Today’s episode is about the book of Ruth, a part of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament - the second installment in our series on the so-called “Forgotten Books of the Bible.”
Ruth opens with a famine in Bethlehem. It forces Elimelech and Naomi to flee as refugees to Moab, where there is still food. In direct contradiction to other parts of the Bible (e.g. Ezra and Nehemiah), their sons, Mahlon and Chilion, marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. In a series of tragedies, all three of the men in Naomi's life die - first her husband, and then both of her sons. Naomi is devastated and assumes Ruth and Orpah will not follow her back to Bethlehem, where she hopes to survive by leaning on extended family. But Ruth insists on staying with her.
In the course of the story, Ruth becomes a paragon of faith and courage, a woman-oriented woman who can see possibilities in otherwise grim circumstances. Back in Bethlehem, Ruth marries Boaz, a relative of Naomi's, and they have a son, who would become the grandfather to King David.
One of only two women to have a book of the Bible named after them (the other one is Esther), Ruth is a beautiful and brave example for us today.
Feedback? I'd love to hear from you at thedailyedify@gmail.com. Thanks for listening, friends. You are loved and never alone!
