The story of Ruth offers vital lessons about faith, personal sacrifice, and the deeper issues of life and human fulfillment. Ruth is one of the five Festival Scrolls, also known as the Megilloth. The other Festival Scrolls are Song of Songs, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes and Esther.

There was strife, evil, and lawlessness throughout the time of the judges, the story of Ruth offers us an insight into how the blessings and guidance of God can be bestowed even in difficult times. Ruth committed her life to helping others; and as a result, she was blessed by God for her faithfulness.

A summary of the story of Ruth - A man from Bethlehem named Elimelech was forced out of his home by famine and went to live in the land of Moab with his wife, Naomi, and two sons. He died and subsequently his sons married women from Moab, Orpah and Ruth. After 10 years the two sons also died, leaving Naomi and her two daughters-in-law as widows.

Naomi heard that the famine was over in Judea and decided to return to Bethlehem. She urged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab and find husbands from among their own people. Ruth was determined to go with Naomi.

Naomi had been faithful to God even while living among the pagan Moabites, and her example of faithfulness had a strong impact on Ruth. Ruth chose to be kind and loyal to her mother-in-law and to commit to her God.

Ruth replied, Do not ask me not to leave you, for wherever you go, I will go and wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. The Lord do to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me. Ruth 1:16-17.

The two women arrived in Bethlehem in time for the early spring harvest. Ruth went to work in the fields to support herself and her mother-in-law. While working in the fields she was noticed by Boaz, a wealthy landowner, who also was related to the family of Naomi's husband. Boaz was very impressed by this devoted young widow working in his fields and introduced himself. He told her:

All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been reported to me, how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth and came to a people you did not know before. The Lord will repay you and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel under whose wings you have come for refuge. Ruth 2:11-12.

God used Boaz himself to fulfill this blessing and Boaz and Ruth were married.

God is honored by the quality of a person's character. The great-grandson of Boaz and Ruth was King David. Ruth 4:21-22. So Ruth was in the family history of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

God surely does notice people of good character and His hand was surely at work to bring all these things to pass.

As the prophet Isaiah declared, God looks to those who are of a contrite spirit and tremble at His words. Isaiah 66:2.

All that is good will come to us if we are patient and commit ourselves to doing what is right in the eyes of God. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9.