Ruth

Ruth was born in Moab, a nation descended from Lot and often hostile to Israel. She married an Israelite man whose family had fled to Moab during a famine. For about ten years Ruth lived with her husband, mother-in-law Naomi, father-in-law Elimelech, and brother-in-law and his wife. Then tragedy struck: Elimelech died, followed by both sons, leaving three widows in difficult circumstances.

When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, she urged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab where they could remarry and find security. Orpah reluctantly agreed, but Ruth refused to leave. In one of Scripture's most beautiful declarations of loyalty, Ruth told Naomi: 'Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.' Ruth chose faithfulness to Naomi and faith in Naomi's God over comfort and cultural familiarity.

Upon arriving in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest, Ruth took initiative to provide for herself and Naomi. She asked permission to glean in the fields—gathering leftover grain, a provision God's law made for the poor and foreigners. By God's providence, she ended up gleaning in fields belonging to Boaz, a relative of Naomi's deceased husband and a man of standing and godly character.

Boaz noticed Ruth and inquired about her. Learning of her loyalty to Naomi and her faith in Israel's God, he showed her extraordinary kindness. He commanded his workers to protect her, allowed her to glean among the sheaves, and even instructed them to pull out extra grain for her. He provided her food and water, treating her with honor and respect that went far beyond what was required for a foreign widow.

When Naomi learned Ruth had gleaned in Boaz's field, she recognized God's providence and explained that Boaz was a 'kinsman-redeemer'—a close relative who could buy back family property and marry a widow to preserve the family line. Following Naomi's counsel, Ruth approached Boaz at the threshing floor and asked him to spread his garment over her, symbolically requesting him to marry her as kinsman-redeemer.

Boaz was honored by Ruth's request and praised her character, noting that she could have pursued younger men but chose to honor family obligations. Though another relative had first rights of redemption, that man declined when he learned it meant marrying Ruth. Boaz publicly redeemed Elimelech's property and took Ruth as his wife. God blessed their union with a son, Obed, who became the grandfather of King David. Ruth's faith and faithfulness placed her in the messianic line, making this Moabite woman an ancestor of Jesus Christ and demonstrating that God's salvation extends to all peoples.