Once upon a time, there was a family that lived in a land called Bethlehem. The family consisted of a man, Elimelech, his wife, Naomi, and their two sons. There was not enough food in Bethlehem, so the family moved to another land called Moab. There they had enough bread and could live happily.
But then something sad happened. Elimelech died, and Naomi was very sad. Their two sons married women from Moab. One woman was called Orpah and the other was called Ruth. Naomi loved her daughters-in-law very much.
After some time, Naomi’s sons also died. Now Naomi was alone with Orpah and Ruth. Naomi felt very sad and lost. She heard that there was food again in Bethlehem and decided to go home.
Naomi said to Orpah and Ruth: “Go back to your families. I can’t take care of you. You shall be happy.”
Orpah kissed Naomi and went back to her family. But Ruth hugged Naomi tightly and didn’t want to leave.
Ruth said, “I am going with you, Naomi! Where you go, I want to go too. Your people are my people, and your God is my God. I won’t leave you!”
Naomi was touched and glad that Ruth wanted to stay with her. They traveled together to Bethlehem. They arrived there when the barley fields stood bright golden in the sun. People were happy to see Naomi, but she couldn’t stop missing her family.
But Naomi was not alone, for Ruth was with her and loved her very much.
Message of history
Ruth shows us the importance of being faithful and kind to our friends and family. God sees our love and faithfulness and blesses us for it.
Bible passage
The story of Ruth and her loyalty begins in the book of Ruth, chapter 1, verses 1-22:
*”It happened at the time when the judges judged that a famine arose in the country. Then a man went out from Bethlehem in Judah to stay in the territory of Moab with his wife and two sons. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife Naomi, and his two sons, Machlon and Kilyon, Efratites from Bethlehem in Judah. And they came to the land of Moab and stayed there. Then Elimelech the husband of Naomi died, and she was left with her two sons. They took Moabite women; one was called Orpah, the other Ruth. And they lived there for about ten years. Then the two, Machlon and Kilyon, also died, so that the woman was left alone after the death of her two sons and her husband.
So she set out with her daughters-in-law and returned from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and had given them bread. So she left the place where she had been, and her two daughters-in-law with her. And they set out to return to the land of Judah. Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, turn back, each one to her mother’s house.” May the Lord show you kindness, as you have done to the dead and to me. May the Lord grant you to rest, each one of you in her husband’s house. And she kissed them. Then they lifted up their voices and wept, and said to her, “We will go with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters.” Why do you want to go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb who could become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go! ‘Cause I’m too old to see a man again. And if I were to say: I have hope! and if I married a man that night and gave birth to sons, would you wait until they had grown up? Is that why you wanted to shut yourself up and not take a husband? Not so, my daughters! For it grieves me greatly for your sake, that the hand of the Lord is stretched out against me. Then they lifted up their voices and wept more, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law; But Ruth clung to her. But she said, “Behold, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods; turn back, too, after your sister-in-law! But Ruth answered, “Do not urge me to leave you and turn back, lest I follow you.” For where you go, there I will go, and where you stay, there I will stay. Your people are my people, and your God is my God! Where you die, there I will die, there I will be buried. The Lord shall do this to me, and add this, that only death will separate me from you. When she saw that she insisted on going with her, she ceased to persuade her.
So the two walked together until they came to Bethlehem. And when they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole city was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” And she said to them, “Do not call me Naomi, call me Marah.” For the Almighty has done many bitter things to me. I went out full, and the Lord brought me home empty. Why do you call me Naomi? For the Lord has begotten against me, and the Almighty has done evil to me. So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth of Moab, her daughter-in-law, who was returning from the territory of Moab; and they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.” *
