Ruth: The wife of Boaz and the mother of Obed

Ruth experienced a roller-coaster experience in Moab. She moved from a young and happy married woman to a young and poor widow. If her hopes were in her husband alone, her hopes would have been shattered. The only comfort around her were other widows (mother-in-law and sister-in-law) who were also in grief. Life indeed gave Ruth lemons. Instead of sulking about how sour the lemons were, Ruth made for herself a lemonade. She did not settle at the widowhood stage. She knew that life in Moab wouldn’t be easy either. Ruth challenged herself and moved to Bethlehem with Naomi. She knew that being a stranger in a foreign land comes with its own challenges. But, she was determined to brace Bethlehem and allow the God of Naomi  to fix her broken pieces.  

Sometimes, the only way to step into your destined future is to have faith in God. Faith without deed according to James (2: 20) is dead. Ruth took a step of faith when she followed Naomi to Bethlehem. Her relocation was very instrumental. While she remained a widow in Moab, she was of no use to the guardian-redeemer. However, when she moved to Bethlehem, she met her destiny helpers. In the previous post, we saw that Boaz promised Ruth that he wouldn’t relax until the matter of her redemption is settled. True to his words, Boaz met the closest guardian-redeemer at the town gate. Witnessed by the elders of the town, Boaz laid before them the case of Naomi and Ruth’s redemption. Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.” At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.” (Ruth 4:5‭-‬6).

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.  (Ruth 4:13)

Boaz, being the next guardian-redeemer, took charge. He announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!” (Ruth 4:9‭-‬10). Thus Ruth and Naomi came under the authority and care of Boaz. “So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.” (Ruth 4:13). 

Ruth gained a home, a husband and a son. She received double for all her troubles. Many sons were born during the same period but the son of Ruth was different. He was no ordinary baby. “The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” (Ruth 4:17). The son of Ruth was the grandfather of king David. Jesus Christ was a descendant of king David. 
“This, then, is the family line of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.” (Ruth 4:18‭-‬22)

The blind beggar at the roadside of Jericho couldn’t see but his spirit could transcend to the ancestry of Jesus. “He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”(Luke 18:38). Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. (Luke 18:41‭-‬43). 

Naomi saw bitterness but Ruth saw a future and a hope. What you see determines how far you can go. Look beyond your pain, loss, grief and illnesses and see the good future the Lord has for you. Take a step of faith and move into your newness. Don’t stay longer in the Moab of your life, move to Bethlehem, that is where pleasantness is found. May God restore unto us a double blessing for all that we have lost.  Ephphatha…we can see victory in Bethlehem!

Ruth: “I will go with you”

Moving to a new place can be full of uncertainties. Even people who love traveling always take extra precautions when moving to another place for a long time. Whenever one decides to relocate to a new place, certain factors are likely to make the person choose the specific location. No one deliberately moves to stay at a place where their life would be threatened. Even army officers who fight in war zones don’t move with the intention to go and die. Only villains plan and orchestrate their own death with the intention to harm more people. Because of different motivations to relocate, we tend to choose where our lives’ purpose can be fulfilled or where we can thrive. We have seen that Naomi and her family relocated to Moab to escape famine. After living in Moab for a couple of years, Naomi decided to relocate again to her home country. 

Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, Naomi was enroute to Bethlehem when she suddenly stopped to prevent her in-laws from making the journey. Orpah, understood and reasoned with Naomi. Orpah returned to her people. But, Ruth was not convinced. Her determination to relocate from Moab to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law was stronger than all the reasons she was given by Naomi. When Naomi saw that the well-defined reasons that made Orpah turn back home does not seem to convince Ruth, she said, “Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” (Ruth 1:15). 

But Ruth said, “Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I’ll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I’ll die, and that’s where I’ll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!” (Ruth 1:16‭-‬17 MSG)

Naomi genuinely loved her daughters-in-law but she thought that going back to Bethlehem with them wouldn’t be worth it. Ruth was not convinced. She held on to Naomi. She wasn’t ready to change plans. Even if Bethlehem is not good for her, she would prefer that over staying back in Moab. Ruth told Naomi, “Don’t force me to leave you; don’t make me go home. Where you go, I go; and where you live, I’ll live. Your people are my people, your God is my god; where you die, I’ll die, and that’s where I’ll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!” (Ruth 1:16‭-‬17 MSG). These powerful confessions came from a well-thought intention to go with Naomi. Ruth was aware that relocating could bring uncertainties but she was more convinced that she would be better off living with her widowed mother-in-law than enjoying the comfort of Moab.

Naomi might have been overwhelmed by such determination and commitment. There was nothing more to say to convince Ruth to turn back. In Ruth 1:19, scripture records that “when Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.” Determination and persistence are key for growth and development. Ruth was determined and she persisted until Naomi had no other excuse to leave her behind. Ruth also demonstrated courage. She was aware that the Israelites might not like her because she is Moabite. She was aware that both her and Naomi might be vulnerable since they had no man to defend them. Ruth was confident the God Naomi serves would be her God as will. That is, Ruth did not just leave her people, she left her faith in idols, and placed her faith in Naomi’s God. Ruth was certain that not even death would come between her and Naomi. 

In other words, although her husband is no more, she would still follow Naomi and if Naomi should even die, she would still prefer to be by her side. Ruth told Naomi that “where you die, I’ll die, and that’s where I’ll be buried, so help me God—not even death itself is going to come between us!” (Ruth 1:17 MSG). Ruth’s commitment was so great. Even the bond of marriage is broken by death (till death do us part), but Ruth’s love for Naomi was not to be broken by death. Ruth 1:16-17 presents to us a woman who is dedicated and committed to one quest, “She would relocate to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law no matter the cost.” It makes sense that God transformed her from an ordinary Moabite widow to an extraordinary woman of faith and the great grandmother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Ruth teaches us that commitment to God is rewarded. Her story teaches persistence, patience, prudence, determination, consistency among many other traits that Christians should have. She counted the cost of relocating to Bethlehem and was ready to bear the price. Jesus tells us to count the cost before we make our plans.

“Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’” (Luke 14:28‭-‬30 MSG)

Those who start and quit are unfit for the service in the kingdom of God!
Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62).
Using contemporary English, the Message Bible renders Luke 9:62 as this, “Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”

Ruth saw an opportunity. Orpah saw a dead end. Naomi saw a bitter past and a broken future. What you see determines your response. Ruth seized the day because she saw a future and a hope. Ephphatha: May your eyes be opened to see!