In the first verses, we can almost feel the desperation and sorrow as we try to identify ourselves with Naomi and feel the loss of not only a husband, but also both sons.  There were no grandchildren to soften the loss and she was living in a foreign land.  If I had been a director shooting a film of this story, these scenes would have been black and white, with not even a hint of colour in them.  The only relatives Naomi had left were two foreign daughters-in-law.  When she decided to return to Israel, she sent them back to their parents, to their country, Moab, for she could offer them neither new husbands nor a future.

I can picture the older woman with her life’s belongings walking off into an unfamiliar vista.  Slowly colour would start to return to the scene as Ruth ran and caught up with her, taking the personal belongings from Naomi’s older shoulders unto her own, younger shoulders.

Not putting her own needs first, Ruth expressed true love for Naomi by making the commitment to follow wherever Naomi would go.  Even more, Ruth identified with Naomi’s people and chose to leave behind the gods of the Moabites, pledging to serve only the God that Naomi served.

As they continued their journey, the next scene was in Israel, in Naomi’s hometown, where she was well known.  Her neighbours and friends, not aware of Ruth’s commitment, saw loving kindness in action: selflessness and loyalty towards Naomi without expecting favours or rewards in return.  This girl from Moab did not only accept the God of Israel as her God, but also became a true image-bearer of our Creator.

Her actions are what caused Boaz to notice Ruth as she took care of her mother-in-law.  He saw perfect love, respect, and care – he had to know this girl!  Out of Boaz’s respect for Ruth’s unconditional love for Naomi, another type of love developed: romantic love, with the foundation of respect and kindness as the foundation.

This love story was sealed and finalised with a sandal – not a glass slipper as in another worldly fairy tale.  Boaz became Ruth’s legal husband and they started a life together.

In the case of Ruth loyalty led to true love, a marriage, and a son.  She became the worthy candidate to become the great grandmother of king David and have the Messiah born from her lineage.

Then in the week after Shavuot, after having read this precious love story, we read about the Sutah, the suspected adulteress wife in Numbers 5.  Here we find the opposite to the above romance.

Although this must also have started with a love story, a young man and a young woman falling in love, getting married and planning a family, the husband noticed something in his wife’s behaviour, something that did not draw her closer to him, but rather caused her to drift away.  He felt like shaving his head to mourn the loss of his love.  However, he did not want to divorce her based on suspicions; but wanted to be sure.  And even if he was sure, he would still like to give her a chance to confess her wrongs and return to his loving arms. He loved his wife and wanted to restore their marriage.

This man’s attitude illustrates our Creator’s love for us and teaches us how to put our love for Him on display.

In His love for us, He always gives us the opportunity to turn back to Him after we have been unfaithful.  Instead of drinking the water (of judgement), we can choose to repent of our sins and return to His loving arms.  He is always there to take us back when we have strayed and caused a break in our relationship by sinning, resulting in our guilt keeping us from looking Him in the eyes.

Our Father is waiting to forgive, to care for us and to lovingly guide us by His Spirit and the truth of His Word to walk in life and love.  He wants us to put our hand in His on our way back to Eden.

We can ask ourselves whether we are His image bearers like Ruth was.  Do people see His heart of love, compassion, kindness and grace in all our actions?  Does the world know by our actions that we are Kingdom people, or do we have to tell people who and what we are?

Let us all aim to be like Ruth.  May our testimony read as that of Ruth. (Ruth 4 :15).

All to the glory of our God!