Ruth provides the era of the judges as the setting for the book. Some have mentioned that Ruth is provided to show that not all was bad during the time of the judges. However, some interesting undertones are found in the first chapter. The first question we need to ask is why the man from “the house of bread” was leaving Israel to live in Moab to find bread.
Moab was cursed by God (research for the source) and for an Israelite to dwell there was restricted. Elimelech takes his family there. This implies he was relying on what God had forbade to provide for him instead of relying on the God who calls Himself “Jehovah-Jireh” (I will provide). Hopelessly he turns to sin for the answer to his dilemma. How often do we lose hope in what God has called us to and search for His answer in our sin?
He leaves due to the famine in Israel. If this were his only reason, he would not have stayed as long as he did. From all appearances, he allows his son, named Sick and Sickly, to marry non-Israelites, another taboo. Interestingly, the three males die and the three women are left to fend for themselves. Because they are not in Israel, there is no one to care for them. She hears the land in Israel is again prosperous and heads back home. Her two daughters-in-law follow her. I wonder if they were ostracized from their people for marrying Israelites?
One of the women, Orpah, returns home and the other woman, Ruth, goes with Naomi.
There is much symbolism in this book that points to what Christ did for us. The rich history of Israel is also enveloped in this book. I am not doing either justice at this point. I will return to the book of Ruth to consider these points in more depth.
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