Ruth 1

            While the story of Ruth and Naomi takes place during the era of the Judges, it is set apart from that book for good reason. The book of Judges was about the apostasy and disobedience of Israel as a nation. While there were a few exceptional individuals who displayed faith in God and obeyed Him, the majority of the people were backslidden, doing “…that which was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25) Here, in the story of Ruth, we are given an example of strong faith, of an unwavering obedience to God and a willingness to wait on Him for His timing and orchestration of events beyond one’s control. 
      Ruth is a story of redemption, of God’s mercy in the form of a kinsman redeemer who symbolizes the coming Messiah that would eventually redeem not only Israel but all mankind. In spite of Israel’s sin and betrayal of the covenant made between their fathers and God at Mount Sinai, the LORD continues to show mercy and forgiveness to those individuals who are willing to forsake all and cleave to Him alone. Israel has forgotten God, but He has not forgotten His chosen people. The LORD continues to be faithful even when Israel is not, and He works in the lives of willing and obedient individuals like Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. Through them and their story, God demonstrates His goodness, His kindness, His mercy, and His everlasting love for all who are willing to forsake the world and follow Him. Through the line of Ruth comes Obed, the father of Jesse who will be the father of David, the future king of Israel and the seed that will bear Christ, the prophesied Messiah.
 
          Verses 1-5: Anytime there’s a famine in the promised land it’s always a result of God’s judgment against His people for their sin. (v.1) The LORD had promised Israel that if they would obey Him and serve Him alone, He would bless their fields and the work of their hands. They would never hunger or thirst, and their livestock would be abundant. (Deuteronomy 28:2-5) Both Moses and Joshua had warned the nation multiple times that only by honoring that covenant would God bless them. If, however, the people failed to obey and instead turned to idols and forsook the Law of God by committing sexual immorality, child sacrifice, and all the other sins that accompany rebellion and apostasy, God would punish them in various ways, including famine.
        Such is the case here, during the era of the Judges. During this famine, a man from Bethlehem of Judah named Elimelech (v.2) takes his wife and two sons and leaves the promised land for the heathen country of Moab. In doing so, Elimelech sins against God. The same was true for Abraham when there was a famine, and he decided to leave the land where God had brought him and sojourn in Egypt for a time. (Genesis 12:10) God had not told him to go, yet Abraham went anyway, and that sin led to additional sins of lying and deceit that got Abraham and his family in trouble with the pharaoh. So it is here with Elimelech. This passage doesn’t say that God told him to take his family out of Bethlehem into a foreign country whose people are enemies of God. Thus we can logically infer that the death of Elimelech is judgement from God for his sin of disobedience. (v.3)
          Instead of returning to Bethlehem with their mother, Elimelech’s sons, Mahlon and Chilion, sin against God by marrying Moabite women. God had explicitly commanded the Israelites not to intermarry with any of the Canaanites. (Deuteronomy 7:1-3) Even though Ruth will eventually become a believer and follower of the God of Israel, the ends can never justify the means. God rewards Ruth for her belief and her faith later on, but He still judges her and Orpah’s husbands for their sin. It’s in this context that we must view the death of Elimelech’s sons, and this leaves Ruth and Orpah as widows while still quite young. (v.5)
 
           Verses 6-18: When Naomi learns that the famine in Israel is over, she determines to return home to Judah, her two daughters-in-law in tow. (v.6-7) This is the first expression of Naomi’s faith, indicating her recognition of her husband’s sin by leaving Bethlehem in the first place. With the death of her husband and sons, Naomi is left as the head of her family by default, and she proceeds to test the faith of Ruth and Orpah before they embark on their journey.
           Naomi starts by telling her daughters-in-law to return to their respective families. (v.8) She has nothing to more to offer them, and she wishes them a blessing from the Lord for whatever future He has planned for them. (v.9) At first, both women refuse, insisting they will come with her to the home of her people in Judah. (v.10) But Naomi refuses a second time, pointing out that she is too old to remarry. By Mosaic Law, when a woman’s husband dies, his brother has the responsibility of marrying her in order to continue the family line. But Naomi is too old to bear any more sons for her daughters-in-law. (v.11) In verses 12-13, Naomi is saying, in essence, “Even if I were to marry today, would you still wait many years until my sons are of age to marry you?” The phrase in verse 13, “…the hand of the Lord has gone out against me…” indicates Naomi’s recognition of God’s punishment against Elimelech for his initial sin of taking his family out of the promised land against God’s will.
            Naomi is testing the faith of Ruth and Orpah by painting the bleakest and most discouraging picture possible of what life will be like if they remain with her. Jesus did the same for those who sought to follow Him. (Matthew 8:19-20) “Naomi’s three appeals are thus to be understood as carefully worded expressions of evangelistic warning, in which—contrary to the method often practiced today—she was seeking not to “smooth out” the hardships entailed by conversion, but in fact to highlight them in all of their potentially unappealing detail. (The Moody Bible Commentary) Ruth and Orpah are the perfect examples of the two different responses to the gospel in Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed. (Mark 4:5-7) Orpah, believing that life will be easier in her home country among her own people, says goodbye to Ruth and Naomi and leaves them. (v.14) Her faith is weak, and she is unwilling to suffer the potential hardships that will be required if she remains with her mother-in-law.
            Ruth, however, refuses to be dissuaded. When Naomi encourages her one last time to go with Orpah (v.15), Ruth responds with one of the most recognizable and oft quoted verses in scripture: “And Ruth 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.” (v.16-17) (Mark 4:8) Like Rahab, Ruth recognizes the truth of the God of Israel, and she is willing to forsake all to accompany her mother-in-law to whatever future God will prepare for them. Ruth’s response is the expression of genuine, saving faith, the same faith that was expressed by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Naomi acknowledges this and accepts Ruth’s vow and commitment. (v.18)
 
           Verses 19-22: Naomi’s response to the women of Bethlehem who welcome her back is another indication of her recognition of her sin in leaving Bethlehem in the first place. (v.21) “I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty…”. Elimelech’s decision was a choice on his part and not the will of God. However, Naomi acknowledges God’s sovereignty in not only judging and punishing Elimelech and his sons for their sin, but also in chastising her for going along with her husband’s sin. Naomi also recognizes God’s authority in her life, and that He has every right to do with her as he pleases. This is the same faith and belief expressed by Job. (Job 1:21)
            The mention of the barley harvest is key to the events which take place in the rest of the story. Chapter 1 serves as a prologue, setting the stage for the central plot which unfolds in the remaining chapters. The book is titled “Ruth”, but her story is as much about Naomi as it is her. God has brought Naomi back empty, but He is about to reward her great faith and her obedience to His leading in a mighty and bountiful way.