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Thump! “Ooompf! Well, that wasn’t as bad a landing as when we took our trip to meet Abraham, but it was still rough,” said A.J.

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“I’m guessing we went back in time pretty far, but not as far as the last trip. Am I right SATTAR?” asked Milo.

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“That is correct. We have only gone back in time just over 3,000 years.”

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The time-traveling trio was distracted by some ladies that were crying a short distance away.

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“SATTAR, why are those ladies so sad?” asked Milo.

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“That is Naomi and her two daughter-in-laws. The younger women had been married to Naomi’s sons, but they died. In fact, Naomi’s husband had also died. It was a terrible tragedy. They now had no one to take care of them and they don’t know what to do.”

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Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Both of you go back. Each of you go to your own mother’s home. You have been kind to me. May the Lord be just as kind to you.  May the Lord help each of you find rest in the home of another husband.”

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Then she kissed them goodbye. They broke down and wept loudly.  They said to her, “We’ll go back to your people with you.”

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But Naomi said, “Go home, my daughters. Why would you want to come with me? Am I going to have any more sons who could become your husbands? Go home, my daughters. I’m too old to have another husband and sons.”

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When they heard that, they broke down and wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye. But Ruth held on to her.

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“Look,” said Naomi. “Your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.”

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But Ruth replied, “Don’t try to make me leave you and go back. Where you go, I’ll go. Where you stay, I’ll stay. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God.” 

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Naomi realized that Ruth had made up her mind to go with her. So, she stopped trying to make her go back.  The two women continued on their way. At last they arrived in Bethlehem where Naomi was originally from. 

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Ruth and Naomi had no food to eat. In order to get food, Ruth went to work in a grain field that had already been harvested. Some stalks of grain had been left behind by the harvesters so Ruth gathered those up in the hopes that she could make some bread for her and Naomi to eat.

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While she was working in the field the owner paid a visit and saw Ruth. Boaz was a kind man. He learned of Ruth and Naomi’s story and made sure that Ruth was able to pick lots of grain.

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“Do you think God sent Boaz to help Naomi and Ruth, SATTAR?” A.J. and Milo were curious.

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Ruth took a big risk coming back to Bethlehem with Naomi. She could have gone back to her parents and they would have taken care of her. But she knew that it was the right thing to stay with Naomi to make sure she was taken care of. Naomi was old and had no one else. Ruth wanted to help and went to a land where she knew no one and had nothing. Ruth said she would follow God. She believed that God would take care of them. And that is what he did!

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“I think so!” SATTAR explained that eventually Boaz would marry Ruth. Now Ruth and Naomi had someone to love and take care of them.

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Ruth did the right thing even when it was hard because she believed God was good and would work out their tough situation for them. That is faith!

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“SATTAR, can we go to Boaz and Ruth’s wedding? I love weddings!” Milo looked hopefully at SATTAR.

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“Sure, we can stay for the wedding. It is not too long now!”