.jpg)
Ruth
“A Love Story Divinely Authored”
Each generation listed in the genealogy of Jesus are in fact one story of God’s providence. What is Providence? It is how God takes a series of seemingly natural events and uses them to accomplish supernatural purposes. Now, some might say that these things are coincidence! All the right people in the right places at all the right times culminating in just the right outcome. OR you could conclude that God is weaving all these events into His divine tapestry.
The previous women we looked at in Jesus’ genealogy remind us that God made promises and is faithful in keeping them and that God will save anyone who turns to Him in faith. The Third woman mentioned, Ruth, reminds us that God’s story is a story of love divinely authored.
Ruths story takes place during a time described in this way, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” (Judges 21:25). We are left wondering, “Who’s in charge? Is anyone overseeing this mess?”
Ruth, not an Israelite herself, married a man who had left Israel during a time of famine and moved to Moab (Ruth’s homeland). But Ruths story begins with loss and heartache. In a short span, Ruth loses her husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law. As the three widows console one another, Ruths mother -in-law Naomi urges them to leave so they can find new husbands to protect and provide for them. Ruths sister-in-law agrees to this proposal and leaves. Ruth however, makes a pledge to Naomi saying, “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God….” (Ruth 1:16). What a beautiful picture of this young woman’s loyalty and character.
Ruth and Naomi leave Moab and return to Naomi’s home-town of Bethlehem (sounds familiar right?). Bethlehem literally means “House of Bread” and they just so happen to arrive while the harvest is underway. This also just so happens to be a time when both the wealthy and the poor are together in the fields. Ruth just so happens to gather wheat in the field of a man named Boaz, who just so happens to be someone who has the power to change the course of Ruths life and the future of Israel. Oh, and Boaz just so happens to take notice of this stranger working among all the others making sure his workers drop a little extra for her.
When Ruth recounts the events of the day to Naomi, Naomi is thrilled! You see, Naomi is a part of the promises of God, but had a problem. God had promised to give Israel the land; dividing it among the families of Israel, but Naomi had lost all her male heirs. So, without intervention Naomi’s line and connection to land would end. But Naomi knows how God
had given instructions to Israel to help keep land and lineage together. If a woman was left widowed, the next eligible family member was responsible to marry and provide an heir to her that would inherit the land. This person was called a “kinsmen redeemer”.
Naomi, the great match maker, comes up with a plan for Ruth to make a proposal to Boaz; hoping that he would take on the responsibility of kinsmen redeemer.
Like a good hallmark movie Boaz was the town’s most eligible bachelor. He was wealthy, successful, had a good reputation and though Boaz is much older than Ruth, had never married. Ruth’s proposal was met with gentleness, willingness and love. Boaz makes a public agreement to marry Ruth and to become their Kinsmen Redeemer. The leaders of the town rejoice with Boaz and bless him with a strange blessing. “Through your offspring that the LORD gives you by this woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah,” (Ruth 4:12) What on earth does that mean? They are saying, “may your children with Ruth be the line of rulers promised to Judah and Perez”. And their blessing comes true, played out in the genealogy of Jesus.
The women also rejoice with Naomi after Boaz and Ruth have their first child. “The women said to Naomi; “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a “KINSMEN REDEEMER”. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth…they named him Obed. He was the Father of Jesse, the fatter of David.”
Why is Ruth’s story in the Bible? Well, it explains how we happened to get to king David and eventually to Jesus. Really God is saying, “These things didn’t “Just Happen!” God has been working all things together for good.”
Like Ruths, Jesus’ story is a story of love divinely authored. Jesus came as our great “Kinsmen Redeemer.” He is our kinsmen in His humanity. This is why the Christmas story is so important that this baby born in a manger is God stepping into our humanity. And He is our redeemer, the one who would, at his own expense purchase and secure our future.
On the night Jesus was born the angels proclaimed to the shepherds, “Today in the town of David (Bethlehem) a savior (Redeemer) is born He is Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace.” (Luke 2:12-14).
Merry Christmas
-Pastor Sean Brandow