likely the most beautiful~Ruth 1-2

This might just be one of my favorite books in the Old Testament, Ruth the brief yet beautiful story of three righteous women.

Naomi and her family traveled to Moab to live because of famine in the land. Her husband died. Her sons took wives of the daughters of Moab. The sons died. Naomi learned that the famine had ended in Bethlehem, and she determined to go home. What a lot of family history to tell in just 6 verses Ruth 1:1-6.

Naomi loved her daughters-in-law and wanted them to have the possibility of fulfilling lives, because they were still young women. She told them to go home. Because she was such a wonderful mother-in-law neither wanted to leave. As Naomi continued to urge them to their parents' homes, she finally convinced Orpah. But Ruth would have none of it. "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; they 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." Ruth 1:16-17

This passage is powerful and likely the most beautiful in all scripture. In it Ruth shows a spirit of love, loyalty, and selflessness through sacrifice. Although Ruth loved Naomi, she sacrificed greatly, giving up her homeland, family, friends, and religion. Possibly, Ruth had been converted to the gospel, living in Naomi's home. Whatever the reason, Naomi must have been some woman to inspire this attitude in Ruth.

Another reason Ruth appears to have insisted on this course of action, was Naomi's apparent inability to work hard physically. Ruth went alone to glean in the fields. Because she was a virtuous young woman, she was treated favorably and eventually married the owner of the field, Boaz. Boaz seems to have been on the same side of virtue as Ruth, for he went before the council to claim her over another closer kinsman.

How do we liken the story of Ruth and Naomi to ourselves? Love, family loyalty, selflessness, sacrifice, hard work, and virtue are the ideals taught in Ruth 1-2. How can we develop these attributes? Ruth showed us how. She put aside her own needs to serve Naomi. This included working very hard under physically demanding circumstances. It included stepping outside her comfort zone to propose marriage to a man she did not know, because her MIL felt it best. It included leaving the home of her birth to follow a different path. It required her to live under virtues of a godly culture. It involved getting outside her own head and thinking of others. We may not be asked to do precisely these things, but difficult things may be required. We can do difficult things with grace as did Ruth. God never asks more from us than we can give. We can strive to live as Ruth for the sake of our Father in Heaven.