Return to Bethlehem

"Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons."

Ruth 1:1 NKJV

The book of Ruth takes place during the period of the Judges in Israel, a time of chaos, wars, and lack of kings, when everyone did what they thought was right without considering God's will (Judges 21:25). In this context, the book of Ruth introduces us to a family from Bethlehem, a city whose name means “house of bread,” but which at that time was without bread because of a famine. Elimelech, the head of the family, decides to leave his land and go to Moab, a foreign country, hoping to find resources. To do so, he must cross the Jordan River in the opposite direction. This choice represents a departure from God's blessing, indicating a return to the past, a loss of spirituality that can come at a high price. The story reminds us that God never lets his children go hungry, even in times of scarcity, as demonstrated by the stories of the widow with the prophet Elisha or the disciples of Jesus with the multiplication of the five loaves and two fish. Elimelech dies in Moab, leaving Naomi, his wife, and their sons Mahlon and Chilion. The latter marry two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth, but after about ten years they also die. Naomi, left alone, realizes that her flight from Bethlehem and her distance from God have brought only pain and loss. Her faith has become “Moabized,” that is, it has bowed to the influences of a pagan environment far from the Lord.

Naomi, who finds herself without a husband and children, represents the Church, which sometimes finds itself far from its source of life and blessing. Like the prodigal son in the pigsty (Luke 15:17), Naomi “comes to her senses” and decides to return to Bethlehem, where the Lord visited his people and provided them with bread (1:6). Let us admit that true hope lies in returning to the house of bread, that is, to God. In a few verses, we realize how hasty the initial decision was and how appropriate it is not to run away from difficulties. Let us remain steadfast and faithful in waiting for God's time, which will surely come. He will not delay! At this juncture, her daughter-in-law Ruth promises to follow her wherever she goes, declaring that her people and her God will also be hers. Naomi's return to Bethlehem represents a return to authentic faith and reminds us that even when we are far away, God waits for us and calls us to return. Her decision to return is an example of how, even in the most difficult circumstances, we can always return to God, who waits for us with mercy. The central message is that God, even when we seem far away or have done wrong, never abandons us. And the story that had taken a turn for the worse finds in God the resolver and the One who governs it.

And so the story of Naomi's family becomes the story of Ruth and Boaz. The redemption of the young widow, according to the law of levirate marriage, shows us that God has a plan of salvation and redemption for everyone, even those who feel lost or far away. His love is greater than any mistake or distance. In this story, Bethlehem is not just a historical city, but a place of hope, synonymous with spiritual rebirth and encounter with Jesus, the Bread that came down from heaven. When Naomi decides to return, God guides her and brings her back to blessing. The church, like Naomi, may find itself in moments of crisis or distance from God, but it is always possible to return to Bethlehem, to the source of life and salvation. This word invites us not to run away from difficulties, but to remain faithful, to pray, fast, and humble ourselves, so that we may see the hand of the Most High at work. In a world marked by war and instability, true change comes when we return (or remain) to God, who provides spiritual bread every day. In times of difficulty and famine, it is important to remain close to the Lord and not stray from His promises. Crossing the Jordan to the promised land means being born again and living according to God's will. I encourage you to keep your faith alive, not to run away from difficulties, but to take root firmly in Bethlehem, where we found Jesus, the Bread of Life. Remember that the Lord is our Goel, the one who redeems us, who waits for us with mercy and invites us to live in communion with Him.

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Weekly Bible Reading Plan #23

June 2, 2 Chronicles 17-18; John 13:1-20

June 3, 2 Chronicles 19-20; John 13:21-38

June 4, 2 Chronicles 21-22; John 14

June 5, 2 Chronicles 23-24; John 15

June 6, 2 Chronicles 25-27; John 16

June 7, 2 Chronicles 28-29; John 17

June 8, 2 Chronicles 30-31; John 18:1-18