Ruth and Naomi

The Book of Ruth is found in the Old Testament of the Bible, and tells the story of a Moabite woman who actually loved her Jewish mother-in-law! Famine in the land of Israel had sent Naomi's family on a quest for food, which they discovered in the land of ancient Moab.

Naomi was married to Elimelech, and had two sons named Mahlon and Chilion. The family lived in Moab for many years, and the two sons married Moabite women.

One was Ruth, the other was named Orpah. Tragically, Naomi's husband and both of her sons died, so she decided to move back to her homeland of Bethlehem. Naomi told Ruth she did not have to come with her, but Ruth loved Naomi so much that she wouldn't leave her. Her words to Naomi have become a very famous quote, and I love the way it is written in the King James Version of the Bible.

Entreat me not to leave thee... In other words, don't go without me!
She said "Where you go, I will go. Your people shall be my people, and your God will be my God."

The women journeyed together back to the land of Israel, and Ruth went to work gathering barley to help care for her mother-in-law.  A man named Boaz owned the field where Ruth was gleaning barley, and he took notice of her hard work, and the love she had for Naomi.

As they became better acquainted, he eventually fell in love with her, and asked her to marry him. They are ancestors to the Messiah that God promised he would send to Israel, none other than Jesus Christ himself! It's a story of love, romance, hard work... and the story of God's really good plan for the entire family of Naomi, and anyone else who is striving to live their lives according to the dictates of the Bible!