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SHE WAS CALLED RUTH (Introduction)
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Once upon
a time, a young woman named Ruth. She was from the land of Moab. The
Moab country was located east of the Dead Sea and south of the Arnon
River. The inhabitants of this country called Moabites were the descendants
of Noah from his incestuous relationship with his first daughter (Genesis
19: 31-38). Incest is a sin that is followed by a curse from generation
to generation. But even though her roots were cursed, Ruth succeeded
in shaking off that curse to become someone great. The young woman
named Ruth is a special woman because she has marked the history of
the people of Israel long before the birth of Jesus Christ until today.
She is all together an icon, a model and a reference in terms of loyalty,
love and fidelity. Ruth's story is found in the book of the Bible
that also bears her name. It's an exciting story filled with teachings,
secrets and inspiration for people of all ages, races and creeds,
but especially for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the
saviour of the world.
Ruth was from a land that was an enemy of the people of Israel. Yet,
Ruth has been successful in being accepted by the Jewish nation and,
moreover, she has entered the genealogy of our Saviour and Lord Jesus
Christ of Nazareth. But then, if the Moabites were the enemies of
the Jewish people, how come Ruth the Moabite was adopted by the chosen
people and became the ancestor of one of the greatest kings of Israel,
namely King David? How did a woman whose origins were impure and who
lived in an idolatrous country managed to win the heart and favour
of the God of Israel? What did Ruth have in particular? This is what
we will discover in this journey that tells the story of a young widow
called Ruth the Moabite.
On some occasions, the Bible will tell us that a certain woman was
very beautiful in appearance and charming, as is the case with Queen
Esther or Sara, the wife of the Patriarch Abraham. But at no time
does the Bible describe Ruth's physical attractions as what made her
a special woman. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 31: that beauty is
vain and grace deceptive, but it is the woman who fears the Lord who
will be admired and appreciated at the gates of the city. Ruth was
what the Bible calls a virtuous woman of pure heart, and we will discover
her story in this adventure that will take us from Bethlehem to Moab
and then from Moab back to Bethlehem. (To be continued). mt
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