Read: Ruth 1-4
Ruth is such a story of redemption. The first verse of Ruth tells it all: “in the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land.” Famines were a sign of God’s punishment on a nation that turned away from him. During the time of the judges we learned that men did what was right in their own eyes. Naomi and Elimelech tried to escape God’s judgment and went to Egypt. You can’t escape God’s discipline. Elimelech died along with both of Naomi’s sons who had married Moabite women. Ruth was left with nothing and heard that there is bread back home. She decided to take what was left of her life and move home. Ruth which means “friend” insisted on going with her. Ruth was Moabite but she has seen something in Naomi that was better than anything she has ever had at her house. Together they went to Bethlehem. Naomi enters the town in shame but is restored as God starts blessing her and Ruth.
Boaz was a wealthy land owner and a distant relative. Ruth “just happened” to end up in gleaning in his field and Boaz was immediately drawn to Ruth. He had heard of her story and could relate to her because his mother was Rahab (the harlot), who was a Canaanite. She was the one who hid the two spies when they came to spy out the land. So Boaz empathized with Ruth’s bravery to leave a Gentile lifestyle to acclimate to a Hebrew one. Through their union came David and the Messiah and all the earth was blessed!
God is always trying to redeem us. He can fix any mess we get ourselves in if we humble ourselves and ask him to.
Lord thank you for this beautiful picture of redemption and love. What you did for Ruth is what you did for all of us who have chosen to follow You. You took us in and gave us a new name and a Godly heritage. Through us all the earth will be blessed!
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