Some stories touch the heart in such a way that they never grow old. The story of Ruth and Naomi is one of them. It is a story about two widows, walking through grief, yet holding on to hope. Ruth made a choice that changed her life forever: she chose to stay with Naomi when she could have walked away. In that decision, she embraced the God of Israel and became part of a story much bigger than herself.
This is not just history it is a testimony of love, faith, and trust in God. Let us walk through this story step by step and see what lessons we can learn for our lives today.
Who Were Ruth and Naomi?
Naomi was a Jewish woman from Bethlehem. She lived during the time of the Judges, a season when the people of Israel often struggled with faithfulness to God. When famine struck the land, Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, decided to take the family to Moab, a neighboring country.
Moab was not known for kindness toward Israel. Its people worshiped false gods like Moloch, to whom children were sacrificed. Yet, it was in Moab that Naomi’s sons married two young Moabite women Ruth and Orpah.
Tragedy soon followed. Elimelech died. Later, Naomi’s two sons also died, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah as widows. For Naomi, the pain was unbearable. She had lost her husband, her children, and her security. In her grief, she decided to return to Bethlehem, her homeland.
The Choice of Ruth and Orpah
As Naomi prepared to leave, she urged her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab. She told them they were still young, and it would be better for them to remarry and rebuild their lives among their people.
At first, both women wept and said they would stay with Naomi. But when Naomi insisted again, Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye and returned home. Ruth, however, stood firm. She refused to leave Naomi’s side.
Here Ruth spoke the words that still echo through Scripture:
“Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1:16–17)
This was more than loyalty to Naomi it was Ruth’s declaration of faith. She turned away from idols and embraced the God of Israel.
Returning to Bethlehem
When Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, the women of the city were surprised. “Can this be Naomi?” they asked. Naomi replied with deep sadness, “Do not call me Naomi, which means ‘pleasant.’ Call me Mara, which means ‘bitter,’ because the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.”
Naomi felt empty. Yet God was already writing a new chapter in her story through Ruth’s faithfulness.
Ruth in the Fields
With no income and no land, Naomi and Ruth faced hunger. Ruth asked permission to go into the fields and gather leftover grain, as the Law of Moses allowed the poor to do (Leviticus 19:9–10). She worked humbly, gathering barley behind the harvesters.
By God’s providence, Ruth found herself in the field of Boaz, a wealthy man and relative of Elimelech. Boaz noticed Ruth’s kindness and hard work. He told his workers to treat her with respect and even to leave extra grain for her.
When Ruth returned home with an abundance of food, Naomi was amazed. She blessed the Lord, realizing that He had not forgotten them. Naomi explained that Boaz was a close relative, a possible “kinsman-redeemer.”
Boaz the Kinsman-Redeemer
In Israel, the kinsman-redeemer had a special role. He was responsible for redeeming a family’s land and continuing the family name by marrying the widow of his relative. Boaz, though not the closest relative, showed great kindness to Ruth and Naomi.
At Naomi’s guidance, Ruth approached Boaz in humility, expressing her willingness to become his wife if he would redeem the family’s name. Boaz was touched by her faithfulness and purity. He praised her for choosing faith and loyalty over seeking wealth or younger men.
Though another man was first in line to redeem the land, he declined. Boaz then stepped forward with joy. He redeemed Elimelech’s property and married Ruth.
The Blessing of Ruth
The people of Bethlehem blessed Ruth, saying, “May the Lord make this woman, who is coming into your home, like Rachel and Leah, who together built the house of Israel.”
Ruth and Boaz were blessed with a son named Obed. Obed became the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David. And from David’s line would come the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Think of it: Ruth, a Moabite widow, once an outsider, became the great-grandmother of Israel’s greatest king and an ancestor of the Savior of the world.
What We Learn from Ruth and Naomi
The story of Ruth and Naomi may be short, but its lessons are rich and timeless.
1. Loyalty is Stronger than Comfort
Ruth left behind her homeland, family, and royal background to follow Naomi and the God of Israel. She chose love over ease.
2. Faith Shines in Hardship
Even in the darkest seasons, Ruth trusted God’s goodness. Her decision was not based on circumstances but on conviction.
3. Humility Brings Honor
Ruth worked quietly in the fields. She did not complain about her lowly position. God lifted her up in due time.
4. God Works Through Ordinary Life
A simple act of gathering grain in a field became the path to God’s great plan. Often, it is in our daily faithfulness that God moves.
5. Redemption is God’s Heart
The role of Boaz as kinsman-redeemer points to Christ, our ultimate Redeemer, who takes broken lives and restores them with grace.
Applying the Story to Our Lives
The story of Ruth and Naomi reminds us that:
- God is faithful, even when life feels empty.
- No one is too far or too broken to be used by God.
- Every act of kindness has value in God’s eyes.
- Our decisions today can shape generations tomorrow.
When we choose faith over fear, and loyalty over selfishness, God writes new chapters in our lives.
Conclusion
Ruth did not choose the easy road. She chose the road of faith. She said, “Your God will be my God.” That one decision carried her into a future she could never have imagined.
Her story is a reminder to all of us: God sees the small steps of faith, the quiet acts of love, and the humble choices of loyalty. He can take them and turn them into blessings beyond measure.
So, what about us? Will we, like Ruth, choose faith even when life is uncertain? Will we trust God’s plan when everything seems bitter?
If we do, we may find that, like Ruth and Naomi, our story becomes part of something far greater than we can see.