Ruth, Naomi, Boaz. You might want to consider naming your future kids these names one day...Lord willing they will follow in their footsteps. I am blown away by these timeless examples, of godliness, love, loyalty.
I think I would have to write a book to even mostly get all of my thoughts down and lessons God has taught me....but, I'll try to give you a few that will hopefully motivate you to do your own study on this beautiful short story. You may be tempted to write this story off as a chick-flick, but you should seriously consider the lessons to guys AND girls in this story. Plus...it's a true story.
1. There were fatal consequences for leaving the promised land--but Naomi followed her husband, and still modeled a godly character that caused her daughters in law to be willing to forsake their families, land, gods and all they had ever known. Even in her pain and sorrow she unselfishly tried to persuade her daughters in law to return to their families (realizing the very few options available to them in Bethlehem) Orpah returned after Naomi reasoned with both of them to return to their families and remarry. "But Ruth clung to her". She acknowledged God's sovereignty over her circumstances.
2. Ruth's incredible commitment to follow Naomi, knowing that she was forsaking all she had known (her family, her gods, her culture, her prospects to remarry, her comfort). She instead commited to care for Naomi who had nothing/no one else. She worked hard to provide for them. She graciously accepted Boaz' generosity and respected Naomi.
3. Boaz was a godly man who treated his servants well, went above and beyond the requirements to care for the poor and widowed, provided a safe environment for Ruth while guarding their reputations, and treated her with dignity (a woman, and foreigner). He accepted and even exerted effort to obtain the right to redeem Ruth (and even provided for Naomi too).
So grab your Bible--and a few commentaries if you want-- and tell me what you learned!
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