RUTH FOUND STRENGTH IN GOD

[Ruth 1, 14-22]

Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go back, each of you return to your mother’s house.

Orpah kissed her mother-in-law said [goodbye], but Ruth clung to her.

Naomi mother-in-law said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; turn back and follow your sister-in-law.”

But Ruth said,

Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you.
For where you go, I will go.
And where 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.
May the Lord do the same to me [as He has done to you], and more also, if anything but death separates me from you.”

Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.

Naomi and Ruth returned from the country of Moab and arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.