Friday, March 16, 2012

Ruth: Fierce Loyalty

There is a book called the Bible. It is really a collection of lots of little books. One of these little books is called Ruth.

Over 3,100 years ago, there was a man named Elimelech. He lived in the town of Bethlehem in Judah with his wife, Naomi, and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion. At that time, food was not growing well in Judah. Elimelech decided that he and his family would move to a little country nearby called Moab. Soon after the family moved to Moab, Elimelech died.

His two sons decided they would marry Moabite women. One woman was named Orpah and the other was named Ruth. Naomi, her sons, and their wives were happy together. But then Naomi’s two sons also died.

Naomi was heartbroken. She was also sure that God hated her. She decided to return to her family in Judah. She told Orpah and Ruth to go back to their families and find new husbands. Then she kissed them both good-bye. They all cried.

Both Orpah and Ruth told Naomi that they would go to Judah with her. But Naomi said no. They would have no future with her and, besides, God hated her. They all cried again. Then Orpah kissed Naomi good-bye and returned to her family. Ruth didn’t move.

Naomi told Ruth to do as Orpah had done, to go back. But Ruth said to Naomi, “Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your god will be my god. And may God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates me from you” (Ruth 1:16-17). So Naomi went back to Judah with Ruth.

Copyright © 2012 by Steven Farsaci.
All rights reserved. Fair use encouraged.