Honoring Ruth During Women’s History Month
Happy Sabbath, friends!
Continuing our series honoring and recognizing various women in the Bible during National Women’s History Month, today we turn our focus to Ruth.
Ruth is another influential woman in the Word of God who beautifully displayed what loyalty and faithfulness look like when following our Heavenly Father. Just like Deborah, Ruth provides a powerful example of how we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, are called to walk with the Lord.
A Decision That Changed Everything
The story of Ruth begins with Naomi, her mother-in-law, who loses her husband and sons — including Ruth’s husband. Naomi, full of grief and uncertainty, encourages her daughters-in-law to return to their own families and rebuild their lives. Orpah eventually leaves, but Ruth refuses.
It is important to note that Naomi was not Ruth’s biological mother — she was her mother-in-law. Yet Ruth made the decision to remain by Naomi’s side, even though her husband — the connection that originally tied them together — had passed away.
Ruth 1:16–17 (NIV)
“But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.””
Ruth did not only choose Naomi — she chose the Lord. She left behind her homeland, her familiarity, and her former life to follow God into the unknown.
Take a moment to reflect on your own life. Haven’t you found yourself running back to what feels familiar the moment things become difficult?
I know for myself that whenever I am faced with a challenging season in life, my flesh immediately wants to return to what feels comfortable — even when the Lord may be calling me to step forward in faith instead. Ruth could have returned to the life she knew in Moab. Instead, she chose Jesus. She chose to follow the narrow way alongside Naomi, not knowing what awaited her along that road.
Matthew 7:13–14 (NIV)
““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Faithfulness In The Ordinary
As the story continues, Ruth and Naomi arrive in Bethlehem. What is important to note here is that Ruth did not simply wait for provision to appear. Instead, she humbly went into the fields to gather leftover grain so that she and Naomi could survive.
Ruth 2:2–3 (NIV)
“And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.”
What stood out in this part of the story is that Ruth did not sit idle, waiting for something to happen. Instead, she took action. She stepped out in faith — something the Lord calls us to do as well.
Many of us are familiar with placing our worries, fears, and future into the hands of the Lord for Him to carry. While this is absolutely true, it is also important to remember that God calls us to take action.
For example, imagine you have an important exam approaching. You surrender the outcome to the Lord, but choose not to study and simply plan to “wing it.” While it is good to trust God with the result, it would honor Him even more if we both surrendered the situation to Him and prepared ourselves faithfully.
The Lord calls us to be ready for His second coming — not to sit idle while waiting for it to happen.
Ruth serves as a wonderful example of someone who stepped forward in both faith and action.
James 2:17 (NIV)
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
Seen By The Lord
What began as a simple act of survival for Ruth and Naomi soon became the place where God began to provide. This is where Ruth’s story truly begins to unfold.
Ruth 2:11–12 (NIV)
“Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.””
Have you ever desired to be seen? It is such a beautiful feeling to feel noticed.
The truth is — the Lord sees us. He sees the things we do publicly, privately, loudly, and quietly.
Just as Boaz noticed Ruth working in the fields, the Lord notices us wherever we may be. Ruth’s story is a beautiful reminder that God sees the acts of obedience that may go completely unnoticed by the world.
We are seen in Him — just as Ruth was seen by Boaz and by the Lord.
Proverbs 15:3 (NIV)
“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.”Matthew 6:4 (NIV)
“so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Trusting God’s Timing
As we continue through Ruth’s story, we also see an important balance. There is a difference between stepping forward in faithful action and attempting to control the outcome.
Ruth never tries to manipulate circumstances, force results, or control what happens next. Instead, she continues to trust that the Lord will work everything out according to His perfect timing.
Ruth 3:9–11 (NIV)
““Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.” “The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.”
Many of us have faced moments in life where we desperately want to control what happens next. This often occurs when we are confronted with the unknown, because our human nature struggles to prepare for what we cannot see.
It becomes tempting to try to solve the situation ourselves or force a particular outcome. However, Ruth’s story reminds us that following God requires us to surrender that control and allow the Lord to carry out what He has already written for our lives.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Redemption Through Faithfulness
Ruth’s story began with deep grief after Naomi lost her husband and sons — including Ruth’s own husband. Yet the story ends with redemption.
Through Boaz, Ruth is restored, Naomi’s family line is preserved, and something even more beautiful unfolds. Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David — and part of the lineage through which Jesus Christ would one day come.
Ruth 4:13–17 (NIV)
“So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”
Think about moments in your own life when you experienced grief, uncertainty, loss, or brokenness — yet the Lord carried you through.
Look at where you are today.
Our God has the power to turn pain into blessing, just as He did for Ruth and Naomi. All we must do is choose to follow Him, just as Ruth did. Ruth left behind everything familiar to follow the will of God, trusting that His plan would ultimately be greater than anything she could imagine.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
A Life Of Faithfulness
Ruth may not have held a position of authority like Deborah, but she was a woman who chose faithfulness — in loyalty, humility, and trust.
Her story beautifully demonstrates what it means to follow Christ faithfully. The Lord uses faithfulness — whether quiet or loud, public or private — to accomplish something far greater than we can imagine.
Sometimes God’s greatest work begins in the fields of Bethlehem — in the ordinary places where faithfulness is lived out day by day.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Amen.
Saved By His Grace 
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