RUTH PART ONE

Bible Study

Do you ever read a Bible story and think, “Where is my popcorn? This is juicy!” The Book of Ruth is one of those stories that had me on the edge of my seat, clutching my pearls, all while laughing (because I find humor in everything) and crying tears of joy because it is filled with moments that tug at your heart strings.

Not only is it a beautiful love story about Ruth finding Boaz, but more importantly, it represents a profound love story from God written for us. When we read it through the lens of getting to know our Father, a completely different narrative unfolds before our eyes: a story of loyalty, provision, restoration, and redemption.

If you haven’t read it yet, then grab your coffee and let me catch you up to speed!

I couldn’t get past the first verse without the Holy Spirit highlighting some key points. Let’s dive in. It says, “Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.” - Ruth 1:1 (KJV)

A few things stood out to me:

1. The Judges

2. A famine in the land

3. Moab

The book of Judges, which is right before Ruth, describes a time when people lived as they pleased. Judges 21:25 states, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

Can you imagine the chaos during that time? Unfortunately, I'm sure you can because it sounds a lot like what we are experiencing today. This story is set in Bethlehem, which means “House of Bread.” So, why was there a famine in a land that should have been flowing with milk and honey? I believe it’s because God does not bless disobedience.

To make matters worse, this family—Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion—decided to leave Bethlehem and go to Moab, the land where the descendants of Moab resided. Here’s where it gets really interesting. Lean in and try not to spit out your coffee hahaha. Moab was the son of Lot, conceived from an incestuous relationship with his eldest daughter. We’re only one verse in, and it's too much going on!

As we continue reading, we learn that Elimelech dies. Mahlon and Chilion marry Moabite women—Ruth and Orpah. Tragically, ten years later, both Mahlon and Chilion also die. The reasons for their deaths are not mentioned, but I can't help but speculate that it might have been due to God’s judgment. However, it's important to note that this is not explicitly stated, so we cannot know for certain. What we do know is that Naomi lost not only her husband but also both of her sons while living in a foreign country. How heartbreaking!

Have you ever hit rock bottom? The kind of rock bottom that makes you feel like you can’t go on? A rock bottom that’s so dark, gloomy, and bleak that you can’t even imagine the light at the end of the tunnel or muster up enough hope to pick yourself up? But just when you start to settle into your new normal of despair, the Lord swoops in with a blessing you didn’t see coming?

I assume that’s how Naomi felt. I've been there for sure and I believe we all have at some point. Maybe not as extreme as Naomi but we've all most likely hit a low in life before.

Once she heard that the famine in Bethlehem had come to an end, she experienced a small glimmer of hope that prompted her to return home. Verse 6 says, “Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab; for she had heard in the country of Moab how the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.” (KJV)

Often, when facing difficulties in life, what we need most is to return to the loving arms of our Father.

Now, grab your tissue because what I share next is a tear-jerker. 

Naomi’s daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, wanted to go with her. She repeatedly urged them to return to their mothers because she had nothing to offer them. Essentially, she said, “Do you expect me to have more babies at my old age? And even if I did, would you want to wait until they are of age? No, that’s unrealistic. Go home.” Hahaha. Orpah decided to return, but she wept, revealing her love for Naomi. Ruth, on the other hand, displayed a beautiful sense of devotion. She refused to go back and insisted on staying with Naomi. In Ruth 1:16, she said, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.” (NIV)

Let's take a moment and pause: are we as loyal to God? Are we willing to leave our sinful past and follow Him?

They returned to Bethlehem and received a warm welcome; however, Naomi was unrecognizable to her former community, which led them to ask, “Is this Naomi?” 

Due to her profound suffering and loss, they didn’t recognize her nor did she even recognize herself. In verse 20, she responded, “And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty hath dealt bitterly with me.” Pain and suffering can often make us lose sight of our identity. We begin to see ourselves through the lens of our experiences.

Many of us have blamed God at some point in our lives, questioning Him with “Why?” It can be challenging to understand why He allows us to endure certain trials. Unfortunately, at times we may lose our way or drift far from His presence in search of something only He can provide. Nonetheless, our Father desires for us to return home to His loving arms.

Key Takeaways:

1. Disobedience has consequences

2. When far from God we should repent (turn away from sin and return back to Him)

3. God always provides we just need to trust in His timing

4. We need to remain firm in our identity in Him, as we, as humans, will inevitably fall short. 

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father,  

Please forgive us for the times we've been disobedient and have acted according to our own understanding. We repent of our sins and turn back to You. Heal us, restore us, and guide us on Your righteous path, helping us to recognize our identity in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert in theology. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned during my personal bible study time. I encourage you to take everything back to the Lord in prayer. If you have any questions regarding accuracy, please conduct your own research or seek wise counsel from the leaders in your church or a respected figure within your community.