Week 14b: Ruth

Today’s post is on the little book of Ruth, which contains one of the Bible’s most beautiful love stories. It’s a book full of promises--promises made, promises kept, and the promise of a future, because here we first find the lineage of a king. The book of Ruth is also about Redemption. Centuries before this story takes place, God declared that the Moabites, because of their origin and their animosity towards Israel, would have no part with the nation of Israel. Yet one member of that race, because of her faith, was welcomed not only into the nation of Israel, but into the lineage of a king and the Messiah.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Ruth is also the story of a young widow and how she found a new life and a new home with her mother-in-law. That’s the thread we will follow--redemption and promise will find their way in.

Naomi and her husband left town with their sons because of a famine and settled in the land of Moab. The sons found wives in the new country, but then the man and his sons died. The three widows prepared to part in tears, but one of the girls refused to leave her mother-in-law.  Ruth made a vow, “Where you go, I will go...your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” That last phrase is the key. Ruth became a follower of YHWH, setting into motion a chain of events that would lead to the birth of a King.

When Ruth and Naomi returned to Bethlehem, Ruth began work gleaning in the field, and Boaz found out about her. He had his servants treat her kindly, and then learned that he was a close relative and Ruth could be redeemed, or married again. This idea of redemption was very important because Ruth and Naomi had nothing except what they could glean, beg or receive. According to the Law, if a man died and left no children, the widow could be redeemed (married) by the nearest relative and their first son would carry on the original husband’s name. This provided for the woman and also insured that the line of the family would continue.

Naomi also knew that Boaz was a close relative, and because of her love for her daughter-in-law, she hatched a plot for the two of them to meet in a midnight tryst. (If you don’t believe me, read chapter 3 again. It would be a great movie.) Boaz overcame the obstacle of a closer relative in order to marry Ruth, and he took care of Naomi as well. 

Notice how Naomi was restored with the birth of Ruth and Boaz’s son. They put him on her lap, as her son. She had a family line again! Also, the last verses of Ruth’s story tell us that the line continues three more generations to the birth of the man who would be King--David.

I have recently learned of my family’s Christian heritage, which goes back four generations. David reaped the benefits of five generations of faith, as I pray my children and (eventually) grandchildren will. I hope this post will encourage you to pass on the story of your faith as well.