Ruth’s Radical Faith: Lessons in Loyalty, Courage, and Hope

The Transformative Power of Ruth’s Story

Let’s face it, loyalty and true unconditional love can be difficult to find in this world. Throughout our lives, people come and go, and some, unfortunately, leave us with painful scars that take years to heal. However, there is more to life than just emotional struggle and I believe the change starts with us. When we become the person we want to find in the world, God will chase us with blessings. 

Since embarking on my Jewish journey, I have explored the heroes of the Torah searching for powerful figures with life-changing characteristics and lessons that still hold today. I have come to admire the inner strength and wisdom of Joseph, the leadership and fearlessness of Moses, and Queen Esther’s devotion and courage. 

However, another biblical figure has quickly earned a spot among my favorites: Ruth. This titan of the Tanakh exudes unwavering faith, commitment, kindness, and a sense of adventure throughout her story. 

Ruth’s Story In a Nutshell

Ruth was a Moabite woman whose husband died, as did all the men in the family. Her mother-in-law Naomi decided to return to her hometown of Bethlehem and urged her daughter-in-laws, Ruth and Orpah, to stay in Moab. Orpah heeded the advice. However, Ruth Refused. She famously told Naomi, “where you go, I go.”  

In Bethlehem, Ruth worked hard in the fields that Boaz, a relative of Naomi, owned. Ruth and Boaz eventually fell in love and married. Soon after, Naomi became a first-time Grandmother to their son Obed, and they all lived happily ever after. This is a beautiful story with a fairytale ending, but now, let’s take a closer look at Ruth.

 Here are Ruth’s Amazing Characteristics

Loyalty

When someone is willing to follow you to the ends of the earth, and they’re not a stalker, hang on to them. Friendships, and unfortunately sometimes family, come and go in life. So encountering that level of commitment is a gift!

 Ruth, without hesitation, walked away from the only home she had ever known to follow Naomi to Bethlehem. Ruth’s love for her mother-in-law and God was all she needed to go on this new adventure. She moved forward in faith and God surrounded her with blessings. 

Ruth has taught me to nurture my commitment to family and friends, and to celebrate their commitment to me. I haven’t always been blessed with a close, tight-knit circle. There were years I spent alone without any close connections, but now I am beyond blessed, and though my family is small, our love for each other is colossal!

Determination

Humans are pulled in so many different directions. We have lots of commitments and little time. The pressure’s intense and it can be easy to lose our motivation, but when driven by love, faith and determination we can move mountains. 

Ruth chose Naomi as her family and was determined to make it work. She journeyed far from everything she knew to start a new life and refused to let anyone or anything get in her way. She helped create a home in Bethlehem and integrated herself into this new and unfamiliar culture. Change can be hard, but Ruth took on this challenge with full force. 

This story is close to my heart, particularly because my family and I are working to begin a new life. We are charting a course and entering unfamiliar territory. Since starting our adventure we have been thrown a long list of curveballs: health issues, the loss of a family member, and emotional pain. But, with the same unwavering determination that Ruth had, we soldier on embracing this new chapter. 

Optimism

There once was a time when I was a bit of a“the glass is half empty” type. I believed that old saying, whatever can go wrong will go wrong, was an unfortunate, sad truth about life. But, as I’ve grown and changed throughout my adult life I have taken on a more positive outlook. It’s all about the lens through which you see the world around you. 

Ruth naturally has that optimistic outlook. She embraces her new adventure with gladness in her heart. She sees the unknown as an open door to God’s most beautiful blessings. And with that positive mindset, she works hard, creates a cozy home, and enters a new chapter with a new husband, baby, and loving mother-in-law.

I have learned to live life in faith. That doesn’t mean I don’t have moments when worry takes over. It happens, we are after all human. The difference now is when worry rears its ugly head, I quickly remember my faith and turn to God. 

Here is what I hope for you dear reader. I hope that your life is full of loyal friends and family, that you find the strength and determination to follow your dreams despite life’s curveballs, and that you always see the bright side of life. May you dance in delight at God’s most bountiful blessings. Shalom friends!