Ruth, a Foreigner Who Won Her Way

GOLDEN TEXT: “The stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” —Leviticus 19:34

RUTH 2:8-13; 4:13,17

THE natural descendants of Abraham were exclusively the people of God during the entire period of the Jewish age. The Lord said of them, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) This exclusiveness did not mean that God had no interest in other people. Indeed, we know that the opposite was true, because he promised Abraham that through his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed.

But God had given Israel his Law, and professedly they were in harmony with him and with his standards of righteousness. We might say that through this nation he was revealing the condition upon which mankind might enjoy his blessings, that condition being wholehearted obedience to his righteous requirements.

As our Golden Text reveals, “strangers” who came among the Israelites and conformed to their ways, which were the ways of the Lord, were to be considered a part of them. No one was to be discriminated against simply because he was not a natural descendant of Abraham. All were to be recognized and loved who were in harmony with God and his laws.

In Ruth we have a wonderful example of a “stranger” who made herself at home in Israel, not alone because she loved her mother-in-law, Naomi, but because she had learned to know and love Israel’s God. Insisting upon accompanying Naomi when she returned to Bethlehem from the country of Moab, she said, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”—Ruth 1:16,17

We might think of Ruth as a symbol of all who will eventually find a “home” among the people of God, and be “at home” because they love the true God and his ways. All such will love the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength. They will also love the Lord’s people. And the Lord’s people, eventually, will include “all the families of the earth.” Concerning that time we read:

“The tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.”—Rev. 21:3-5

Upon reaching Bethlehem with Naomi, Ruth went to work as a gleaner in the field of Boaz, a kinsman of her mother-in-law. Soon Boaz came to the field. He noticed Ruth and realized that she was a stranger. He asked the foreman of the reapers, “Whose damsel is this?” (ch. 2:5) Finding out, Boaz was at once interested and sympathetic.

Boaz appreciated Ruth’s industrious effort to secure a living for Naomi and herself, and he gave her assurance of his co-operation and friendliness. She was deeply moved by this gesture of interest and friendship. Boaz realized that Ruth had made a great sacrifice in leaving her own people in order to remain with Naomi, and his true character is reflected in his attitude toward her.

Ruth loved Naomi, and it is reasonable to assume that one of the things which had inspired this love was the manner in which Naomi’s religion had influenced her life. Ruth could see that devotion to Israel’s God had wrought a beautiful character, one worthy of her love and devotion. It was not without understanding that she had said to her mother-in-law, “Thy God shall be my God.”

Boaz married Ruth, and a son was born to them who was named Obed. The last two verses of the book read, “Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.” It was David’s family which the Lord chose as the line through which the Messiah would come, and the principal purpose of the Book of Ruth is to establish what would otherwise he a weak link in the genealogical chain which connects David with the royal line of Judah. Jacob prophesied that “the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”—Gen. 49:10

QUESTIONS

Harmonize the Golden Text with Amos 3:2.

Who was Ruth, and why did she go to Bethlehem?

At what time in the plan of God will the whole world become his people?

What is the main truth revealed in the Book of Ruth?

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