and brings joy back into Naomi's life.  It's all a good story, but there is more to it than that.  When you read closely you see an abundance of goodness taking place by those who are involved.

Ruth gleaning the fields.

First, there is an abundance of goodness that shines through Ruth.  As a foreigner to the Jewish faith, Naomi did not expect Ruth to continue to live with her.  Ruth was free to leave Naomi on her own and yet she chooses to make her life with her mother-in-law.  Not only does she make her life with Naomi, but she sees after her.  She volunteers to go out into the fields and labor in the hot sun so that they can eat.  She accepts the faith of Naomi as her own faith and begins to worship the God of the Israelites.

We also see the great abundance that comes through Boaz.  He notices Ruth and he offers her the opportunity to glean from his fields.  Not only that, but he instructs his men to leave extra grain behind so that she has plenty of grain to harvest.  Boaz insures that Ruth and Naomi have everything they need and more.

When it comes time to "redeem" the land of Naomi, Boaz approaches the one with the first right of redemption.  He follows the law and yet he makes sure that Ruth and Naomi are cared for.  When the first man in line refuses, Boaz gladly takes his place, knowing that the first child that Ruth has will be in the line of the first husband.

Ruth, Naomi, and Obed

All through the story we are reminded of grace in abundance.  We are reminded of mercy beyond measure.  If we look closely, we see that Boaz and Ruth both act in accordance with the heart of the law, not the letter of the law.  They both extend the same kind of grace, mercy, and justice that God extends to those who will accept the gift.  When you read through to the end of the story, it becomes clear why the book of Ruth is placed where it is in Scripture.  In the final verses of the book, we find a genealogy.  Verse 17 states this, "The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, 'A son has been born to Naomi.'  They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David."  The future king of Israel descended through the line of a lowly Moabite.  The king that unites the people of God and through whom the Messiah would come was born into a family that were everyday people.  They had hardship; they had sad times.  They also went beyond what the rule book said and found the face of God.  They worked out of love, kindness, and devotion instead of worrying about whether they gave enough.

If you have not read this book in awhile, I encourage you to do so.  Look at the ways that the different people      go beyond the requirements and do the things that need to be done.  We can all learn a lot from Ruth and Boaz.  We can all go beyond the normal and extend grace upon grace.  Until next time...


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