The story of Ruth is a familiar one. We learn it from an early age. We are taught about her faithfulness, her servitude, and her loyalty. These are important lessons, and they have left an impression on our hearts and minds that is recollected each time we read this story again. Sometimes when I read familiar passages in the bible, I find myself reflecting only on the details I already know. That reminds me how important it can be to seek further with questions like “what was it like to live in this time?” or “what were they thinking? Feeling? What were their doubts and fears?” In the context of Ruth’s time, this brings her story alive!

Ruth was a Moabitess, related to the people of Israel through Abraham and Lot. Moab was Lot’s son born of the sinful and incestuous act of Lot’s daughter as they hid in a cave following Sodom and Gomorrah’s downfall. As sin does, this put them often at enmity with God’s chosen people. Rurth had married an Israelite who had died. Because of the death of her brother-in-law and father-in-law, the fact that she was childless, and that she had been married already, her options were very limited in terms of future life. On top of everything, Moab was experiencing a famine.

I imagine that Ruth had serious doubts and loss of hope. There was no food in Moab and no easy way to get any without a man to help plant and harvest. Having already been married, she probably was seen as “less than” in the land of Moab. Then Naomi, hearing of a good coming harvest in the land of Israel, decided to go home, in the hope that she would find food in her homeland near Bethlehem. We know their story well here; Ruth commits to serve and attaches herself to Naomi, with almost no realistic way of redemption from her state as a childless widow. Yet the new faith she’s found in the God her husband worshipped is an anchor.

The journey lasted at least two weeks. Ruth, now a stranger in a strange land, begins to glean in the fields at the beginning of barley harvest. This normally began in month of March. She continued this work for four months through the end of June (wheat harvest). This wasn’t easy work. Remember, gleaning was gathering grain left behind, not collecting full, plump heads.

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Granted, Boaz saw her working and did instruct other workers to make it easier for her at times. Still anyone, having harvested grain, can hardly understand how difficult the work would have been with little return. Imagine her state of mind each day…weary of physical work, seeing no relief in sight.

Boaz’s interaction with Ruth then begins to change things. The custom and law of kinsman redeemer begins to come into play. He shows her kindness and offers protection by inviting her to stay in his fields where she won’t be harassed as a foreigner. Imagine now, a glimmer of hope for a change of life’s circumstances begins to take form.

Finally, in the climax of the story, Ruth must go with boldness to one of the richest (powerful) men in her community. She follows Naomi’s instruction carefully but imagine what she is thinking and feeling! I submit that there is fear and trepidation. What if he rejects? What if he gets angry and removes the privileges he’s given? Yet she goes forward sustained by her yearning for a redeemer, with the anticipation of a new life coupled with her faith in Naomi’s God holding her firm.

Where are you today? Do you still feel that yearning for your redeemer, your God? Do you boldly and tremblingly approach him? Or has that eager anticipation you once felt for each encounter with Jesus waned because of the drudgery of life? Imagine how Ruth kept going, through sorrow, loss, endless hard work. She served. Waited patiently. And yearned for a redeemer. Rekindle that in your own life. Look to Ruth’s example.

by Rick Aberle