During the time of the judges...
The book of Ruth opens with telling us when they lived and when this story unfolds. They lived "during the time of the judges." Last week we talked about how the Israelites had a neighboring nation (Moab) who gave them a lot of trouble for 18 years. The second judge of Israel tricked the king of Moab into allowing him some alone time and Ehud killed him. Sometime later Naomi's husband decided to move their family from Israel into Moab because there was a famine in Israel. They had two sons and both of their sons married women from Moab - meaning they were not Israelites. We don't know how - but Naomi's husband passed away and later both of her sons also passed away. During this time, women were not independent and were treated more as property rather than individuals who could go wherever they pleased. So when Naomi's daughters-in-law no longer had husbands, she told them both to return to their families. One daughter-in-law did as Naomi said and returned to her family. Ruth, however, refused to leave Naomi. She told Naomi that "where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God." So together Naomi and Ruth went to Israel. Once back in Israel, Ruth and Naomi had no money and therefore no food to eat. So Ruth found land with grain growing and decided to follow the workers and would pick up the grain that they dropped while gathering. The owner of the field was Boaz - a relative of Naomi's late husband. Over time, Boaz fell in love with Ruth and he married her - taking care of Ruth and Naomi for the rest of their lives.
But why is this story important? Sure there were a lot of people who had solid relationships with their in-laws. There must have been many people who fell in love and got married. Why these people?
Ruth, who decided to follow the true God, lined herself up with the will of God. Ruth and Boaz had a son named Obed. Obed grew up to have a son named Jesse. Jesse grew up to have a son named David. The Messiah is later prophesied to come from the house of David. When Ruth declared her allegiance to Naomi and to the God of Israel, she unknowingly put herself in the direct lineage of Jesus. Such a relatively small decision to stay with Naomi rather than return home - put her in a divine place for a divine purpose.
Never underestimate the power of saying "YES" to God.
The book of Ruth opens with telling us when they lived and when this story unfolds. They lived "during the time of the judges." Last week we talked about how the Israelites had a neighboring nation (Moab) who gave them a lot of trouble for 18 years. The second judge of Israel tricked the king of Moab into allowing him some alone time and Ehud killed him. Sometime later Naomi's husband decided to move their family from Israel into Moab because there was a famine in Israel. They had two sons and both of their sons married women from Moab - meaning they were not Israelites. We don't know how - but Naomi's husband passed away and later both of her sons also passed away. During this time, women were not independent and were treated more as property rather than individuals who could go wherever they pleased. So when Naomi's daughters-in-law no longer had husbands, she told them both to return to their families. One daughter-in-law did as Naomi said and returned to her family. Ruth, however, refused to leave Naomi. She told Naomi that "where you go, I will go. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God." So together Naomi and Ruth went to Israel. Once back in Israel, Ruth and Naomi had no money and therefore no food to eat. So Ruth found land with grain growing and decided to follow the workers and would pick up the grain that they dropped while gathering. The owner of the field was Boaz - a relative of Naomi's late husband. Over time, Boaz fell in love with Ruth and he married her - taking care of Ruth and Naomi for the rest of their lives.
But why is this story important? Sure there were a lot of people who had solid relationships with their in-laws. There must have been many people who fell in love and got married. Why these people?
Ruth, who decided to follow the true God, lined herself up with the will of God. Ruth and Boaz had a son named Obed. Obed grew up to have a son named Jesse. Jesse grew up to have a son named David. The Messiah is later prophesied to come from the house of David. When Ruth declared her allegiance to Naomi and to the God of Israel, she unknowingly put herself in the direct lineage of Jesus. Such a relatively small decision to stay with Naomi rather than return home - put her in a divine place for a divine purpose.
Never underestimate the power of saying "YES" to God.