“Your
people will be my people and your God my God.” (v.16)
As we
turn now to read the book of Ruth—which takes place during the time of
Judges—we see how God continued to work out the salvation of His people. One
key theme that appears in the book of Ruth is redemption. Through it (the
book), we shall see how God takes tragedy and redeems it into beauty, love,
restoration, and salvation.
As the
story opens, we see that Naomi and her family have chosen to leave Israel and
go to Moab. Not only do they leave their land, but the sons marry foreign
women, a direct violation of God's covenant with His people (Deut. 7:3). Then
tragedy strikes as Naomi loses her husband and both sons. She decides to return
to Judah, but she feels empty and bitter toward God (v. 20).
In
contrast to Naomi, Ruth, this Moabite woman, who was free to stay with her
people and idols, chose to accompany her bitter mother-in-law, and worship the
God of Israel. She must have seen something in Naomi that caused her to stand
by her and return with her to Bethlehem-Judah. It wasn’t money, nor
inheritance, nor land, not even another son to wed. I believe she saw repentance
in Naomi who was returning to not only her homeland but her God as well.
Naomi,
the prodigal daughter, returns home to her people and her God. This is only the
beginning of a beautiful story of redemption and restoration, renewal and
revival.
The Truth
“And do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of
God.” (Romans 12:2)
