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from the bondage of Egypt. He had destroyed the army that Pharoah had sent after them
to fetch them back. Yet after this miraculous delivery, and after only three days in the
wilderness without water, they reached the water-hole at Marah only to find the water not
fit to drink because it was bitter. Immediately they murmured against Moses. Why have
you brought us out? To die in this wilderness? They threatened his life and to return to
their slavery. The Lord was testing their trust in Him. He was proving their faith. There
is an important lesson here for us all. It is that unless our faith is tested, it will never be
strong. Unless it knows the winds of adversity, it will never weather the onslaught of
Satan to dislodge it from our hearts.
In this time of testing Naomi's faith remained unshaken, nay strengthened even as we
shall see from the events that follow:
"So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, which
returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of
barley harvest" (1: 22).
The barley harvest came before the wheat. This would be the time of the Passover,
about the end of April.
Chapter 2:
We now take up the great theme of the Kinsman-Redeemer as it is unfolded in the
central section of this little Book. From 2: 1 - 4: 14, we have the teaching of Scripture
concerning this important office:
"And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family
of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz" (2: 1).
Boaz was the grandson of Nahshon, who was prince of the tribe of Judah during the
wanderings in the wilderness. He was the son of Salmon and Rahab of Jericho, the
younger son, as we know he had an elder brother. He carried might in his name for the
meaning of Boaz is "in him is strength". Evidently he was a wealthy man; and it is an
interesting side-light on the character of Naomi, that no effort was made by her to contact
this rich relation on her return to Bethlehem. Despite her distress, she would not be
burdensome nor expect any help from other members of her family.
"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, let me now go to the field, and glean ears
of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my
daughter" (2: 2).
The character of Ruth comes out strongly here. She does not hesitate to face the hard
work necessary both for her mother-in-law and herself nor is she too proud to condescend
to a work which might perhaps seem humiliating. Neither does she hanker after her old
home in the land of Moab and the plenty there. In order to keep from starving, she
willingly assumed the role of bread-winner. She revealed the virtues of energy, honesty
of purpose and true loyalty which evidently were inherent in her nature.