During the time of the Judges a man named Elimelek and his wife took their two sons and moved from Bethlehem to Moab. He saved his family from a famine in Judah, and it was meant to be a temporary situation, but Elimelek died in Moab. Naomi found wives for her sons among the Moabites so the family stayed where they were.

Then Naomi’s sons died and she and her daughters-in-law were three grieving widows living together. Eventually, Naomi decided to return to her husband’s property in Bethlehem.

By comparison with the terrible stories we read in Judges, Naomi’s sad life experiences seem almost normal. She went through terrible sadness, but it was the kind of sadness we all expect to have in this life. It didn’t involve sin or betrayal; it was the kind of grief that comes from love.

Naomi and Her Daughters-in-Law

Naomi heard that the famine had ended in Judah where Bethlehem was situated. She decided to go back home to live on her husband’s property. This may have been soon after her sons died since her two daughters-in-law were still living with her. They were young and could have gone home to see if their mothers could arrange new marriages for them, but they stayed with Naomi. They even decided to go back to Bethlehem with her.

Naomi tried to persuade Orpah and Ruth to return to their mothers’ homes. She was grateful for their kindness to her, and to her sons while they were alive, but she didn’t want them to waste the rest of their lives staying with her. She kissed them goodbye and wept with them.

But the women didn’t want to leave Naomi, they wanted to go with her. She protested that she had nothing to give them and no prospects for their future. She would have no more sons, and even if she had, by the time a son grew up and married the widow of one of his deceased brothers, she might be past childbearing age.

Orpah agreed with what Naomi said. She kissed her mother-in-law goodbye and went back to her people and their gods.

Ruth Remains with Naomi

Ruth, however, was very attached to Naomi. She also wanted to know Naomi’s God, so she made vows of loyalty to Naomi and stayed with her. From then on Naomi’s destiny was Ruth’s destiny and they traveled on together.

It was close to a one hundred mile journey from Moab to Bethlehem. When the two women reached their destination, it created quite a stir in town. The Judean women who remembered Naomi wanted to hear all about what happened while she was away.

Naomi must have felt a new flood of grief as she told the story of losing her husband and sons. Her name Naomi, which meant “pleasant” no longer felt right to her. She suggested that her new name should be Mara, which meant “bitter,” but the new name didn’t stick. Bitterness was not what God had in mind for Naomi.

Gleaning in Boaz’s Field

Naomi and Ruth came home in the middle of spring, as the barley harvest was beginning in Bethlehem. Ruth offered to go and glean grain behind the harvesters and Naomi sent her out with gratitude. Ruth ended up gleaning in the field of Boaz, a member of the clan of Elimelek. He came to check on the harvest and Ruth caught his eye.

When he learned who she was, he welcomed her and encouraged her to keep gleaning in his fields. He offered her a share in the provisions laid out for the workers. Ruth was touched by his kindness and when she asked why he favored her, he told her knew all about her kindness to Naomi.

Ruth’s good reputation had preceded her.

She came home with an extraordinary thirty pounds of grain and Naomi knew Ruth couldn’t have been so successful without favor from someone.

“Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!” Ruth 2:19

Naomi was glad when she heard that Boaz was the man who had shown Ruth favor. She anticipated a whirlwind romance for Ruth and Boaz.

Ruth at the Threshing Floor

Naomi quickly put together a plan for Ruth. She told her to dress up, put on perfume and go to the threshing floor where Boaz would sleep that night. When he had gone to bed, Ruth was to lie down at his feet and wait for him to wake up.

A man’s servant was welcome to lie at his feet in those days. The master would even share his covering with the servant on cold nights. When Boaz woke and found Ruth at his feet he realized that she was putting herself under his protection. She told him that she knew he was the guardian-redeemer for her family. She was willing to marry him.

Boaz blessed her for choosing him when she could have sought a younger husband. He had already looked into the possibility of redeeming Elimelek’s property and marrying Ruth, now he felt free to make the arrangements.

Ruth slipped away from the threshing floor before daybreak and Boaz gave her a gift of grain to take home. Naomi was thrilled when she heard how well the conversation had gone.

“Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” Ruth 3:18

Boaz Marries Ruth

Boaz went to the town gate and sat down to wait for the relative whose claim as guardian redeemer was closer to Elimelek’s family than his own. When the relative came by, Boaz got ten witnesses and proposed that the man purchase the property Naomi was willing to sell.

The man was eager to buy it until he learned the deal included marrying Ruth so he could produce an heir for Elimelek’s family through her. He already had his estate in order and he didn’t want another man’s child to complicate things, so he declined the purchase. He told Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he handed one of his sandals to Boaz as a sign that he relinquished his rights.

Boaz spelled out the terms of the deal he had just made.

“Today you are all witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion, and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will no disappear from among his family or his hometown. Today you are all witnesses!” Ruth 4:9-10

The witnesses affirmed the arrangements and blessed Boaz and Ruth. They hoped Israel would be built up through the offspring of this noble couple.

Journeying Through the Old Testament

Reading the Old Testament is like riding a roller coaster. The Bible reports on the facts without editorial comment and that can be disconcerting as darkness battles light in the stories.

The book of Judges got darker and darker until it was almost unbearable to read. But that book was only mirroring the history of Israel. It didn’t condone people’s behavior or hold it up as a model for another nation to follow.

In today’s reading we encountered Boaz and Ruth who were almost too good to be true. They both had stellar character, along with an inspiring love story. Through them, Naomi – who lost everyone she loved at one point – got a new lease on life, a secure home, and a bright future. What a relief after the gloom of Judges!

Reading the Bible is a lot like watching the evening news, actually. Do you ever see a news story that makes you exclaim, “I can’t believe that really happened! What’s wrong with people?” Then a minute later you see someone do something so selfless and kind it brings tears to your eyes.

Welcome to God’s daily experience. God sees all of what we see and more, and he has all of human history stored in his memory bank. What we read in the Bible is a fraction of what God knows about people.

There are times when God intervenes directly in human affairs, as he did at Mount Sinai. Then there are stretches of Scripture where he seems to step back and watch as he did in Judges and Ruth. What are we to make of that?

God is absolutely sovereign and whatever he does is perfect and just. When he acts, he is perfect; when he is silent, he is perfect. It is sinful people who trouble the earth and each other. Here is what God says in Isaiah 46:8-10:

“Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.

Remember the former things, those of long ago;

I am God, and there is no other;

I am God and there is none like me.

I make known the end from the beginning,

from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say: My purpose will stand,

and I will do all that I please.”