This story has the stuff in it for creating a modern day television soap opera. It mirrors life as it was, and is right now in this world, at its worst and at its best. The Book of Ruth begins with a refugee problem. Elimelech, a native of Bethlehem, leaves home with his wife and two sons to seek refuge in Moab (of all places); it was here Moses was buried. As a result of his sin Moses got into real trouble with God and was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. The move from Bethlehem to Moab was nothing like the first famine-related flight into Egypt by Joseph’s father and brothers. This time it was only a small family, a father and mother and their two sons, who made the move to Moab to keep from starving.

Famine is a condition that seems always to be with us in the world, despite tre…