by Alice Whitaker

Created on: November 08, 2008

Bible Study: The Book Of Ruth.

The Book of Ruth is one of the most beautiful stories in the Bible. It shows a great love and bond between a daughter-in-law and her mother-in-law and it also shows how God works in ordinary day to day affairs to accomplish his purposes.

At the time this story begins, there was a great famine in the region. Elimelech, of Bethlehem, decided to move to the country of Moab. He journeyed there with his wife, Naomi and their two sons. Elimelech eventually died. In time Naomi's two sons married Moabite women. After ten years, both of Naomi's sons also died.

Naomi was a woman of great faith. When she heard that the Lord had provided food for His people, she prepared to return to her homeland of Bethlehem. She told her daughters-in law; Orpah and Ruth, to return to their parents' home where she asked the Lord bless them with good second marriages. These women loved their mother-in-law and did not want to leave her. Orpah finally agreed to return to her family. Because of Ruth's extraordinary love and respect for her mother-in-law, she was willing to follow Naomi without question, to accept a people and a god who were foreign to her. (1:16-17)

Ruth and Naomi reached Bethlehem, two poor, grieving widows. The famine had ended and barley was being harvested. It was the law that the reapers not harvest the entire crop but leave a portion for the poor. There were few opportunities for women to earn a living during this time. Naomi gave Ruth permission to go to the field and harvest what was left of the initial crop. Ruth gleaned in a field possessed by a wealthy landowner named Boaz.

Naomi was overjoyed when she heard this news for she knew that not only was Boaz a wealthy man but also a relative of her deceased husband. She was even more delighted to find that Ruth appealed to Boaz. When a man died childless, his brother had the responsibility to marry the widow in order to produce an heir according to Levirate law. Naomi knew that this law extended to the next of kin, therefore, she would see that Ruth had a home and someone to provide for her. She counseled Ruth as to what she must do where Boaz was concerned and Boaz was agreeable to the arrangement but realized that Elimelech had a relative closer than he. Because Ruth was a Moabite, the nearest kin did not wish to marry her for fear that his inheritance would be in jeopardy, therefore Boaz was free to marry Ruth.

Blessings abounded for Boaz, Ruth and Naomi throughout the remainder of their lives. God's plan was fulfilled through ordinary people. Ruth was the great grandmother of King David and through that line came Jesus.

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