In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. – Ruth 1:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (February 3, 2019): Ruth 1

Hockey legends and brothers, Bobby and Dennis Hull, were born in Point Anne, Ontario. That might not be a huge surprise, after all, we all have to be born someplace, and for a hockey player to be born in Canada is not exactly a huge surprise. What is interesting about the birthplace of the Hull brothers is that the town no longer exists. Bobby and Dennis Hull cannot go home to the place where they were born and find life. Oh, there are a few long-time residents still living in the area, but the town itself no longer exists. There are no hockey players who wear the colors of the Point Anne or play sports for the pride of the town – not anymore. Point Anne is a ghost town.

The story is not an uncommon one. Point Anne was built around industry, specifically the cement industry. At its height, cement plants formed the basis for the financial viability of the town. And as happens all over the world, industry brings with it other businesses. Grocery stores, hardware, and specialty stores, automotive dealerships, and many other businesses spring up to serve the needs of the people involved in the main industry of the area. All of this is what gives life to an urban setting. But the reverse is also true. When the main industry disappears, so does everything that grew up to support the industry. And the town, often, dies. This is Point Anne’s story. When the cement industry moved away from Point Anne in the early 1970s, it took away jobs and a reason to live in the area. People moved away to places where they could find work. And the town quickly died.

The story of Ruth begins with the story of one family who lived in Bethlehem. Bethlehem, whose name means “House of Bread,” was known for its agriculture. But this was a time of famine, and the famine had even decimated the “House of Bread.” At this moment in time, the main industry in Bethlehem, which was agriculture, was suffering, and so the people began to leave.

For this family, we are about to find out that their names are Elimelek and Naomi, along with their sons Mahlon and Kilion, they decide to leave the home that they had known and go and live someplace where there is food. The phrase “live for a while” is important. Elimelek and Naomi had no intention on leaving forever; the move into Moab was a temporary response to famine. The hope was that at some time in the future, Bethlehem would once again become the “House of Bread.” And when the famine ended, they would return home.

All of this happened during the time of the Judges, a time of oppression and general anarchy in Israel. Because “in those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit” (Judges 21:25).

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Ruth 2