Daily Encouragement Day 73 – Ruth 1

The story of Ruth and Boaz is a beautiful cameo of character, courage, and commitment during the days of the judges.  It is a gem whose brilliance is enhanced by contrast to the darkness of the backdrop when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Because of a famine in Bethlehem (“house of bread”), Elimelech took his wife Naomi and their two sons across the Jordan River to the country of Moab.  After losing her husband and sons, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem since the famine had broken.  Ruth, one of her Moabite daughters-in-law, refused to remain in Moab, but risked everything out of love for Naomi, and followed her to Bethlehem.

READING of RUTH 1

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You for the love of Ruth for Naomi and for her willingness to say, “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.”  May I too abandon myself to You and Your loving purposes.

Meditation passage for today: verses 16-17