Stories from the Bible can speak to you differently from time to time, depending on where your journey in life is at in that moment. For example, the book of Job hits differently when you read it as an older man with a wife, children, and land than it does when you are single and can fit what you own in the back of your car. If you have money, then the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10: 17-22 might stand out more to you than Jesus’s reaction to him in verse 23 might if you are on hard times financially. The stories themselves are the same. What changes are the lessons in life that you pull out of it. For me, the story of Ruth was one of those moments.
The book of Ruth offers many lessons. You may be inspired by Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi or the strength and conviction of Boaz. You may appreciate the humility of Ruth in her return to Bethlehem or Ruth’s humble approach to Boaz. The story is also a great example of how God is the ultimate chess player in our lives. After all, Ruth never meets Boaz without the series of events that happen in Naomi’s life. The book of Ruth can also reach out to you in different ways, depending on where you’re at in life. Are you the old, single man who had all but given up on having a wife and child one day, like Boaz? Are you a woman hoping to marry, or re-marry in Ruth’s case, and have children? Are you hoping to be restored after returning home, like Naomi? Or perhaps, your story and your suffering isn’t about you at all. Let me start from the beginning.
Naomi and her husband, Elimelech flee from the famine in Bethlehem and move to the land of Moab. After settling there, Elimelech dies, leaving Naomi with her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. Both sons take Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah, as their wives. After 10 years, both of Naomi’s sons also die, leaving Naomi without a husband or sons to care for her. After hearing that God had heard his people’s needs and was providing food, a bitter Naomi left the land of Moab. Though eventually convincing Orpah to return back to her people, Ruth refused to leave Naomi’s side. So the two women continued on their journey, returning to Bethlehem. Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi through Elimelech, had land, grain, and noble character. Ruth, knowing their situation, offers to gather the fallen grain behind those harvesting in the fields. It turns out that those fields were Boaz’ fields. Boaz offers her grain, water, and kindness thanks to her loyalty to Noami. Thanks to his role as a family redeemer, Ruth follows Naomi’s instructions, lies humbly at Boaz’ feet, and honors Boaz in this way. After confirming with a closer family relative, Boaz says, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi everything that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. I will also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife…” (Ruth 4: 9-10). With this, Boaz and Ruth were married and she eventually gave birth to a son, Obed. Naomi would now be taken care of in her old age and was even blessed with the child Obed, redeeming her through her faithfulness.
Sometimes, the suffering we go through isn’t about our victory.
Naomi had a hard life. She lived in Bethlehem during a time of famine. She then left her home, lost her husband, lost both her sons, and was forced to return home. “I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has pronounced judgement on me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” (Ruth 1: 21). Ruth, to her own words, was bitter. Have you ever felt that way? Have you been in the middle of a storm and wondered what you did to get there? After becoming a full-time remote employee in 2020, I suffered some health issues with my liver. Of course, my mind went to the extreme’s. Was I going to need a transplant? I had a wife and 2 young children to take care of. Was my time on Earth about to be cut short? Was this my story? In my case, the dialog in my head was not the reality of my situation. After making some dietary and lifestyle changes, my health significantly improved and has been fine since. But during that time, I had thoughts much like I’m sure Naomi did. In the storm, we only see the wind. In life, we don’t always know the why and that can be tough on our emotions and on our faith. They say all things happen for a reason, but what was the reason?
God will often times deliver a grand lesson after we get through the storm. Sometimes, there’s even a reward on the other side, thanks to our faithfulness. In the book of Job, Job was not only restored by Gob, but God “…doubled his previous possessions” (Job 42:10). So I’m sure Naomi had moments where she was trying to figure out what that grand lesson or reward was for her. Until it hit…what if everything I went through was necessary for Ruth’s story, not my own?
Parenting for the Next Generation.
In chapter 3, I think Naomi started to make the realization that her hardship was meant to better the life of Ruth, not her own. “My daughter, shouldn’t I find security for you, so that you will be taken care of?” (Ruth 3: 1). For the first time in a while, Naomi felt hope and saw a path of redemption, but through the life of Ruth. If Naomi had never left Bethlehem for Moab, Elimelech not die, Mahlon not marry Ruth and eventually die as well, then Ruth would have never gone to Bethlehem and marry Boaz. She would have continued her life in Moab. The eventual son of Ruth and Boaz, Obed, even takes his place in the lineage of Jesus. “He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” (Ruth 4:17). Yes, Naomi benefits from her humility in returning to Bethlehem and for her faithfulness to God, even through the storm. She will be taken care of when she gets older and even got a child to love on in Obed. But in a bigger picture, Naomi’s suffering created the opportunity for Ruth to continue that story God started in the beginning. Ruth’s life was forever changed and blessed, because of Naomi’s path.
Lessons through Someone Else’s Life.
If I do anything as a parent, I want to teach my children of God. Not just his name, but who He is and what He’s done for us. In all her struggles, Naomi never stopped praying and never stopped calling on God, even when she was convinced God had turned against her. In all that, Ruth heard her. “For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” (Ruth 1:16). In the next verse, Ruth even refers to God as “Yahweh”, clearly having heard his stories and his character.
Through Naomi’s lessons, Ruth learned obedience and faithfulness, even when we don’t see Him working while we’re in the storm. Through Naomi’s story, Ruth was given a second chance in life. And through Ruth’s story, Naomi was redeemed.