IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY

Before delving into the story of an amiable character Ruth, and reasons why the Bible referred to her as an excellent woman, knowing what family is all about will help us more fully.
FAMILY is the smallest unit of a society which is made up of father, mother, children and relatives who share same blood ties which serves as a bond and unites them so firmly that no matter the challenges they face, they are united.

According to bible book of Ruth 1:1-22
RUTH was a moabite woman, the daughter inlaw of Elimelech and Naomi, the wife of Mahlon. Ruth and her mother in-law Naomi, were on the road that stretched across the windswept plains of moab. Each woman bore a heavy burden of grief. Naomi had been a widow for years now, but she was mourning more recent losses, the death of her two sons chilion and mahlon. Ruth too was grieving because mahlon was her husband. She and Naomi were heading to the same destination, the town of Bethlehem in isreal. In a way, there journey differs as Naomi was heading home whereas Ruth was venturing into the unknown, leaving her people, her homeland, and all its customs including its gods behind.

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FAMILY TORN APART BY TRAGEDY

Ruth grew up in moab, a small country that lay to the east of the Dead sea. The fields of moab often proved to be fertile farmland, even when there was famine in isreal, that was why Ruth first came in contact with Mahlon and his family.
The famine in isreal made Naomi's husband Elimelech to move his family to moab and live there as aliens. This move must have posed as a challenge to the faith of each family member as isrealites needed to worship regularly at the sacred place God had designated. When Elimelech died, Naomi was downhearted when her two sons married moabite women who worshipped false gods but it never prevented her from showing genuine love and kindness to her daugthers in-law Ruth and Orpha, and this made the women to be fond of her and they were able to comfort each other when tragedy struck them (there own husbands died). The good tales about God that Ruth learned from her late husband Mahlon and mother in- law Naomi made her eager to follow Naomi to return to her people when Naomi learnt that the famine in Bethlehem is gone and the city Bethlehem is now living up to its name which means "HOUSE OF BREAD".

THE LOYAL LOVE OF RUTH

As the three widows journey through the paths leading to Bethlehem, Naomi was greatly troubled because she thought of the two young women by her side and of the love they showed to her and her sons. She could not bear the thought of adding to their burdens, if they follow her to bethlehem because she has nothing to offer them since she has no son for them to marry and no prospects of either. so she spoke up saying

"Go each one return to to the house of her mother, may God exercise loving kindness towards you, just as you have exercised towards the men now dead, and towards me". May God reward both of you with good husbands and new lives. Then she kissed them, and they began to raise their voices and weep, and both said "No but with you we shall return to your people".(Ruth 1:8-14)

Orpha remembered she has a family to meet at home, a mother and a home that was waiting for her, it really seemed more practical to remain in moab so with a heavy heart she kissed Naomi goodbye and turned away. But as for Ruth she stuck with her. Naomi resumed walking in the road and noticed Ruth was following her. And she said to Ruth

"look your widowed sister in-law has returned to her people and her gods, return with your widowed sister in-law".(Ruth 1:15)

Ruth as she faced Naomi, her heart was swelled with love for her and she said to Naomi

Do not plead with me to abandon you, to turn back from accompanying you; for where you go i shall go, and there i will spend the nigth with you. Your people will be my people and your God my God, where you die i shall die and there is where i shall be buried. May Jehovah do so to me and add to it if anything but death shall make a seperation between me and you. (Ruth 1:16&17)

Her words reveal a precious quality of loyal love. The love she has for Naomi was so strong that she would stick with Naomi wherever she went, only death would seperate them.

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LIFE AT BETHLEHEM

Really Ruth did put loyal love not only in words but in action. They finally reached bethlehem, a village about six miles south of Jerusalem. News of Naomi's return buzzled the whole town. To her kinswomen and neighnours of years past her counternance clearly showed the sorrow and grief in her heart. She even wished that her name Naomi which means "My pleasantness" should be changed to "Mara" which means bitter.

RUTH'S TURNING POINT

As the two women settled in bethlehem, Ruth began thinking of how best to take care of herself and Naomi. She learnt that God made provisions for the poor.

They were allowed to go into the field at harvesttime and follow the reapers, gleaning what was left behind as well as what grew at the edges and corners of the field. (lev 19:9,10; Deut 24:19-21)

So she gleaned in the fields of Boaz, a wealthy land owner and a relative of Naomi's dead husband Elimelech. Boaz later repurchassed Ruth and married her. In time God granted her conception and she bore a son to Boaz. The women of bethlehem blessed Naomi and praised Ruth for being better to Naomi than seven sons would have been. And later Ruth's son became a great ancestor of the great king David and in turn David was an ancestor of JESUS CHRIST.

MORAL LESSONS

• Irrespective of our tribe and culture we should endeavour to treat people with genuine love and kindness because our actions can even draw them closer to God as seen in the case of Naomi.
• As life challenges comes our way, we should be willing to do hard, humble work to provide for our families and also render arms to the needy as did Ruth.
• we should imitate Ruth's excellent example of humility, industriousness and appreciation because it will make our faith stronger and a great example worthy of emulation to others. And God will crown our efforts with Joy.

#Thanks for reading
#one love friends

God bless us all

I remain your dearly Rechylove❤

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