The Wonderful World Tomorrow
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The Story of Ruth
 
Suppose Oprah Winfrey referred to you by using only your first name. Would her viewers know immediately whom she was talking about? Or, what if she mentioned the name Diana when talking about English royalty? Almost everyone would know whom she meant. The late Princess Diana’s first name still gets instant recognition years after her tragic death; but yours probably doesn’t, and neither does mine.

First name recognition is something many strive for in today’s world, and something many who crave fame would pay huge sums of money to obtain. But what about an ordinary person, living in an ancient society, doing rather normal things achieving that sort of fame? Could it happen for such a person in today’s world? Perhaps not. But it did happen for a woman who sought to make a new life for herself among a people who followed a God vastly different from the many gods of her own culture.

The woman’s name was Ruth; and when her name is mentioned today, most people familiar with the Bible readily recognize it. Perhaps this recognition comes because she chose to follow a God who found her willingness to give up “her way” to follow “His way” remarkable. A book of the Bible, inspired by God and bearing her name, tells her story. It is simply called, The Book of Ruth. A cursory look at the society and its culture that Ruth gave up, to follow after the God of the ancient Israelites, will tell us why her decision was indeed extraordinary.

Ruth was a Moabitess – that is, she was of the tribe of Moab. Moab was one of the many tribes inhabiting the territories surrounding the ancient tribes of Israel in Palestine. The father of the Moabites was a son of Lot who was nephew to the famous patriarch, Abraham. Moab, often referred to as Lot’s grandson, was begotten through incest and was born after the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Moab’s progeny, who grew into the idol-worshipping tribe of Moab, inhabited an area quite close to the destroyed cities. One of the ancient prophets in the Bible – Isaiah – characterized the nation of Moab as being very proud and arrogant and given to much wrath. They had often troubled Israel through war and intrigue. Throughout their long history as neighboring tribes, there were periods of uneasy peace followed by disruptions of war between them, until a king of Judah thoroughly defeated King Mesha of Moab, ruining his land and bringing on Moab’s gradual decline.

It was during one of the relative periods of peace that a husband and his wife – Elimelech and Naomi – from the Israelite town of Bethlehem migrated to Moab where they sought escape from a curse of famine that was afflicting their homeland. Taking their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, with them, they established a new home in the land of Moab that brought them only trouble. Elimelech died, and in time his two sons married young Moabite women. Through a series of misfortunes, the two sons whose names implied physical weakness also died, leaving their two wives and their widowed mother impoverished. It was then up to the women to determine what their futures would be. Naomi told the young women to return to their parents’ homes while she determined to return to Bethlehem.

Being a member of a culture that bred pride and arrogance into its people, Ruth could easily have mirrored her culture, looking down upon the Israelites, and opting to remain in Moab, as did her sister-in-law Orpah. Notwithstanding, having been exposed to the manner of life of the Israelites, she chose to accompany Naomi to Bethlehem to dwell among a people considered by the Moabites as both inferior and, often times, an enemy. In a speech filled with humility and submissiveness – rather than the characteristic arrogance and pride of her people – Ruth chose a new home among the people of her dead husband. Her words to her mother-in-law inspire admiration in all who hear them to this day for their lyricism and apparent sincerity, but also for their great humility:

Ruth 1:16-17: And Ruth said, “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

It is easy to imagine the surprise her words later evoked from Israelites when, after hearing them repeated, they learned a Moabitess had spoken them. Setting aside the pride and arrogance of her people, Ruth came under the roof of her mother-in-law who led her to turn completely from the idolatry of her homeland to the worship of the one true God of Israel. Ruth is the great grandmother of King David, and is in the lineage of Christ.

This beautiful story is a story for every man and every woman. What has been said of Ruth will some day be said of everyone who turns to the God of the Bible, the God of Israel. We are told by the ancient prophet Zechariah in the book called by his name that all who wish to find God will, in the world to come -- the wonderful world tomorrow -- grab hold of the skirt of a Jew, as Ruth did of Naomi, to find the Way that leads to the knowledge of the one true God:

Zech 8:23: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; “In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” (KJV)

And who are the Jews that the book of Zechariah is referring to? We are told about them in Romans 2:28-29:

Romans 2:28: For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. KJV

The Jews Zechariah is referring to belong to the true spiritual household of God. They are the converted members of God’s own Church, and they come from all races and walks of life.

In seeking after the true God, Ruth’s humble example is preserved for all men and women. Ruth did a remarkable thing: she left her culture…her family…her way…to follow after the God of Israel -- to follow after His Way (see Matthew 10:37-39). In order for you and I to follow God, we must make the same choice that Ruth made. We must give up our way. In this regard, Ruth’s remarkable history is a foreshadowing of our history, both yours and mine.

In a few short days, God’s people will celebrate the important feast of Pentecost. Pentecost celebrates the beginning of the New Testament church comprised of individuals called away from their cultures, their families, to become a part of God’s household, His church. Like Ruth, God’s people have covenanted with God to follow Him in every aspect of their lives. They have given up their way to follow His way, and shown their willingness to suffer persecution if need be to forsake the ways of this world. This year Pentecost will be celebrated on June 8th. We invite you to study the story of Pentecost contained in your Bible in the book of Acts, chapters 1 and 2, then ask yourself if you are willing to forsake your way, as Ruth did, to follow God. Will God’s people truly be your people and His ways your ways?