Ruth: The Bible's True "Prince Charming" Story

There aren't a lot of life stories recorded in the Bible that end with "happily ever after" here on earth. That's because the Bible doesn't contain fairy tales. Indeed, the stories filling both the Old and New Testament are true and, therefore, they reflect the balance of good and bad events that fill our lifetimes. However, in the Old Testament book of Ruth we see the closest thing to a fairy tale ending possible in a real life story.

Ruth was a recent widow from the country of Moab, the bitter enemies of Israel. Because women of her day were totally dependant on men for their livelihood and security, she was in a very bad position. Tradition dictated that she return to her father's house, yet something had happened to Ruth that radically altered that plan, something that would one day change the very course of history.

Ruth's mother-in-law, Naomi, was a Jewess. Apparently the family had been such a testimony to their faith that this young Moabite woman had converted and now shared their belief in Jehovah. Naomi, who was a widow too, wanted to return to her home in Bethlehem. Naomi had lost not only a husband, but both her sons as well. She was hurting, and wanted to return to her old friends and whatever family remained in Israel, and Ruth decided to go with her.

This was no easy journey for two single women, especially in their day. The distance was over 100 miles, and these destitute women had no means of transportation but their feet. The dangers were everywhere: hostile environment, thieves and slavers holding up travelers, and wandering marauders just waiting for unsuspecting women along the route. Yet, despite all these problems, the 2 widows arrived in Bethlehem safely.

Naomi apparently had a family home where she could stay, but she had no way of earning a living. Ruth, determined to provide for both their needs, went out to do what the poor people of the town all did: she picked up leftover grain in the local fields after the harvest. ( Long before this time God had instructed the Israelites to leave the edges of grain fields uncut so there would be provision for the poor.)

However, not every landowner liked this rule, which cost them a portion of their crop yield, and many of the field workers treated the "gleaners" (as the poor taking advantage of this provision were called) roughly. Ruth was at a double disadvantage in this situation because she was both poor and a foreigner -- from an enemy country no less. The potential for harm was extremely great, but she trusted God to protect her.

The Bible says she "happened" to find a field owned by Boaz, a distant relative of Naomi's family. In reality, knowing the end of the story, I believe God led her to this field and used this opportunity to put the young widow and the older landowner together. Boaz ordered his men to treat her well, and even to leave behind extra grain for her to take home. So Ruth was able to provide food for herself and her aged mother-in-law.

As time passed, Naomi could see a relationship developing between Ruth and her benefactor, so she let Ruth in on a secret she had been keeping. Boaz was in line to inherit Naomi's family property, and he could use a special God-given law to buy it immediately if he chose. The main catch: Ruth went with it. Boaz would have to agree to marry her and raise children with her in order to obtain the rights to the property. The legal title for this role was "kinsman-redeemer." The terms required of someone in this position were very specific: 1) he had to be a close relative, 2) he had to be able to pay a given price for the property he assumed, and 3) he had to be willing to accept the responsibilities that went with this "redemption." Generally, this type of transaction had to be initiated by the widow, who would indicate her willingness to marry the relative.

At Naomi's urging, Ruth went to the threshing floor to let Boaz know she wanted his "redemption." She needed help, and she knew it. Was he willing to assume the role? Boaz was immediately willing, but he admitted that there was another relative who had a better claim. If the other man would renounce his claim, it would clear the way for Boaz to act.

Next comes the fairy tale ending. The other relative gave up his rights, Boaz stepped in to claim the role of a kinsman-redeemer, and the couple was married. It seems, from reading the end of the book, that the pair were, indeed, very happy "ever after." But there is an even bigger happy ending. The pair produced a son whose line eventually led to King David, Israel's most famous monarch to date. Beyond that, it was David's line which produced Jesus of Nazareth, the kinsman-redeemer of the whole earth, who has made "ever after" a reality in many lives ever since.

Source: The Bible