Blessing for an Alien

GOLDEN TEXT: “The Lord doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” —Deuteronomy 10:18,19

RUTH 1:19 – 2:2; 4:13-17

THE events recorded in the Book of Ruth occurred near the close of the era in Israel’s national life known as the Period of the Judges, which began at the death of Joshua, the successor of Moses, and ended when the nation became a kingdom, with Saul as the first king. During that time the nation had no ruler and no central government. The record is that everyone did what seemed right in his own sight.—Judges 17:6; 21:25

While at times there was much idolatry and other wickedness, there were also many noble things which took place during that period, displaying that then, even as in Jesus’ day, there were those who could properly be referred to as “Israelites indeed.” In the Book of Ruth our attention is called to some of these.

There was a famine in the land of Israel, and Elimelech, of Bethlehem, decided to take his wife and two sons to the land of Moab to escape the hardships of the famine. The wife’s name was Naomi. Soon thereafter Elimelech died, leaving Naomi a widow. In due course their two sons married Moabitish women. But the sons also died, leaving Naomi alone, except for the friendship of her two daughters-in-law.

Hearing that the famine in Israel was ended, and that her people again had bread, she decided to return to Bethlehem. Realizing that her daughters-in-law would be aliens, she implored them not to accompany her back to Israel One of them yielded to Naomi’s pleadings, but the other, Ruth, loved her mother-in-law too much to be separated from her, saying to Naomi:

“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.”—ch. 1:16,17

In this beautiful statement of love and fidelity Ruth declares herself no longer to be a Moabite, and pledges herself to Israel and to the God of Israel. In her own heart she had become an Israelite. It remained now to discover whether or not Naomi’s people would accept her on this basis, or whether she would merely be tolerated in their midst.

As indicated in our Golden Text, Moses had instructed the Israelites to deal kindly with strangers, and to make proper provision for them, but would these instructions be heeded by Naomi’s people? The record shows that they were. Upon the basis of Ruth’s expression of desiring to be one of them, and to worship their God, they accepted her into the family, and she was looked upon thenceforth as an Israelite.

The record states that when Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, “all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?” (vs. 19) This language indicates that while the people of Bethlehem were surprised, yet they extended a hearty welcome to Naomi and Ruth. Naomi acknowledged that she had done wrong in leaving her own country and going to Moab, explaining that the Lord had brought bitterness upon her for this. She suggested that she now be called Mara, which means bitter, but apparently she never was.

Ruth was energetic and wanted to go to work at once in the barley fields as a gleaner, and Naomi encouraged her to do this. By divine providence she began to glean in a field belonging to a kinsman of Naomi’s husband, a wealthy man whose name was Boaz. This led to friendship and to eventual marriage, the marriage arrangements being carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Mosaic Law.—Deut. 25:7,9; Ruth 4:6-8

The closing portion of the lesson simply relates that Boaz took Ruth to be his wife, and that a son was born to them whom they named Obed. Obed, the record states, was the father of Jesse, who was the father of David, who became the head of that royal family in Judah through which the promised Messiah, the King of kings, was to be born.

Thus the Book of Ruth furnishes this very vital chronological link in the chain which leads to Jesus. Instead of having this information stated plainly in connection with some of the other links in this important chain, the Lord saw fit to present it to us in what is one of the greatest human interest stories ever told, a story that has inspired thousands to be true and noble, as were Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz.

QUESTIONS

When did the events of the Book of Ruth take place?

Relate the circumstances leading up to today’s lesson.

Recite Ruth’s declaration of loyalty to Naomi.

What vital information is recorded in the closing verses of the Book of Ruth?

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