The book of Ruth is a beautiful love story of redemption, set in “the times that the Judges ruled”. According to Judges 21:25, this was a dark time in Israel’s history when “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” If you’ve read the book of Judges, then you know that the kind of moral decline and spiritual deficit they were in is much like our times today. Despite the wicked environment, there were still some faithful followers who left a legacy of love and loyalty. And if they can do it, so can we!
Failure and Famine
Israel was in this dismal condition because they failed to:
- drive out the inhabitants of the Promised Land
- invest the word of God into the next generation
- take heed to God’s warning against falling into idolatry (Read Judges Chapter 2)
The hand of the Lord was against them for their rebellion, so they had fierce oppression, which led to things like famine in their land. When people are starving they do some questionable things, and that scenario led a man named Elimelech to travel from Bethlehem to the land of Moab with his wife Naomi and their two sons. (Ruth 1:1-2)
Moab was the product of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his oldest daughter. (Genesis 19:37) The Moabites were a thorn in the side of Israel, and they worshipped the evil god Chemosh with child sacrifice. Not the kind of place you’d want to take the family.
Elimelech’s Legacy
Elimelech’s name means “My God is King”, but I think his actions prove who is really on the throne of his heart. In these verses we see Elimelech:
- forget the faithfulness of God
- forfeit the blessing of God
- forsake the will of God
- find the judgment of God
The lesson we learn from Elimelech’s legacy is that we can’t fulfill our purpose outside of the will of God. In order to leave a legacy of love and loyalty, we have to trust God and obey Him.
Psalms 37:3~ Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Provision and a Decision
The next person mentioned in the text is Elimelech’s wife Naomi. Her name means “pleasant”. Verses 3-7 tell us that she becomes a widow, and then bereft of her only children, all within a span of about ten years. She is left with her two daughters-in-law in a pagan land without the protection or provision of her husband or sons. Can you imagine the heartache she must’ve been feeling?
Well, Naomi hears that the Lord had provided for his people in Bethlehem which means “the house of bread”. The famine was lifted and there’s no reason for her to stay in Moab any longer. So she makes the choice to return home.
In verses 8-13, Naomi urges Orpah and Ruth three times to return to their mother’s house and to their gods. She tells them their future would be bleak as foreigners, outcasts, and poor widows. And that she doesn’t have anything to offer them.
Naomi has lost hope for her own future, but God is always faithful. He restores hope to the hopeless!
Faithlessness Leaves 1:14-15
Orpah decides that the trip to Bethlehem isn’t worth it for her, so she goes back to her people and her gods. It’s obvious from her weeping that she loved her Mother-in-law, but she decided not to follow her into an uncertain future in an unknown land.
Orpah’s legacy is that she chose to leave Naomi, and nothing else is recorded about her. But we see a different legacy left by Ruth.
“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.”
Loyalty Cleaves 1:16-17
Ruth’s words to Naomi are some of the most beautiful recorded in scripture. They’re often used in wedding vows as couples pledge their life-long loyalty to each other. This monologue reveals Ruth’s love for and loyalty to Naomi, and to the One True God.
Ruth’s name means “friend” or “friendship”, and we see her being a true friend to Naomi when she needed one the most. She reaches out to her in her time of need, even while she herself is grieving the loss of her husband. Ruth puts her arms around her Mother-in-law and follows her by faith back to Bethlehem. She fully expects a bleak, barren, and broke existence ahead of her.
What an amazing woman! She gave up her family, friends, familiarity, and false religion to follow God because she knew He was real and He was worth it. What a testimony to Naomi’s character and witness while in Moab! Both women set a glowing example for women today.
Proverbs 17:17~ A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
What will your legacy be?
Whether we want to or not, each one of us will leave a legacy when we die. We’ll be remembered for something. I want to leave a legacy of love and loyalty to Christ, and I want to be known as a faithful, fruitful woman who lived for God’s glory.
If your desire is to leave a legacy of love and loyalty, then look to Ruth and follow her lead. Be a strong-willed, selfless servant like Ruth. And cleave to the women who point you to the Lord like Naomi. Follow them as they’re following Christ.
Pray With Confidence
If you would like to grow in your prayer life, you should check out Pray with Confidence. It’s a website for helping women overcome prayer obstacles, and I am one of the 40 monthly contributors. Here are a couple of links I think will be a blessing to you:
2 Things to Remember to Find Peace in Chaos by Annie McGuire
Waiting on God? 10 Scriptures to Pray While Waiting by Karen O’Reilly, contributing writer at Scriptural Grace.
When you are done reading those articles, you will want to check out the prayer resources, Bible verses, and tough questions tabs as well. There are so many great options to boost your spiritual growth!
New Resource Library
I have also created a resource library with tools for spiritual growth here at Daily His Disciple. There are scripture lists for topical study and memorization, and more Bible study tools will be added regularly. Simply enter your email address and hit subscribe to get the link to the resource library and the password.
You will also get my blog posts in your email, in addition to access to these Bible study resources. I only post weekly or bi-weekly so I won’t flood your inbox.
If you are already subscribed to Daily His Disciple, just email me and I will send you the link and password!
Related Topics:
5 Properties of Biblical Discipleship
9 Characteristics of a Teacher of Good Things
The Legacy I Leave Today ~ A Poem for Mothers
I love this part “I want to leave a legacy of love and loyalty to Christ. And I want to be known as a faithful and fruitful woman who lived for God’s glory” Word 🙌. Awesome reminder for we children of God.
Praise the Lord! 🙌🏼
Very good advice to follow the women who follow Christ especially at a time when many have drifted from the right path. The story of Ruth and Naomi is one that cannot easily escape my mind. Both of them were so selfless, kind and loving. I want to leave a legacy of well-taught children in terms of the word of God so that they can also have something to base their teachings to their children.
Praise the Lord! Greats a great legacy to leave. 🙂