Womens History Month: Ruth

Evening friends! In keeping with my month of art and short stories about courageous and inspiring women in the Bible, I bring you... Ruth the widow.

"The Story of Ruth" by Thomas Matthew Rooke

Ruth has to have been one of the bravest and remarkable women in the Bible. She could easily give many women in the 21st century a run for their money. She was a widow, a non-believer and had no obligation to her former mother-in-law, Naomi, after her husband passed away. Yet, she not only stays at Naomi's side she also goes with Naomi to a foreign country where she was seen as the enemy and dealt with what I can only imagine was a great deal of scorn and hatred and fear from the Israelites. And get this... SHE proposed marriage to Boaz! You got that. She was quite a remarkable woman and here are just a few depictions of the great Biblical story. Enjoy!

I. Ruth meets Boaz in the fields

So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.” - Ruth 2:8-9

"Harvesters Reesting (Ruth & Boaz)" by Jean-François Millet

II. Ruth at the threshing floor

“I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” - Ruth 3:9b

"Boaz and Ruth" by Charles Lock Eastlake