Ruth

Today I want to talk about the book of Ruth. For those of you who haven't read it, you SHOULD! Ruth is an inspiring story during a time when Israel was in turmoil. The monarchy of Israel hadn't been established yet and Israel was in a period of spiritual and moral decay. There was a great famine among the lands of Israel. So, Elimelech, a man of Bethlehem, Judah, took his wife Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion to dwell in the land of Moab. After arriving in Moab, Naomi's husband, Elimelech, died and she was left with her two sons. They settled in the land and Mahlon and Chilion took wives one named Orpah and the other Ruth. They all dwelt there for around ten years then Mahlon and Chilion died. After the death of her sons, Naomi and her daughter-in-laws began the journey back to Naomi's hometown of Bethlehem, Judah. Naomi asked Orpah and Ruth to go back to their homelands with their families. Naomi knew that she was too old to have more children and that she most likely would not remarry.

Orpah decided to go back to her family but Ruth clung to Naomi and refused to leave her side until the day she died. As they returned to Bethlehem, they learned that the famine was over. Ruth asked Naomi if she could please go to the fields and try to obtain some work and food for them. Naomi agreed and so Ruth went out to the fields. Ruth was in the fields and came across the portion of the field that belonged to Boaz.

Boaz was known as a man of great wealth, with noble character, and with a high standing among the community, but was most importantly a God loving man. Boaz was in fact one of Elimelech's relatives. Boaz found favor with Ruth as he had heard of her loyal love to her mother-in-law Naomi. Boaz allowed her to work and take food home to Naomi. Boaz treated Ruth with great kindness.

Naomi asked Ruth to go and offer herself to Boaz as his wife. In those days it was customary that if there was no offspring from your deceased husband that you then marry the closest relative in order to conceive children and carry on the family name. Boaz was much older than Ruth but he was extremely thankful that Ruth was reverent in keeping with the Levite tradition and not seeking a younger man or a man of greater wealth.

Boaz and Ruth were then married and Boaz took on the responsibility of Naomi as well. Boaz and Ruth then conceived a child named Obed. Naomi's emptiness had then been replaced by the birth of this child. Ruth, even though she was a Moabite woman, became part of the royal Davidic line and, thus, the messianic line.

This story is amazing to me because throughout all the suffering that Ruth went through from losing her father-in-law, her husband, and her brother-in-law, then her sister-in-law which returned home, to being impoverished and hungry, she never gave up. Ruth was faithful to God and knew that He would take care of them. She knew that her place was with Naomi and she wasn't leaving.

The reward that she received in the end of a God-loving, faithful, and treasured husband along with their child was amazing. This story points out God's faithfulness to us. He will never leave us or forsake us! He keeps His promises always!

The story of Boaz's redemption of a foreign woman points to Jesus' great redemption of all those who believe in Him!