Ruth ~ In God’s Grace and Favor

“‘Look,’ said Naomi, ‘your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.’ But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.’ “ (Ruth 1:15-17, NIV).

In the period of the Judges, a beautiful story emerges. It is the account of Ruth, a Moabite widow, her mother-in-law, Naomi, an Israelite widow, and Boaz, kinsman redeemer, who steps in to provide for the women and establish the lineage of King David and eventually of Jesus Christ himself. The theme of the book of Ruth is how the grace, favor and providence of God work together for good. Briefly, this is the story. Elimelech of Bethlehem in Judah took his wife Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Kilion and went to Moab to survive because there was a great famine in Israel. In Moab, Mahlon and Kilion married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Elimelech and both his sons died, leaving three widows. Naomi, in great bitterness, decided to return to Bethlehem. Ruth determined to go with her. Ruth’s statement is often used as part of marriage ceremonies because of the sincerity and commitment expressed. At home in Bethlehem, Naomi is greeted with great sympathy because she has lost her husband and sons. She sets upon a plan to have Ruth married under terms of the Levirate Law when closest-of-kin takes a widow to raise up children in the dead kinsman’s name. Ruth gleans in Boaz’s fields, and her hard work is rewarded. Naomi has a plan for Ruth to sleep on Boaz’s threshing floor. Boaz, an honorable man, knows there is another kinsman closer than he in kinship who would be in line to purchase land that had belonged to Elimelech and marry Ruth. That kinsman did not want to do that, so they sealed the transaction with exchange of a sandal as was the custom. This left Boaz free to become the kinsman redeemer and marry Ruth. From their union was born Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. The bitterness was lifted from Naomi. God had blessed with a son.

Read the beautiful story of Ruth in the Old Testament book that bears her name. See how God is involved in the everyday lives and far-reaching influence of His chosen people. From tragedy can come triumph. Ruth demonstrated qualities of commitment, persistence and love. Boaz, son of Salmon and Rahab the harlot (see Matthew 1:5 where Jesus’ lineage through fourteen generations from Abraham through Joseph is given) is the kinsman redeemer who makes things better for Naomi and Ruth. All enter into God’s plan for revealing Himself to His people and working for good as Paul states in Romans 8:28. God works through ordinary people His wonders to perform.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Saturday, August 21, 2010