Finding Family: How God Connects Us in Unexpected WaysSample

Day 2: Two Grieving Women From Opposing Cultures 

A relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law isn’t always unexpected, but when it’s filled with personal sacrifice and devotion in the midst of hardship and grief, it’s an inspiring example of loving others well.

You might know this story already: Naomi, her husband Elimelech and their two sons left their home in Bethlehem to escape a famine. They moved to the neighboring country of Moab, whose idolatrous culture deeply offended faithful Jews. The family set down roots, Elimelech died and was buried there, and the boys grew up to marry Moabite women before they died too. That left Naomi alone with her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah.  

When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, Ruth wasn’t obligated to go with her; in fact Naomi released her daughters-in-law from any familial responsibility and tried to send them back to their parents’ homes where they would have the opportunity to remarry. Orpah left, but Ruth refused, saying: “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16b, NLT). 

Ruth knew that going with Naomi would likely mean a life of poverty and hardship. And, as a woman from Moab, she left her own people to live in another land where, at best, she would be considered an outsider—at worst, an enemy. She could be rejected by the Jewish community. But she went anyway.

These two women from different backgrounds could’ve easily parted ways, but they became inseparably connected as they scratched out a living and made a new home together. And when Ruth eventually married Boaz, Elimelech’s relative, they provided for Naomi’s needs, even allowing her to raise their first son as her own.

Things to Ponder:

• What can we learn from Ruth’s character? What about Naomi’s character? 
• If following Naomi most likely meant a life of poverty without a husband, why would Ruth choose it? 
• Is there anyone in your life who you have a similar level of commitment to?