Ruth, From Loss to Lineage

I was asked some time ago who my favourite Bible character is. Her name is RUTH, and her story is profound.

Loss

Ruth’s story begins with loss within her future in-laws family. Famine causes Elimelech, his wife Naomi and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion to leave Bethlehem (which literally means house of bread) for the pagan land of Moab. We see a loss of faith in this move. Sadly in Moab, Elimelech dies. The sons marry Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. Both sons die. After 10 years living in Moab, Naomi has suffered great loss – no husband, no sons and no descendants.

Loyalty

The famine is over – God was loyal to His people. Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. Orpah stays in Moab, but Ruth goes with Naomi. Ruth speaks the most profound words in 1:16 ‘Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God’. Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi and her willingness to be part of God’s people is amazing. After all, this is a Moabite woman and Moabites were enemies of Israel (Gen 19:36-37; Judges 3:28).

Love

God sees Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi. He sees the desperate situation of these two widows returning to Bethlehem with no husbands or male heir to care for them. He sends Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, into their lives. Our Lord extends his love and grace into the situation allowing Ruth to work in Boaz’s field. Boaz too, was a noble man, who extended kindness and protection to Ruth (2:8-10).

Law

While allowing Ruth to glean in his fields, Boaz obeyed God’s law regarding gleaning (Lev 19:9-10). In time we see that Boaz was also a Kinsman Redeemer (See Lev 25:25; Deut 25:5-10). He redeemed land for Naomi and took Ruth as his wife. There is beautiful picture of Jesus in Boaz’s actions. Just as Boaz paid a price to rescue Ruth and land for Naomi, so too Jesus paid a price, and fulfilled the Law, to rescue us from the penalty and judgement of sin. He took us into His own family as adopted heirs.

Lineage

Through Boaz’s marriage to Ruth, we finally see the reversal of loss as Ruth gives birth to a son, Obed. From Obed we see the lineage of Jesse, David and eventually Jesus Messiah ! (Matthew 1:1-17). Ruth’s story begins with famine, death and poverty but ends with a wedding, a child and royal lineage. Praise God!

Why is Ruth so meaningful to me:

Like Ruth, being a Christian convert required me to reject a part of my life that had previously shaped my entire identity. Many who’ve had the privilege of a Christian upbringing often struggle to grasp what this means.

God’s sovereignty is on full display in my life. He allowed me to be the child of migrants and to grow up in a foreign land. When I could have enjoyed life in my birth country, being part of the majority ethnic group and religion, I grew up in another country, mocked for being a foreigner and later faced further challenges because of my salvation. Being faithful to Christ can be very challenging…but we run our race and keep our eye on the finish line.

Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi is a dramatic display of grace and love. Not many people show such loyalty to people they are not related to by blood. But God saw Ruth’s obedience and He looked after her…after all He had a plan. Ruth’s story shows that God will never leave us nor forsake us and He will give us the strength to remain faithful to Him.

Most importantly, Ruth’s story points us to Christ (Gal 2:20)!

Want to know more about this remarkable lady? Ever wondered about the timing of her return to Bethlehem for the barley harvest? Then I encourage you to listen to the Ruth sermon series from our church.