Friendship
January 12, 2026 - Friendship
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The Book of Ruth, Chapter 1:16-17
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave 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 unto me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
The story of Ruth begins much earlier with Naomi, her mother-in-law, who left Bethlehem with her husband and two sons to escape a famine. They settled in the strange land of Mo’ab. Years later, Naomi’s husband passes and then her two sons also pass, leaving behind their two wives, Ruth and Orpah.
With few prospects and an uncertain future, Naomi decides to travel back to her original homeland. She urges both daughters-in-law to stay in Mo’ab and return to their families. However, Ruth insists on accompanying Naomi. As an outsider, she did not know what to expect or how she would be treated. Ruth began her new life harvesting leftover grain from the original harvest where a distant relative of her late husband noticed her. He noted her loyalty and dedication to her mother-in-law.
Even though she was a foreigner, he welcomed her into the community and treated her fairly. Eventually, they marry and she gives birth to a son named Jesse, who then had a son named David.
What a leap of faith! Naomi and Ruth may be related by marriage, but they must have been good friends as well. It’s hard to imagine leaving one’s homeland behind, giving up everything familiar, especially when Ruth had other options. Ruth’s love and profound dedication to her mother-in-law took effort and showed her willingness to sacrifice.
If faced with similar circumstances, would we have the same dedication and love? Would we show that love whether or not we had faith our prayers would be answered?