TALE AS OLD AS TIME "Babe Ruth"

A famine in Judah forces Naomi and her husband to leave Israel and move to Moab, where their sons marry Moabite women. When Naomi's husband and sons die. she decides to return to her home in Israel, and her daughter-in-law Ruth chooses to go with her. Ruth lived during the time of the judges.

A little background on Moab. The Moabite nation was the result of the incestuous relationship between Abraham’s nephew Lot and Lot’s older daughter (Genesis 19:30–37). You may remember that Lot escaped the destruction of Sodom and Gamorrah with the help of angels sent by God. Lots wife turned in disobedience to the command of God to look back at Sodom their former home. She was turned to a pillar of salt. Only Lot and his daughters escaped. The eldest daughter fearful their family line would be lost hatches a plan to have family offspring. She causes her father to drink wine until he is drunk and then sleeps with him. Her offspring becomes the nation of Moab.

Moab grew into a nation of idolators. As Israel journeyed through the wilderness toward the promised land Moab refused to grant them passage over their land. The King of Moab was fearful of the Israelites. He called on a prophet Balaam to curse them. He paid him a great deal of money to do so. But each time Balaam attempted to curse Israel, God caused a blessing over Israel to come out of his mouth instead of the curse. Eventually Moab finds success in seducing Israel to sin by allow Moabite young women to marry Israel young men. The women kept to their practices of idolatry and drew their husbands away from worship of God alone.

The book of Ruth gives us a close look at how response to setbacks, difficulties and challenges can bring us closer to God’s promise or cause us to drift away.

The Story of Ruth: A Series of Setbacks

In chapter 1, Naomi, her husband, and their two sons were forced to leave their homeland in Judah due to famine. Shortly after, Naomi's husband dies. Her sons marry Moabite women, but for ten years, the women remain barren. Eventually, both of Naomi's sons die, leaving her and her two daughters-in-law widowed.

Though Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi, chapter 1 ends with Naomi's bitter complaint:

"I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me."

In chapter 2, Naomi finds hope when Boaz enters the scene as a potential husband for Ruth. However, Boaz does not immediately propose, and no moves are made—at least not at first. So, while the chapter ends with renewed hope, there is still suspense and uncertainty about how things will unfold.

In chapter 3, Naomi and Ruth take a bold step. In the middle of the night, Ruth approaches Boaz on the threshing floor and, in essence, asks him to spread his wing over her, symbolizing a desire for marriage. Yet just when it seems the tragedy of Ruth’s widowhood might be resolved in a beautiful love story, another obstacle arises: another man has the right, according to Hebrew custom, to marry Ruth first. Boaz, being honorable, will not proceed without giving this man his rightful opportunity.

Again, chapter 3 ends with suspense and the possibility of another setback.

God's Work Amid Setbacks

Setbacks, disappointments, and roadblocks are part of life. We expect them, and often, we try to avoid them, seeking the easiest path. Orpah, Naomi's other daughter-in-law, chose this path:

"And again they wept together, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye. But Ruth clung tightly to Naomi."
– Ruth 1:14 (NLT)

Orpah, who had also suffered great loss, couldn’t go on and was easily convinced to return home. This isn't to criticize her—she endured significant pain. But it illustrates that in the face of trials, we can either retreat into comfort or press on.

Ruth, on the other hand, left the comfort of her homeland, choosing to live with Naomi and embrace the God of Israel. Her hope was not in her own accomplishments, but in a higher purpose, one she believed was tied to Naomi:

"Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God."
– Ruth 1:14-16 (NLT)

What Ruth Could Have Missed

Let’s consider what Ruth could have missed if she had returned home with Orpah. Boaz, upon seeing Ruth, gave instructions to his workers:

"Let her gather grain right among the sheaves without stopping her. And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don’t give her a hard time!"

This shows the beauty of how God works miracles after setbacks. Ruth went to the fields with modest expectations, hoping to gather enough food for the day. But God had a bigger plan—a plan of blessing and abundance. He turned a full day's work into just a few hours, and if Ruth had turned back, she would have missed it.

This moment sets God's larger plan for Ruth and Naomi’s family into motion. When Ruth returns home early with an abundance of grain, Naomi realizes Boaz has taken notice of Ruth. Naomi then advises Ruth to take the bold step of lying at Boaz's feet, opening the door for Boaz to claim Ruth as his wife.

The Fulfillment of Hope

In chapter 4, the hope of both Ruth and Boaz is realized. The nearest kinsman declines his right to marry Ruth, allowing Boaz to step in. Ruth and Boaz marry, and the story comes full circle:

"So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. The women of the town said to Naomi, 'Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age, for he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!' Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. The neighbor women said, 'Now at last Naomi has a son again!' And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David."
– Ruth 4:13-17

Application: Moving Forward After Setbacks

What do you do after a crisis, setback, or disappointment? Look at what Ruth did:

"When Ruth went back to work again..."

When you don’t know what to do, the simple answer is: Do what you know to do. Ruth went back to work, and in doing so, she walked into the blessings God had prepared ahead of her.

The field—and everyone in it—belongs to God. Satan may try to block your blessings, but he doesn’t own the field. Only you can prevent yourself from receiving what God has in store by turning back.

In this story, Boaz represents Christ. He redeems Ruth and Naomi, just as Christ redeems us:

Summary

Whatever you’re going through, don’t give up. Don’t turn back. God has prepared a place for you:

"You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings."
– Psalm 23:5

God has placed blessings ahead for you—step into the field and receive them.

This revision should make the blog post easier to read and follow. Let me know if you'd like any further changes!

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