April 15 - Ruth 1:1-18

April 15 - Ruth 1:1-18

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

What a beautiful story of love and friendship. What a blessing Ruth is to her mother-in-law. She is willing to leave her coun try and accompany Naomi into another land, leaving all she knows behind. “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”  Such love! I was so blessed to be given a truly wonderful mother-in-law. Thanks be to God!

May you find such a relationship with your mother-in-law or daughter-in-law, as the case may be. May you bless one another in true love for one another.

 

Heavenly Father, I have to admit although I love all of Your word, I am so glad to be in the book of Ruth where there is good news to read about.  What love Ruth had for her mother-in-law and how loyal she was to her as well. It is often that you find such love and loyalty outside of family relationships, but I believe the bond of being a child of God should be stronger than that of family.  God’s family is forever and our earthly family is temporary.  I thank You, Father for the many relationships You have given me through the bond of Your love and Your Son.  Help me be loyal and loving to Your followers, as I would my own family. 

In Jesus’ name.

Amen!

 

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