March 28, 2010
Background Scripture: Ruth 2 through 3
Devotional Reading: Romans 12:9-18

What is going on in this story of Ruth? The first part was not difficult to understand: From the famine-induced exodus of Elimelech and Naomi from Bethlehem to Moab and the return a decade later of Naomi and Ruth, both of them are now widows.
In the first part of their story we were deeply impressed with the loving-kindness of Ruth the Moabite immigrant for Naomi, her dour Israelite mother-in-law. Last week we called Ruth’s loving-kindness by a Hebrew word, khesed – love that goes beyond what is required, that crosses borders. In Ruth 3 and 4 we find the khesed of Ruth a continuing reality.

She not only has left behind her home in Moab and accompanied Naomi to Bethlehem, but she proposes to go into the grain fields to glean there (to gather grain, or some other crop remaining after the regular reapers). Gleaners could usually eke out an existence with the permission of the owner of the field.

Still, Ruth faced a considerable barrier. She was not only an alien, but she was an alien from “the accursed Moab” just over the border. We could understand if either or both Naomi and Ruth had thrown up their hands shouting, “This will never work!”

A woman from Moab

In this story, however, Ruth’s status as an alien and a Moabitess are not an insurmountable problem. There are several reasons for this.

For one thing, generosity to foreigners was specifically addressed by various Jewish prophecies and laws (see Jeremiah 7:5-7; Zechariah 7:9,10; Exodus 22:21; 23:9; and Deuteronomy 24:19-22, dealing specifically with gleaning). Second, as the old saying goes, “blood is thicker than water.”

Because Naomi was a kinswoman to Boaz, Ruth was probably regarded in some way as “family” and that carried with it a sense of responsibility. Furthermore, Ruth’s reputation for her devotion to Naomi was known throughout the community and she was obviously regarded with admiration.

Finally, although we cannot be certain of what Boaz and Ruth actually felt for one another, there are hints of an attraction that goes beyond “family.”

Several years ago my wife, Valere, wrote her memoirs, My First Eighty (Trafford Press). I was particularly impressed with her accounts of her early years growing up on a north-central Texas ranch near a remote crossroads named Buffalo Springs.
I was fascinated at the depth and breadth of the family life she experienced: parents, children, uncle and aunts, grandparents, great grandparents and friends in the remote area. Family and community gave life a sense of security in the midst of great uncertainty.

Boundaries
Unfortunately, particularly in our great urban areas, that is less and less true today. Everyone seems to go their own way, coming together only when absolutely necessary.

We are frequently amazed to find that many parents of teenagers today have not the slightest idea where their youth are, when they will be home or who they are with. Meals when everyone is present may be rare occasions. And if “Uncle Frank” has been laid off from his job? “That’s his problem!”

We need to carefully ask ourselves if this gives us more or less quality of life, whether this is what God wants of and for us.
Naomi’s relatives had a strong sense of family. It helped them overcome their natural hesitancy regarding Ruth. She was not an alien to them because she was or became “family.” Families and communities need to be able to reach beyond borders.

Two couples – four of our best friends – have made a practice on occasion of taking into their homes, in addition to their own three children, young people who need a substitute family for a while.
Family is formed out of common blood, but it need not stop there. God calls us to khesed, a love that carries us above and beyond the “normal” borders.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.