Ruth is often discussed as a type
of the Church, but in this article we will consider those characteristics that
make her a good example for other women.
Both Ruth and Orpah evidently had
a good relationship with their mother-in-law Naomi. Both started with her on
the trip back to Bethlehem, but only Ruth completed the journey. Naomi had
tried to persuade both of them to stay in Moab. Why? Because, being Moabites
themselves, they were more likely to find husbands there than in Bethlehem.
Naomi was speaking from the point of view of the culture and society of her
time in which a single woman had no status and a woman’s primary function was
to bear a son or sons for her husband. But for Ruth there were more important
considerations than cultural and social ones. "Where you go, I will go;
and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God
my God" (Ruth 1:16).
Ruth wanted to be with Naomi and
her relatives rather than with her own relatives in Moab; and she wanted to
worship the God of Israel rather than the gods of Moab. Human sacrifice (2 Ki.
3:26,27) and sexual immorality (Num. 25:1-3) were part of the religion of
Moab. Not much is known about the worship of the Moabite national god, Chemosh,
but it is telling that after the conquests of Alexander the Great, Chemosh was
adopted by the Greeks and absorbed into the cult of Ares, the god of the brutal
aspects of warfare. In Greek mythology, Ares’ war chariot was pulled by horses
named Phobos (fear) and Deimos (terror). No wonder Ruth wanted to leave Moab
after hearing about Jehovah from Naomi. Lifelong widowhood in Israel would be
better than marriage in Moab where marriage and motherhood were tainted by the
uncleanness of idolatry.
In her attitudes Ruth anticipated
Christian teaching in which marriage and motherhood are still honorable
callings (1 Tim. 5:14; Heb. 13:4), but in which women, as well as men, are
encouraged to remain single if they have the gift of remaining single, in order
to devote themselves completely to the service of the Lord (1 Cor. 7:32-34).
Along with this New Testament
teaching, there is now, at least in the United States, decreasing social
pressure for women to marry. Why, then, are women in general, and even
Christian women, so desperate to marry that they marry unsuitable men?
Christian women marry unsaved men, abusive men, alcoholic men, irresponsible
men, and formerly married men not scripturally free to remarry. Many of these
marriages end in divorce and most are unhappy.
When Ruth did decide to marry, she
did not choose the most glamorous or physically attractive man but a man who
demonstrated godliness and kindness (Ruth 2:8-14; 3:10). He, in turn, was
attracted to her by her spiritual qualities (2:11). Too often when Christian
young people are encouraged to become better acquainted with godly, sincere
Christian young men or women, we hear remarks like, "But he’s so
bor-r-r-ing," or "She’s so dull." Too often Christian young men
and women choose their friends and spouses on the same basis as the world
does—looks, material possessions, quick wit, and so on. Too late they discover
that such attractions are too flimsy to build a life on.
After leaving Moab, Ruth became
Naomi’s care giver, in a sense. She gleaned the grain she and Naomi would eat
and threshed it as well. She was also a companion to Naomi. Was Naomi thankful?
Not at first, anyway:"I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home
again empty" (Ruth 1:21). "Well!" Ruth might have
thought, "and after I left everything to stay with her." But there is
no hint that Ruth was annoyed with Naomi or curtailed her care of her. Many
people nowadays are care givers for elderly relatives. Most of these care
givers are women. Many of the elderly relatives are no more appreciative of the
care and concern they receive than was Naomi, some even less so. Ruth is a
model to those care givers whose efforts are greeted with complaining. She had
committed herself to serving Jehovah and Naomi and did not allow Naomi’s lack
of appreciation to turn her aside from her commitment.
Naomi eventually started thinking
about Ruth’s welfare and in due time Ruth married Boaz and gave birth to a son.
Naomi became nurse to the child (Ruth 4:16). We need women who, like Naomi,
will help new mothers care for their infants. Since women often come home from
the hospital only 24-48 hours after childbirth and often do not live near older
female relatives because of the general mobility of
American society, many young mothers are exhausted and overwhelmed by the care
their newborns require. What an opportunity for Christian women to minister to
these young mothers in their own families, in their assemblies, and in the
community at large by offering emotional and practical support when needed.
Even though Ruth and Naomi lived
over 3,000 years ago, they provide many lessons for women today. We need more
women who will make wise decisions and commit themselves to serving God and
others.
FRAGMENT Love to Christ smooths the path of duty and gives
wings to the feet to travel it. It is the bow that impels the arrow of
obedience; it is the mainspring moving the wheels of duty; it is the strong arm
tugging the oar of diligence. Charles H. Spurgeon