Leadership Lessons from
THE LIFE OF RUTH
Eturuvie Erebor
Ruth was a young Moabite woman who married Naomi ’ s son , Mahlon . She is known for sticking to her mother-in-law and refusing to leave her , forsaking her people in the process . Ruth ’ s pledge to remain at the side of Naomi until death has been used as a vow in countless wedding ceremonies for centuries .
Ruth and Naomi met in Moab . Naomi had gone with her husband , Elimelech and two sons , Chilion and Mahlon to sojourn in the country of Moab as there had been famine in their homeland , Bethlehem . While in the land of Moab , Elimelech died leaving behind Naomi and their two sons . Both sons took wives from amongst the daughters of Moab with whom they sojourned . Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpah . Unfortunately for Naomi and these young wives , both Mahlon and Chilion also died . At this point , Naomi was a devastated old woman and decided to return to her land especially as she learned that God had visited her people and the famine was over . She asked her daughtersin-law to return to their people . It was the natural thing to do ; she had no sons to give them to be their husbands . Therefore , they were free to return home and remarry . As difficult and as sad as it was to leave a woman they had come to relate with as a mother , Orpah kissed Naomi farewell and went her way . Ruth , however , refused to do same . The Bible says , “ And Ruth said , Intreat me not to leave thee , or to return from following after thee : for whither thou goest , I will go ; and where thou lodgest , I will lodge : thy people shall be my people , and thy God my God : Where thou diest , will I die , and there will I be buried : the Lord do so to me , and more also , if ought but death part thee and me .”
The pledge by Ruth to Naomi was so strong that Naomi had no option but to let Ruth follow her . They arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest . Ruth had followed her mother-in-law primarily to look after her , so she said to Naomi , upon their arrival , “ let me now go to the field , and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace .”
She entered into the field of a man named Boaz . When the Bible first describes Boaz , it calls him a mighty man of wealth . He also happened to be of the family of Elimelech which meant he could marry Ruth and with her raise up seed for the lineage of Elimelech . However , this was unknown to Ruth at the time . She was just satisfied with having a field to glean ears of corn so she and Naomi could have food to eat . Boaz took an instant liking to Ruth and ordered his reapers to treat her with kindness . He also instructed her to remain with his workers and not go to another field . When she got home and told her mother-inlaw about her meeting with Boaz , Naomi instantly made the connection . The Bible says , “ And Naomi said unto her daughter in law , blessed be he of the Lord ,
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12 | DOZ Magazine | January 2017