Not sure why this story is before Rahab's story in Ann Voskamp's devotional.
Ruth's story takes place during the time of the Judges - a period after Israel enters the Promised Land but before they had established Kings.
During a famine, Naomi moved with husband and two sons to Moab. While in that land her husband died and her two sons married Moabite women. Then both her sons died as well.
Naomi is a widow immigrant - living in a foreign land - no social security checks coming in - no natural relatives and the safety net they provide.
Her two daughter-in-laws themselves widows take care of Naomi - her social security - a cultural expectation.
But soon after, Naomi decides to return home - she has no reason to stay in Moab - Judah is healthy again. And in considering this - she releases both her daughters-in-law from their social obligation. They were bound to her and bound to marry her sons - which was not happening in her old age
One of her daughters-in-laws does go back to her mother to ultimately remarry. But her other daughter-in-law utters some of the most powerful words ever written.
"16 But Ruth replied, “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. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” 18 When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more."Leaving to return with Naomi was costly. Naomi could not offer Ruth a son to marry. She had no family and would be living as a foreigner in Israel and ultimately would be left with nothing when Naomi died. But her love was so strong for Naomi that she disavowed her own life. Not only does she join with Naomi, she converts her faith - "your God will be my God."
Ultimately, destitute with her mother-in-law in Judah (she's picking up leftover wheat to survive) with no hope of marriage, God provides a husband - she gets noticed by a wealthy landowner who is also related to Naomi meaning he (Boaz) is eligible to marry her according to the Jewish social contract. (I'm trying to keep this short!) It is an amazing story of God's providence and justice.
Ruth ends up in the "line of King David" - She's his great grandmother.
A converted Gentile widow is in God's family and in the royal line.
It says much about the inclusive nature of God.
Worth pondering.
Who knows you so well, who loves you so much that they want you and the God you serve to be their God?
If, your list is short of one, maybe you have some work to do.
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