A Woman of Beauty

Book of Ruth (2)

By Dr. Jane C. Pan

Many people wondered what Ruth really looked like. The Bible did not give us clear indication as to Ruth's appearance, but throughout literature, many have depicted her this way: "Ruth is modest, meek, courteous, loyal, responsible, gentle yet decisive. She carried her weight as a very lovely woman. Her radiant beauty of face and form neither the shadows nor the sad state of her raiment could obscure. She may have gleaming golden hair and dark eyes. She is startling beautiful, or may have dark red hair, high cheekbones, and warm eyes. She is a woman dressed in the clinging robe of a temple priestess."

The name Ruth means "friendly companion" in Hebrew. Even though we do not have a picture of what Ruth actually looked like, we do know from her name that she is beautiful person from the inside out. She is a friendly person and a loyal companion to her mother-in-law Naomi and later to her husband, Boaz.

Ruth is a woman of beauty. This beauty not only exhibited from an outward appearance, but her beauty radiates inside out from her humbled heart. Even though she was a Moabite (an outcast people group) yet she was so loving and sweet especially toward her poverty stricken and widowed mother-in-law. She herself was a widow, yet she did not look at herself as a weak vessel in need of care. She did not cry out at the loss of her husband, his people, his country, and his God. Nor do we find her pitying herself. Instead, she looked at herself as someone capable of hard work and earned her way through the love of her mother-in-law as well as the rich landowner Boaz.

Ruth could have been a complainer and she had every reason to be such. She had lost her young husband and now she is following her mother-in-law to a strange land. There are so much unknown factors facing them in the strange land. They had neither money nor protectors. She had the daunting task of supporting herself as well as her old and poverty-stricken mother-in-law. Ruth did not feel any self-pity or dread of a difficult task of gleaning wheat in the hot sun for food. One day as she gleaned in the field belonging to a rich landowner, Boaz noticed her. He saw her as a humble, young, strong, and meek woman who did not complain in taking care of her mother-in-law. He began to admire her and the admiration turned into kindness, and later into love for her. He saw the beauty within her. He began to grow in admiration and protection of her. He wanted the beautiful Ruth protected from all harm if he can help it. When Ruth boldly obeyed her mother-in-law's instruction of going to the threshing floor at night to where Boaz was threshing his grain, she had no idea of the outcome for this action. All she knew was she loved her mother-in-law deeply and wanted to please her. The result we all know that Boaz followed through and became the protector or kinsman redeemer of Ruth and her family. From the blessed union of Ruth and Boaz came the lineage of King David of Israel. We read from the book of Ruth this passage, "So Boaz married Ruth and took her home to live with him. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. In addition, the women of the town said to Naomi, �Praise the Lord who has given you a family redeemer today! May he be famous in Israel. May this child restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you so much and who has been better to you than seven sons!'"

Dearest women readers, are you beautiful in the eyes of your spouse, family, and friends? Are you leaving a significant legacy for your children and children's children? Ruth did. Her faithful obedience and a life of love legacy were significant even though she herself did not see all the results. Ruth's life is a life where God favored her with miracles. All loved Ruth because she was so lovable. One historian puts it this way, "Ruth had proved that love can lift one out of poverty and obscurity. Love can bring forth a wonderful child. Love can shed its rays, like sunlight, on all whom it touches, even a forlorn and weary mother-in-law. Ruth's love had even penetrated the barriers of race."

If you want to be truly beautiful, learn to love others more than you love yourself. Be a giver and not a taker. May God bless you with the inner beauty that radiates out and help to make this world a better place for all of us to live in!