Ruth and Naomi -"Where You Go I Shall Go -A Family Torn Apart by Tragedy

Ruth grew up in Moab, a small country that lay to the east of the Dead Sea.  The region consisted mostly of high, sparsely wooded tablelands cut through by deep ravines.  "The fields of Moab" often proved to be fertile farmland, even when famine stalked Israel.  That, in fact, was why Ruth first came in contact  with Mahlon and his family. -Ruth 1:1.

A famine in Israel had convinced Naomi's husband, Elimelech, that he must move his wife and two sons away from their homeland and take up living as aliens.  The move must have presented challenges to the faith of each family member, for Israelites needed to worship regularly at the sacred place Jehovah had designated.  (Deuteronomy 16:16, 17)  Naomi managed to keep her faith alive.  Still, she grief-stricken when her husband died.  -Ruth 1:2, 3. 

Naomi might well have suffered again later when her sons married Moabite women.  (Ruth 1:4) She knew that her nation's forefather, Abraham, went to great lengths to procure a wife  for his son, Isaac, from among his own people, who worshipped  Jehovah. (Genesis 24:3, 4)  Later, the Mosaic Law warned the Israelites  not to let their sons and daughters marry foreigners, for fear that God's people would be led into idolatry. -Deuteronomy 7:3, 4. 

Nevertheless, Mahlon and Chilion married Moabite women. If Naomi was concerned or disappointed, she eventually made sure that she showed her daughter's-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, genuine kindness and love.  Perhaps she hoped that they too would someday come to worship Jehovah as she did. At any rate, both Ruth and  Orpah were fond of Naomi.  That good relationship helped them when tragedy struck. Before either of the young women had borne children, both became widows. -Ruth 1:5. 

Next time:  Ruth and Naomi -"Where You Go I Shall God" -Conclusion of A Family Torn Apart by Tragedy

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