The faith to leave the Old for the New Part 2

Let’s continue to reflect on what Ruth had to leave on order to walk into God’s purpose

The cost of leaving comfort

Had Ruth returned to her family, she likely would not have faced the physical labour she endured in Boaz’s field. Instead, she chose to glean, working long hours with only brief rest, beating out what she gathered, and carrying it back to the city for her mother-in-law. Gleaning was a humble task, closely associated with begging, yet Ruth willingly accepted it. She lowered herself to the demands of her circumstances and worked diligently for her family.

Her request, “Let me glean after him in whose sight I shall find grace,” reveals her humility and hope that someone would permit her to gather what was left behind. Though life in Bethlehem was marked by hardship, Ruth did not seek the comfort she had left in Moab. She remained faithful in difficult conditions.

God ultimately rewarded her perseverance and faithfulness. Ruth’s story shows that God’s plan was not merely survival but possession, transforming her from a labourer in the field into one who would one day own it.

A widow often endures deep loneliness, and the presence of familiar people can bring relief. Ruth could have sought that comfort. Instead, in the midst of her own grief, she chose to care for her mother-in-law, who had lost both her husband and her sons. This decision placed Ruth in uncertainty, unsure of her future and provision. Yet as she stepped away from emotional security, she found comfort in unexpected ways.

Working among unfamiliar people is rarely comfortable, especially for someone as vulnerable as Ruth. As a foreign widow, she was exposed to exploitation and discrimination. Boaz instructed her to stay close to the young women in the field, offering both protection and companionship. He also ensured her physical comfort by providing food, water, and a place among the reapers.

Ruth acknowledged this kindness, saying, “Let me find favour in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your maidservant.” Through Boaz, God provided the comfort Ruth had relinquished. Ruth faced discomfort on many levels, and her willingness to endure it led to reward.

The cost of leaving people 

Ruth left her people and went to a land where she knew no one. She wasn’t related to anyone. She had no connections in Bethlehem. Everything about Bethlehem was uncertain. How would these two widows survive? Who would extend a helping hand? Though the city rejoices in Naomi’s return we are not told if anyone offered shelter, money or employment. (Ruth 1:19) Instead, Ruth had to go out in search of work. She went to glean in the fields to provide food for her household. (Ruth 2:2). This reveals that both of them were not relying on people, but on God, Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides. (Genesis 22:14) 

Ruth, as a Moabite, had friends and family back in Moab. Had she stayed there, she might have received emotional and financial support and security. That would have been easier than moving to a place where everyone was a stranger. Even today, when we move to a new place, we search social media for people we know there to seek guidance, counsel and help avoid mistakes. But Ruth had no one except Naomi. But Naomi herself was bitter, grieving and had nothing to offer materially. However, Ruth took counsel from Naomi (Ruth 2:2) and more importantly she placed trust in the God of Naomi who is able to give divine connections. 

We see this faith in her words “Please let me go to the field and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favour.” That trust was rewarded. Lord directed her steps to the field of Boaz (Ruth 2:3) who would later become her kinsman-redeemer and her husband. What began as uncertainty ended up in divine provision, restoration and legacy proving once again that those who trust in the Lord will never be put to shame ( Psalm 34:22). 

Ruth’s journey reminds us that when we release human dependence and anchor ourselves in God, He goes before us, arranging relationships far beyond what we can plan on our own. 

The cost of leaving Moabite gods

Ruth forsook the Moabite gods she had grown up with and embraced the God of Israel. For anyone raised within a particular religious tradition, leaving behind long-held beliefs is deeply sacrificial. It requires a complete shift in mindset, practices, and faith. Yet Ruth willingly chose this path.

Naomi’s experience of God had been marked by loss, leading her to declare, “The hand of the Lord has gone against me.” Even so, Ruth remained steadfast, declaring, “Your God will be my God.” Her faith was not shaped by Naomi’s circumstances, but by her conviction in the God she had chosen to follow.

Turning to Yahweh, the true God, meant abandoning lifelong beliefs and traditions, deeply rooted practices, and choosing truth over tradition, often at the cost of family approval. Scripture does not record any of Ruth’s family turning to Yahweh or supporting her decision, which likely made her choice painful and isolating. By embracing the God of Israel, Ruth risked social rejection, misunderstanding, and the loss of her place among her own people.

Her transition was no easier in Israel. Ruth was a foreigner, and Moabites shared a troubled history with Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3). She likely faced prejudice, suspicion, and ridicule, requiring her to live out her faith through conduct rather than confession alone. Naomi was her only example of Yahweh worship, and even Naomi’s faith had been shaped by bitterness and loss (Ruth 1:20–21).

This commitment unfolded during the time of the Judges, a period marked by spiritual decline, when “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). There were no established institutions to nurture Ruth’s faith, no temple-centered worship nearby, no spiritual leaders to guide her. Yet Ruth’s character and virtue shone through.

Holiness and obedience to the Torah were central to Israel’s God (Leviticus 19:2; Deuteronomy 10:12–13), requiring a radical break from former ways and the embrace of a new, countercultural life. Ruth met this call with steadfast faith, and she was graciously included in the lineage of Jesus Christ, the God she worshipped.

We will keep exploring the remaining costs Ruth paid as she walked into God’s redemptive plan.