This week in our Bible study together, we are studying Jesus’ family tree and learning that Jesus’ lineage was full of people whom we might not expect to be a part of His family line. Some had a reputation for their sin, like Rahab. There was even a woman named Ruth who was not of Jewish descent who was named in Jesus’ family tree. Although a foreigner and a widow, Ruth took a step of faith and left everything to go with Naomi and worship the God of Israel, the one true God.
We read about Ruth and her life in the book of the Bible that is aptly titled “Ruth.” Chapter 1 of Ruth begins by telling the story of a woman named Naomi who lived in Bethlehem. She, her husband, and her two sons fled to Moab because there was a famine in Bethlehem (verse 1). While they were there, Naomi’s husband died (verse 3). Her sons married Moabite women. One of these Moabite women was Ruth (verse 4). About 10 years later, both of Naomi's sons died (verse 5). When Naomi learned that the famine in Bethlehem had ended, she wanted to return to her homeland, so she and both of her daughters-in-law set out for Bethlehem (verse 6). On the way, Scripture tells us that Naomi told her daughters to go back home to Moab rather than follow her to Bethlehem (verses 8-9). One of her daughters-in-law listened and went back to Moab, but Ruth would not. She said to Naomi, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (verses 16-17). In a remarkable display of faithfulness and devotion, Ruth went with her mother-in-law to Bethlehem. She left her home, her family, her culture, and the false gods of her culture to follow Naomi and her God, the one true God.
God honored Ruth for her faithfulness in following Him and going with Naomi. He provided care and provision for her in the form of a husband who took care of her. In fact, God included Ruth in Jesus' family tree.
No one would have expected Ruth to be part of Jesus's family tree. Ruth was a Moabite, and the Israelites and Moabites did not get along, to put it lightly. This did not matter to God. He saw her faithfulness and devotion to Naomi and carved a special place for her in Jesus' genealogy.
Ruth's story reminds us that our background does not matter. God can use us regardless of where we come from and our history. If we are willing to follow Him faithfully, He will honor our faithfulness.
What step of faithfulness can you take today? Maybe you can start serving at Sagebrush. Maybe you have yet to make the decision to be baptized, and you know it is time to take that step. Maybe you need to join a small group. Whatever step of faithfulness that God is leading you toward, take that step of faithfulness today.
1In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. 2 The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there.
3 Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. 4 The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.
6 Then Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had blessed his people in Judah by giving them good crops again. So Naomi and her daughters-in-law got ready to leave Moab to return to her homeland. 7 With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah.
8 But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. 9 May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept.
10 “No,” they said. “We want to go with you to your people.”
11 But Naomi replied, “Why should you go on with me? Can I still give birth to other sons who could grow up to be your husbands? 12 No, my daughters, return to your parents’ homes, for I am too old to marry again. And even if it were possible, and I were to get married tonight and bear sons, then what? 13 Would you wait for them to grow up and refuse to marry someone else? No, of course not, my daughters! Things are far more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord himself has raised his fist against me.”
14 And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-bye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi. 15 “Look,” Naomi said to her, “your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should do the same.”
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.
19 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked.
20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?”
22 So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.
