How does our love for the Lord Jesus Christ compare to the love of Ruth for Naomi?

Are we willing to sacrifice anything for Him? Are we willing to go all the way?

We have considered together the Book of Ruth as a whole and the opening chapter.

How that in this very lovely story the hero Boaz reveals to us in type that most

important aspect of the relationship between the Lord Jesus Christ and His Children--our

Kinsman-Redeemer.  The importance of this little Book is also that it supplies an

essential link in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of David.

Also that it opens up to us that wonderful aspect of redemption which is not that of

forgiveness, i.e. setting free from bondage, but the possession of an inheritance and that

inheritance is to be enjoyed for eternity.

The journey that Naomi and Ruth made from the land of Moab to Bethlehem in Judah

was a long and toilsome one and not free from danger. Two rivers had to be crossed, the

Arnon and the Jordan. The distance of actual journeying cannot be less than 50 miles. A

weary haul needing tremendous resolution and courage on the part of both women.

At last tired out and travel stained, they arrived at their destination. Naomi must have

been well known in Bethlehem before leaving for Moab, for we read there was no small

stir among the local inhabitants, when it became known she had returned. The strain of

the journey must have greatly taxed her strength, and added to that the grief she had

sustained by the loss of both husband and sons had doubtless made her look aged and

worn in appearance. Despite these things and after many years of absence, many in

Bethlehem recognized her when at last she arrived back in her native town. The women

would have enquired as to how she had fare in far off Moab? How poignant are the

words she used in her reply:

Here is no passionate outburst against the providence of God, but a calm reasoned

explanation of the facts. She had gone out with husband and sons, and come back having

left them buried in a foreign land. Yet there was no hysterical railing against the hand of

the Lord, on the contrary, we find a gentle acceptance of this judgment. She went out a

wife and a mother and returned a widow with no sons. Yet despite this we read of no

murmuring or complaints, but a calm resignation to the will of God. The actual title

Naomi used was "Shaddai", our translation, "the Almighty". This is not the title of

Creator, which is "Elohim", but His title as the "Giver", the all-bountiful One. The One

Who supplies all the needs of His children, the God of grace. It was first used in

Gen.xvii.1 where it is put to show Abraham that He Who called him out to walk alone

before Him could supply all his need. Call me not Naomi `sweetness', call me Mara

`bitterness'; see the play upon the word here--"for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly

with me". She said in effect--"It is He Who gives, it is He Who takes back". This word

`mara' is vividly brought before us in Exod. 15: The Lord had brought His people out