Famination

Ruth 1:1

Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn into the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

This is one of those verses that are easy to gloss over - but if you look, it bespeaks some interesting facts. We have a man living in a specific time (when the judges ruled), during a time of trial (famine), who happened to be of the children of Israel (of Bethlehemjudah), running to Moab for survival. All the exact things a well told story would have if you wanted to hook nearly everyone - it is the same template fast paced novels and movies hold. Also of interest is that he is running to Moab ... a region considered of ill-repute, primarily because of the source of the original Moabite lineage (link, link).

The first famine mentioned in scripture occurs in Genesis 12:10 and Abraham's response is much like the 'certain man of Bethlehemjudah' in Ruth - he leaves a land he is comfortable, going into a land whose culture is dangerous.

Here is your question - What SHOULD you do when there is a famine in the land?

• Seek shelter?
  

• Go where the food is?
  

• Assume it’s a judgment on the land that can be remedied by an earnest, nationwide repentance?

A Royal Downline

Moabites were a pagan people in Biblical times. They followed their own gods and were not Israelites, yet when the two sons of Elimelech found themselves living in the land of Moab with a newly-dead father, they married Moabite women.

For about ten years, everything was fine. The two men and their widowed mother lived in Moab until they, too, died leaving no children. It was at this point that the mother decided it was time to go back to the land of Judah, pointing out to her daughters-in-law that she had nothing to give them – no more sons to raise up children to her dead sons’ names, no husband, nothing.

One of the women, though distressed, left to return to her people and her religion while the other insisted on going with her mother-in-law. “Whither thou goest, I will go;” she said.

This simple step of faith and dedication launched Ruth on the path to greatness. Her obedience and submissiveness to her mother-in-law opened the doors to a future I’m sure she never imagined. Not only did Ruth and Naomi end up living off the gleanings from Boaz’ field, but he “just happened” to be a near kinsman and therefore entitled to marry Ruth and raise up seed to Naomi’s sons.

Ruth listened to Naomi’s advice time after time, even though it seemed at times to be inappropriate or questionable. God blessed Ruth’s quiet submission and obedience by giving her, not just a husband and future, but a place of honor in the lineage of Jesus – one of three women mentioned.

Jesus was born of the line of David, but without Ruth, there would never have been a David. If she had decided to do her own thing instead of waiting on God’s timing, the chances are that she would never have met Boaz, let alone marry him.

She was strong in a quiet way, supportive, faithful, and loyal. Nothing she did seemed remarkable, yet her choices to do right did not go unnoticed or unrewarded. With faith, she worked and obeyed… towards a reward which had never entered her head.