Who is your hero? Is there someone in your life you look to as a role model? Chances are, your hero probably doesn’t possess super-powers or wear a red cape. People that make me sit up and take notice are those who choose to serve rather than be served. Those who treat others with respect even when they’re treated poorly. People who focus on encouraging others rather than complaining. These people are priceless; accurate reflections of Jesus Christ.

Ruth is one of my heroes. No, she isn’t alive today, but her story lives on in the pages of scripture – giving us a picture of some beautiful character qualities worth emulating.

Ruth was no stranger to suffering. She became a widow early in life, and was faced with a life-changing decision: follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, to a foreign country; or stay in her familiar town without Naomi, whom she had grown to love. Either choice would be difficult.

Her decision made, Ruth refused to let Naomi sway her:

When Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem-Judah, Ruth didn’t expect to be waited on. Instead, she volunteered to go into the fields and glean so she could provide food for the two of them. She wasn’t too proud to admit they were poor and she proved to be a hard worker. 

Ruth didn’t go unnoticed. Take a look at how the Lord provided for her:

Don’t you love the element of foreshadowing the Lord uses in this verse? Ruth just happened to glean in the field belonging to a relative of Naomi’s – a near kinsmen who could redeem her. The stage is set for a God-ordained love story. Absolutely beautiful.

Ruth shared something in common with the woman mentioned in Proverbs 31; she was virtuous – morally excellent, or good. Her good reputation was earned by consistently living out the right character qualities, and they were widely recognized. In the words of Boaz:

In spite of being in a foreign land with strange customs, Ruth was willing to listen and follow through on her mother-in-law’s advice. I can only imagine what went through Ruth’s mind when Naomi told her to bathe, dress up, and go down to Boaz’s place where he was threshing grain. 

In broad daylight it would have seemed odd enough, but Naomi told her to go at night after Boaz had eaten. What may have seemed even stranger was Naomi’s instruction to uncover Boaz’s feet, to lie down and wait for Boaz to tell her what to do. 

Naomi wasn’t suggesting anything indecent. This was part of the Israelite custom and law. 

“It was common for servants to lie at the feet of their master and even share a part of his covering. By observing this custom, Ruth would inform Boaz that he could be her kinsman-redeemer – that he could find someone to marry her or marry her himself.” (The Life Application Study Bible, p. 466; note on Ruth 3:4)

Without hesitation, Ruth accepted Naomi’s advice and followed through. You probably know the happy ending to Ruth’s story. Boaz marries Ruth and they are the parents of Obed, the grandfather of King David. Amazing.

Ruth’s faith, humility, virtuous character, and obedience make her one of my heroes. With God’s help, I desire these qualities in my own life.