Ruth's Journey (For October 5)

Ruth’s Journey (Spark pp. 110-117)

Once, there was a woman named Naomi who had two sons.  They married Ruth and Orpah, and Naomi, the two sons and Ruth and Orpah all lived in a house together as a big, happy family.  But then times got hard—the two sons died and a famine (BIG hunger) came into their country.  Naomi said to them, “Orpah, Ruth, I’ve been thinking.  Life is better for widows like us when we can be near the rest of our family—they will help us find food.”  So they packed up everything they had, and started to walk.

Walk, walk, walk.  Halfway there, Naomi turned to Ruth and Orpah—“I am only your mother in law, and you still have your parents and are young.  Go back to live with your mothers and fathers, they can help you find new husbands-- and leave me to find my own way.”

At first, they both said no.  They didn’t want to leave an old woman without someone to care for her.  But Orpah changed her mind and returned to her parents.  Ruth refused. 

“I will go where you go, live where you live.  Your people will be my people and your God, my God.”  Say that with me: “Your people will be MY people, and your God MY God.” Ruth loved Naomi and promised to stay by her, no matter what.

Naomi saw she meant it, and smiled.  “All right,” she said, and they continued along the road.  When Naomi’s family saw her coming, they welcomed her with open arms—and they hugged Ruth, too.

But things still weren’t easy.  Ruth and Naomi were very poor.  They had no money to buy food, and as widows (without husbands) were allowed to work only the outside edges of the fields to “glean” (or find) their food.

Ruth knew what she had to do. “I’m going to the field nearby to pick some of the leftover grain so we can make some bread to eat.  Hopefully, I’ll meet someone who can help us.”

In the field, Ruth walked behind the people harvesting grain, only able to pick up the pieces, here and there, left behind after the harvest.  In the evenings, she would grind the grain into flour and use it to make bread so they could eat.  Ruth worked very hard.

Ruth didn’t know it, but she had picked a field that belonged to a man named Boaz—he was both wealthy, AND one of Naomi’s relatives.  He noticed her picking in the fields one day.

“Who is that young woman picking up the leftovers?”

A servant replied “HER?  Oh, she isn’t from around here—She came with Naomi and asked if she could have some of the leftovers.  She works very hard!”

Boaz went out to meet and talk with Naomi.  “I understand that you came here with my relative, Naomi? You are welcome to stay here and work with the other women.  If you get tired or thirsty, please stop, rest, and have a drink of water from the well.”

Ruth was a little surprised: “You’re being very kind to me.”

Boaz: “I’ve heard how hard you work and how kind you have been to your mother in law, Naomi, staying by her even when your husband died.  I think God must be very proud of you and I would like to help you.”

As time passed, Boaz continued to care for Ruth and, in fact, decided to marry her! Ruth and Boaz had a son named Obed, who was the grandfather to King David (you remember David and Golaith?)  What an amazing thing Ruth had done—she trusted in God, and  became part of what we call the lineage—the family history—of Jesus!

What did you learn?

  Hard work can be important

God goes with us, even on the long and difficult journeys