Together - Daily DevotionalSample

Ruth the Excluded Woman

Reading: Ruth 1:1-22

Key Verse: “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God’” v.16

The book of Ruth records events in the time of the Judges and before the first king, Saul. A famine had swept the land and so a family from Bethlehem led by husband and wife Elimelech and Naomi sought refuge in an alien land called Moab. Moabites had been such traditional enemies of Israelites that Moabites were forbidden from entering God’s presence (Deut.23:3). Nevertheless their two sons married Moabite women but unfortunately Elimelech and his two sons died leaving only Naomi and her two daughters in law, Orpah and Ruth. Meanwhile Bethlehem’s fields were once again productive so Naomi decided to return home. Orpah chose to remain in Moab, but even though it was likely to mean perpetual widowhood and no children, Ruth chose instead to stay with Naomi.

Although the new beginnings in Bethlehem were difficult for Ruth, due to a series of God coincidences, she eventually married a rich landowner called Boaz and had a son who became an ancestor of David and eventually of Jesus (Matt.1:5). We too are aliens excluded from God’s unique covenant promise to the Jews but through our union with Jesus we are now included and have a new beginning as His bride (Eph.2:11-22, 5:22-32).

Prayer: Jesus thank You that because of my new beginning in union with You I am no longer excluded but included in God’s plan