Who was Ruth in the Bible?
Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David and the daughter-in-law of Naomi. She said the well-known words, "Whither thou goest, I will go" (Ruth 1:16 KJV). Ruth is a traditionally feminine name with Hebrew roots and origins in the Bible which means "companion" or "friend."
Sometimes, you can tell a lot about people just by watching them interact with others and studying their body language. It’s evident from the Bible account that others knew a lot about Ruth’s character just by watching her.
Ruth is an amazing woman of the Bible! She is a woman of great character who embodies many positive traits. She is known for her faithfulness, loyalty, virtue, and love. She was a beautiful, kind-hearted woman who had a great love for God and an abiding faith in Him and His plan.
The characteristics of Ruth in the Bible also include her being a hard worker, and someone who takes care of those around her.
For modern day Christian women, she is an excellent role model as we try to live a godly life.
What Can We Learn from Ruth in the Bible?
The Power of Faith
Ruth showed remarkable faith for such a young believer. Faith that there was still a purpose for her ahead. Faith to believe that God was who He said He was. And faith to believe that God would provide for her and Naomi.
If you’re in an unsure place, start with faith. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as, “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
You might not be able to see what God is doing, but trust that He is moving.
Trust in Redemption
Against all odds redemption is always possible. Ruth had no reason to believe she had earned anything but believed God was everything she needed. Ruth believed God would provide and in that place of faith God did a miraculous work to redeem Ruth. He took a poor, hurting outcast and healed her, provided for her, and brought her a great love with Boaz.
Redemption is possible in your life. No matter where you come from or what you've been through, God has a plan for you that far surpasses all of that.
Having faith is life changing.
Naomi and Ruth suffered terrible misfortune: the men in their family, including both their husbands, died. Marooned in Moab, the older woman Naomi decided to return to her home in Bethlehem. Ruth, though a Moabite herself, decided to go with her. She pledged her loyalty to Naomi, and they set out on the long journey, arriving in time for the barley harvest. Ruth was poor and a foreigner, but she listened to the advice of an older, wiser woman. In turn, Naomi was rewarded by Ruth’s unfaltering loyalty. The message? Courage and ingenuity triumph over misfortune. The story of Ruth also celebrates the family and the way it continues through many generations. Ruth, a childless widow at the beginning of the story, became the great-grandmother of Israel’s great king, David. Finally, the story of Naomi’s family and the way it endured is a universal theme. Even Ruth, a foreigner from the despised Moabites, could move God’s plan toward fulfillment.
The story of Ruth is a powerful reminder that God rewards those who are faithful to him. It also teaches us that it is never too late to start following God. No matter where we have been or what we have done, he is always willing to welcome us back with open arms.
After arriving in Bethlehem, widowed and with no means of providing for herself and Naomi, her mother-in-law, Ruth went out into the fields to pick up the leftover grain, a practice known as gleaning. This was an Israelite law that provided a way for the poor and needy, like Ruth and Naomi, to feed themselves.
As Ruth was gleaning, the owner of the field, whose name was Boaz, stopped by to check on the harvesters. He noticed Ruth and asked the workers, “Who is that young woman?” The workers replied, “She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi. She asked this morning if she could gather the grain behind the harvesters, and she’s been hard at work ever since. She’s not stopped except for a few minutes.”
Impressed by this hard worker, Boaz told Ruth that she could glean in his fields as long as she wanted. Then, he invited her to eat with the harvesters. Not only that, but Boaz told his workers not to bother her, but to drop even more grain for her to gather.
Ruth was overwhelmed, and asked Boaz, “Why are you so kind to me? I’m just a foreigner.” And Boaz said, “Yes, I know. But I have heard everything about you. I have heard about the kindness and love that you have shown to Naomi since the death of your husband and her son. I have heard that you left your family and have come here to live among strangers.”
How Ruth cared for Naomi was obviously the talk of Bethlehem! Even though she was a stranger among them, the people knew she was kind, loving, and a compassionate woman — just by watching her actions! Her reputation had spread so that when the harvesters told Boaz who was in his fields, he had already heard about her.
Ruth’s life exhibited admirable qualities. She was hardworking, loving, kind, and faithful. She had gained a reputation for these qualities but only because she exhibited them consistently. Wherever she went, Ruth’s character remained unchanged.
Exercise:
What do your actions say about your reputation? Remember, a good reputation is something we earn when we consistently live out those qualities, we believe in.