The story of the widow Ruth, leaving all she knew to follow Naomi to Bethlehem, the house of bread, is forever linked to Pentecost. Pentecost in Greek means fifty, while Shavuot in Hebrew means weeks. Both names represent a marked journey of time. However, Shavuot in Hebrew can also mean “oaths”. Ruth’s journey from Moab to Bethlehem, from widowhood to a treasured wife, occur during this fifty-day period. No wonder Jewish tradition marks Shavuot with the reading of this book in the Synagogue. Allusions to bread also occur throughout the story. Perhaps the greatest is when Boaz, the Kinsmen-redeemer, offers the beautiful Ruth, bread and wine vinegar. (Ruth 2:14) Jewish literature sees in this the future messianic banquet. Christians easily recognize overtones of the covenantal Lord’s Supper.
But it is Ruth’s “oath” to Naomi and the God of Israel (Ruth 1:16) that speaks to me the most. Yet before we examine Ruth, let us look at the other daughter-in-law Orpah. Orpah returned to Moab, fulfilling the very meaning of her name. Oreph, from which Orpah is derived, literally means the back of the neck! In Ruth, however, we see a missionary call. Naomi said to Ruth,
“Look…your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods.” But Ruth pleaded “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you…Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16)
Her love for Naomi and the God of Israel knew no limits. Many, like Ruth, feel a calling to bless Israel, seeing how God has visited His people with the gift of the “Bread of Life” – Yeshua the Messiah. But there is still a need for Israel’s transformation. Mara’s bitterness was transformed to Naomi’s (pleasant joy) because of this young woman who was willing to follow God’s call! Thank you for being Ruth to Israel. May these prophetic days between Passover to Pentecost usher in the harvest of the Last Days.