How Is This A Story Of Hope?

Ruth 1:1-5 (NLT)

In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. The man’s name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband. 

This week we’ll exploring the book of Ruth, a tiny book in the Old Testament. I’d really recommend you give it a read - blitz through chapter 1 today so you know what I’m talking about!

The book opens with the words ‘In the days when the judges ruled’ which is code for ‘in the days when things weren’t going great’. The days when the judges ruled were days of chaos, violence and distinct lack of peace. (except during the great Deborah's leadership, the only woman Judge!) The book of Ruth gives us a glimmer of hope in the midst of dark times.

But in the opening five verses, there’s a famine and Naomi (Ruth’s mother- in-law) loses her husband and her two sons (including Ruth’s husband). What we see unfold in the rest of the chapter is not really a happy ending. Naomi encourages her daughters-in-law to return to their home in Moab, and one goes, but Ruth stays. It’s a beautiful display of loyalty and faithfulness, choosing her friendship with her mother-in-law over the safer option of going home. Ruth and Naomi arrive in Bethlehem, grieving all they’ve lost and with no real prospects. 

I hear you - how is this a story of hope? Well firstly, chapter one of Ruth reminds us that the Bible is full of the stories of normal people, that suffering exists and that bad things happen. But most importantly let’s remember we’re on chapter one. The story doesn’t end here, God is still working, he’s still faithful, still good, still kind. What we’ll see over the next few chapters is God’s deep dedication to redemption and restoration, his commitment to the care of children and that he never stops working.

Prayer — God, thank you that even when things feel rough you’re still faithful, still kind and still at work. I bring you the areas in my life that feel hard and ask you to simply remind me you’re still there despite what’s happening and what I’m feeling.