The relationship between mother-in-law and son-in-law or daughter-in-law seems to always have been a difficult one. One evidence for this is that it has been a topic for humor going back to Roman times; the poet Juvenal morbidly quipped, “A man will never be happy as long as his mother-in-law lives.” Mother-in-law jokes were a staple during the age of vaudeville. Here is one: “What is the penalty for bigamy? Two mothers-in-law.” Another is biblical: “Adam and Eve were the happiest couple in the world. Neither had a mother-in-law.” Even the Pope got in the act. At the recent World Meeting of Families he gave a talk about family difficulties, and he gave everyone a chuckle by saying, “I will say nothing about mothers-in-law.” Some people, however, say that the jokes are wrong and that there are some good mothers-in-law. They then usually say something like, “My spouse had an excellent one.”

Nevertheless, one of the most loving relationships described in the Bible is between Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth. Here is a much abbreviated version of the story. Because of a famine Elimelech and Naomi left their native Bethlehem with their two sons Mahlon and Kilion and went to live in the land of Moab. Mahlon and Kilion married two Moabite women Orpah and Ruth. After a few years tragedy strikes; Elimelech, Mahlon and Kilion all die leaving Naomi widowed without resources in a foreign land. This causes her to decide to return home to Bethlehem. Naomi loved both Orpah and Ruth, and Naomi emotionally urged them to stay in Moab where they have family. Orpah does so, but Ruth, out of love for both Naomi and her God, bravely decides to go with Naomi even though she will be a stranger in a strange land. In Ruth 1:16 we read these beautiful words of love, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” They returned to Bethlehem and with Naomi’s blessing Ruth married a man named Boaz and had a son named Obed. In Ruth 4:15 Naomi is told about Obed, “He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” It is through Obed that King David, and eventually Jesus, become descendants of Ruth.

The book of Ruth is only four short chapters, but it is rich with meaning. Please read it and see the full implications of the love between Ruth and Naomi. In the meantime note that God chose to illustrate His love with a mother-in-law, daughter-in-law story, and it’s no joke. The story of Ruth and Naomi helps us remember that God loves YOU and me unconditionally.

Jim