CLOSE-KNIT

"And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:" Ruth 1:16. Ruth was a woman of great sacrifice. She understood the importance of being loyal and committed, no matter what happened. After Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi lost her husband, she then lost her two sons, one of which Ruth was married to. Naomi knew that there was nothing left for Ruth or her other daughter-in-law, Orpah, after these tragic series of events. So, she told them to leave her.

Both daughters-in-law desired to stay, but eventually Orpah did as Naomi had said and left to go back to be with her people. Ruth was a little more persistent. Although so much loss had taken place, she knew that she stepped into something big. She knew she made vows and commitments, and there was still a purpose to her joining into this family. Ruth saw through the hopelessness and bitterness that Naomi was experiencing at that moment. Ruth desired to keep a close-knit family, no matter if there were only a few pieces left of it.

"And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?" Ruth 1:20-21.

So, Ruth accompanied Naomi on the journey back to Naomi's place of origin: Bethlehem. For the longest time, Naomi dwelt in Ruth's country of Moab when famine struck her homeland. Now, Naomi was ready to return and get back to her roots, back to her kin, and back in favor with her God, who also became Ruth's God, and who WE know as the ONE TRUE GOD! We know this because of the miraculous set-up of Ruth during harvest season:

"And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen." Ruth 2:20.

Ruth ended up meeting Boaz and gleaned from his harvest fields, who eventually married Ruth into Naomi's family once again, renewing the commitments and vows that Ruth stood so strongly by. Not only that, but remember, Ruth made a new commitment to join Naomi in worshiping God. That was fulfilled as well, because in being married to Boaz, Ruth became the Mother of Obed, who was the Father of Jesse, who was the Father of David, who became King of Israel!

This family went from bitter beginnings to blessed & better days, all because a girl named Ruth decided to keep a small, struggling family close-knit. Although Naomi was already determined to get back to her roots in Bethlehem, I believe Ruth's persistence to go with her was such an encouragement. The small, struggling family also multiplied, and Ruth was not only part of the bloodline of David, but the bloodline of Jesus!

No matter what, stay close to your family, even in the hardest of times. Bring them closer to God, ESPECIALLY in the hardest of times. And see God bring out the best of times through it all!