Women of the Bible - Lessons from Ruth

I was a stranger in a foreign land.

At least it felt foreign to me--not the road I'm used to travelling. Nor the means. I hadn't taken a city bus in about fifteen years, but this past week I felt it was time for a new adventure. Can you call going to the passport office downtown an adventure? I think my kids would. And we did.

The first day I went with my daughter. "What's this for? What's that? Why is that seat flipped up...?" I had so many questions.

Followed by, "Don't push that, mom!"

It was all very exciting to me. And we even met a few panhandlers while we were at it.

The next day I was called back to the passport office. This time the boys came with us and brought one of their friends.

While we were out and about, Madison picked up a vintage typewriter from one of the antique stores. We're told it's probably a 1920 model. And if you've ever seen one of these babies, you might have noticed that it's a heavy little piece of equipment.

Just carrying it from the store to the bus took a lot of effort on Maddy's part. Thankfully the boys were with us to help carry the load. But here's the thing... it wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't hopped on the wrong bus--twice. Yeah, I was a little mixed up with bus routes that lead us all over downtown before we were finally on our way home.

You know what I noticed in all of this? The kids trust me. It wouldn't matter where I'm taking them, or how many twists and turns there are in the road, they are secure in the knowledge that I'll keep them safe wherever they go.

I got to thinking about Ruth, and how she chose to follow her mother-in-law into a strange land. And the thing about Ruth is--she was secure in the knowledge that God would keep her safe where ever she went.

Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. - Ruth 1:16

What is particularly interesting about Ruth is that she is the only woman (other than the Proverbs 31 woman) that the Bible refers to as "virtuous." The earliest use of the word referred to men of strength, and is now commonly defined as "moral character." With that in mind we can assume she had strength of character.

I do have a free Bible study on the book of Ruth which goes into detail, but today let's look at just a few of lessons we glean from her.

She Surrendered Her Life
The decision that Ruth made to follow Naomi required a complete surrender of all that she was. She was a Moabite who was not only leaving her home, but also leaving her people behind. There was a long history of conflict between the Moabites and the Isrealites so choosing to live with them was a giant step of faith and a great sacrifice.

She Worked Hard
Hard work is a virtue. We see it in the virtuous character of Ruth, and again in Proverbs. Ruth went out to the fields daily to glean.

And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. - Ruth 2:2

She Was Humble
Ruth new that she was a stranger in the land and didn't take their kindness for granted. In the same way we aren't to take our faith for granted. It is a privilege and honor to be united with God.

Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? - Ruth 2:10

Her Kindness Was Evident
Ruth did so much for her mother Naomi that her kindness was evident to all who knew them.

And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. Ruth 2:11

She Was Faith-Focused
Ruth was mindful of where she came from, and she desired to serve the God of the Israelite's—the one true God. She was willing to give up everything that she had to be a part of His people and their faith.

She Prepared Herself for Her Kinsman Redeemer
Ruth was instructed by her mother-in-law to do three things before going to see Boaz. She was to wash herself, anoint herself, and put her "raiment" on. This is an example to all of us that we must prepare ourselves for our Savior.

We are washed with water by the Word, we are anointed by the Holy Spirit and we are clothed in a robe of righteousness.

I hope you have enjoyed this peek into the life of Ruth today. If you are interested in digging deeper, please grab a free copy of the Bible study that I've put together. You can find it here.

You are loved by an almighty God,



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