The last woman we want to discuss is one of the most well-known in the Bible: Ruth. There’s a book of the Bible dedicated to her. Her story starts with a man named Elimelech, who was from Bethlehem. When a famine swept across the land, he moved his wife, Naomi, and their two sons to a place called Moab. While there, the sons marry Moabite women- one of which is Ruth. But after some time, Elimelech and his sons die, leaving Naomi and Ruth widowed and alone. This was basically a death sentence, since men were the ones who worked, earned money, and kept their families alive. Naomi decided to leave Moab and go back home, and Ruth insisted on going along. This was very countercultural for the time. Ruth should’ve found a new husband and carried on with her life. But because Ruth loved Naomi and feared the Lord, she chose to stand by Naomi’s side. Ruth’s story is full of redemption and kindness. She put her reputation and well-being on the line to stay loyal to someone she cared about, and God rewarded her for her faithfulness. Ruth and Naomi were well taken care of, and Ruth went on to have a super impressive great-grandson (spoiler: it’s King David…and further down the line Jesus!)
Is there someone you need to stand beside even if your reputation is on the line? Is there a path of loyalty that you need to take, even if it’s not the most convenient route? God will bless us when we put comfort aside to obediently love those around us. Who needs you by their side today?
If you want to read more of Ruth's Story, check out our Bible Reading Plan that's all about her.