RUTH

Heavenly Father, thank you for your many blessings. Thank you for Your Word, and Your words through me. I pray that all of Your children return to you in obedience, change our hearts, and show by the way we live that we have changed. Matthew 3:8. Let Your children with ears to hear, hear. In Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.

As I was reading the Bible on August 22, 2022, at the book of Ruth, God showed me how the story of Ruth is a comparison to our redemption through Christ. He showed me later, more importantly, how our obedience leads to said redemption.

Ruth 4

7 "Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.

8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.

9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.

10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day."

So, Boaz redeemed Ruth, as was the custom of the time.

I did a little research and found an article at corechristianity.com. Following is an excerpt from that article, titled: 

BOAZ’S REDEMPTION OF RUTH LOOKS FORWARD TO OUR REDEMPTION IN CHRIST 

"Boaz redeems Ruth in chapter 4:7-10. According to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 25) a relative was to act as a redeemer for any family member who was destitute, widowed or living in poverty. The redeemer would buy back property that person had lost in time of need, so it would be kept in the family. If they were sold into slavery, the redeemer would buy back his freedom.

Boaz becomes Ruth’s redeemer. He gets her out of poverty, provides for her, buys back Elimelech’s land and marries Ruth, providing an heir for Elimelech’s line. She is redeemed from poverty to abundance and from hopelessness to a bright future.

This is a picture of how Christ redeems us. Where we were meant to face God’s just punishment for our own sins, trusting in Christ, that punishment has been borne by him. He paid our debt of sin on the cross. Ephesians 1:7 says, 'In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.'

​In Christ, we’ve been redeemed from being slaves to sin and from facing God’s wrath to being forgiven in him, knowing his grace and peace. Like Ruth, we’ve been redeemed from spiritual poverty into Christ’s abundant life and from hopelessness and death to true hope and life that is eternal. This gift is ours out of no doing of our own, sheer grace!" End quote.


Not only that, as I was finishing this up today, September 1, 2022, I realized the comparison of Ruth to the story of Jesus goes even further. Think about it. Naomi was Jesus in the story.

Ruth 1

16 "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee [Naomi], or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."


So, Ruth followed Naomi, just like the people followed Jesus.

Ruth did not want to go back to her family; she was completely committed to Naomi, even vowing to die if anything parted her and Naomi, and accepting Naomi's (Jesus') God as her own God. Hallelujah! Amen.

Also, yes, Ruth was redeemed by Boaz as was customary, but why was she really redeemed? Because she was obedient to Naomi. Naomi told her to go glean the leftover grain in the fields, and Ruth obeyed. Naomi told her to lie at the feet of Boaz, and Ruth obeyed.

Ruth followed Naomi, was devoted and obedient to her, and she was redeemed.

If we follow Jesus, and are obedient to God, we will be redeemed as well.

Finally, because you literally cannot make this stuff up, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is actually descended from Boaz and Ruth, as shown in the generation of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1 below! 

God truly works in mysterious ways.

Matthew 1

1 "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

4 And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;

5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

6 And Jesse begat David the king;"
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Hallelujah! Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.