"Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16). These familiar words are on the lips of a bride addressing her groom somewhere every Saturday in this country. Their beauty expresses such a depth of determination, dedication, commitment, and love that they seem so appropriate for a wedding. For those who don't know the story, it may come as a surprise that Ruth addresses these words not to her husband but to Naomi--her mother-in-law! The love of a Moabite woman for her Jewish mother-in-law has become a precious, instructive model for our most intimate relationship.

This one-session study looks at the origin of the story and reminds us of the main points. We learn its important message, which is an appeal for tolerance and a plea for openness in recognizing that faith may be present in all the nations of the earth. Faith in God and membership in the family of God are not determined by race or national boundaries.

This study is part of the "Figures in the Old Testament Study Pack."