It might mean he was old enough to be her father. God had every intention of Ruth being part of the story for the lineage of Jesus. He wanted to conduct things in such a way that it was above board and unquestionable. And what a bountiful blessing she reaped! The indescribable passion and struggles that accompany love is displayed in the Book of Ruth and these actions personify our own struggles that we come face-to-face with on a daily basis. However, the contents of this blog post may not be modified, compiled, combined with other content, copied, recorded, synchronized, transmitted, translated, formatted, distributed, publicly displayed, publicly performed, reproduced, given away, used to create derivative works and otherwise used or exploited (including for-profit or commercial gain) without the creators expressed permission. However, if we look forward and allow our compassion for one another fuel our outlook then we will see how love can flourish. Granted, she needed some help from Naomi to see it but Ruth eventually gave Boaz permission to claim her as his wife. Elimelech had intended to go back home. The law is also very useful, because it shows us our defections and stains. But one thing is sure: Boaz didnt add to Ruths stress. But Boaz was willing to follow the proper civil procedures to have Ruth. When the timing is right, the outcome of the conversation is likely to be more favorable. When Ruth gets to Bethlehem, he decided to go to the fields to pick up left over grains for them to grind into flour to use for good. He died leaving his wife and sons among ungodly people. Through Ruths story, we learn that God uses the most unlikely people for his purpose. They choose to stay together and forge a union. Ruth was a stranger in the land. Have you ever heard of the saying, dont throw rocks at a glass house? For example, both belong to the same sex but from different . Be Blessed. Both of these women showed faith and clung to the belief that better days were ahead. every one on earth will fail. But thats not what she did. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); God can be found in silence. She wasnt expecting this level of kindness and she that as a stranger this was very much out of the ordinary. Anyone who looked at this foreign widow would have never guessed that God would choose her bloodline for the line of the promised redeemer Jesus. Sometimes it seems like I take my worries everywhere except to you. The book of Ruth starts with the life of Naomi. Ruth lived out her name for sure. No machines existed. No matter what devastating situation comes into play, love will conquer all because it is ultimately what brings people together. Ruth was the Moabite daughter-in-law of a Jewess named Naomi. While Judges is about breaking covenant and leaving torah, Ruth is about keeping covenant . Naomi is the one who sets the tone for her relationship with daughter-in-law Ruth. The story of Naomi and Ruth are woven together closely that their stories are nearly inseparable. She grew up in an evil country an enemy of Israel. We dont know anything about her beauty but we know her character was admirable. Sermon by Mr. Ken Frank (dve882). Now that we have dealt with what it means to wait for your Boaz, there are some other relationship nuggets buried in the story. which revealed that our heavenly father do not differentiate. Boaz rescued Ruth from the brink of poverty and enslavement like Jesus did for us. In short, do your part to make yourself a Ruth, ready for a Boaz. Many interpreters read Ruth as a happy-ending romance featuring Ruth, the beautiful young Moabite widow who captivated the heart of the older wealthy landowner Boaz. Do you have a mentor? Boaz saw the beauty in love and accepted Ruth for who she was. Ruth the Moabite is loyal to Yahweh and Naomi. Its evident that Naomi understands that God wants her to continue her relationship with Ruth and she expresses these feelings with thanks and recognition. God orchestrated the events of both their lives to make finding love again possible for Ruth. While the two women have several things in common, they are different in some respects. But when it comes to relationships, its even harder. She is known for her faithfulness, loyalty, virtue, and love. Boaz saw the beauty in love and accepted Ruth for who she was. The story has three main characters: Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth decided to move back to Bethlehem in Judah because they were heartbroken and lost. Its crushing to lose a spouse. Its four chapters . The book of Ruth in the Bible is an anthology of love and forgiveness. Through love we learn how to deal with people and how we can become better people within our individual relationships and as an entire society. But what you do see is an ordinary and challenging life shaped by faith and guided by the God she believes in, and today we can look back and see the mighty way her life was used. She was childless. With love does come heartache this can is seen through break-ups, divorce, or even death. The story is a mirror opposite of Israel's depressing journey from triumph to tragedy that is presented in the book of Judges. Ruths story is one that exemplifies the reality that so many of us are thrown at every day death, love, heartache, falling into love and even compassion for others that share love. 51 Best Bible Verses About Relationship With God. Naomi was too old to remarry or to work. Among them is how it illustrates the relationship between Jesus (Yahshua) with His Church. When two people fall in love its a beautiful thing. Note that he addressed her as daughter. We also see the freedom in their relationship. Elimelech of Bethlehem departs the country for Moab, taking his wife Naomi and their two sons along. Here are four relationship lessons I gleaned from my most recent re-reading of the book of Ruth. The second is that he set her up to get more than just what had fallen by the way as the employees worked. Through love we learn how to deal with people and how we can become better people within our individual relationships and as an entire society. Naomi and her husband decided to move away from Judah to Moab because of a terrible famine that was hurting their family. Ruth is an interesting Biblical story because it contains no miracles or prophecies. Their . Boaz recognized that Ruth was quite vulnerable. Ruth was taken and overwhelmed with his kindness that she bowed before Boaz. Also, there was a considerable age difference between them. Sometimes were afraid that sharing our questions and doubts and disappointments will turn other people away from God, when actually, sharing about our relationship with God openly can bring more intimacy to our relationships and help draw other people to their own faith. Ruth had no idea that millions of people would read her story. He didnt judge her past and didnt penalize her instead he embraced her past by also providing for Naomi. Doing the right thing isnt always easy. Naomi's grief was very real. Inside the Core this week, many students are reading the book of Ruth in the Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament. Like Abraham, Ruth left her life of false worship, a life surrounded by a predictable routine and people she knew. Act 3: Ruth and Boaz are at the threshing floor ( Ruth 3:1-18 ). They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough. It was a sacrifice for Ruth to refuse to return to her family. Therefore, Boaz would need to marry her instead of Naomi. The meeting with the other kinsman was held in the presence of Ruth, Naomi and elders in the community. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. No matter what, they see it all and because they are there each day its easy to get lost in that safety net. Ruth laid aside her pain, left her home and family, and turned her face to the future with hope as she journeyed to a new place with her mother-in-law. All rights reserved. The Book of Ruth is more than just a story about someone whose life was changed by love, but it reveals how love can truly move mountains and change the course of more than just two people that fall in love. He owned land and servants. Ruth and Boaz had a child together and he also took care of Naomi. Thankfully, she had Naomi to help. Ruth soaked up everything Naomi taught her. But, that was only half the solution to the problem. Ruth was a Moabite woman and was considered to be a foreigner in Judah, which was a huge deal in their culture at that time. !!!! Ruth and Boaz got married and had a child they named Obed. Memory Work - Luke 1:68; Scripture Reading and Discussion - Leviticus 25:48-49a, Ruth 4:1-17. Lets face it, no one is perfect! In the midst of any circumstances you face, in whatever relationships, we can trust God to bring good out of it. Samson's relationship with Delilah is a far cry from Ruth's relationship with Boaz. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links which wont change your price. Tucked between the books of Judges and 1 st Samuel, it can be easily missed when thumbing through the Old Testament. Naomis ability to be open and honest with Ruth about her relationship with God is inspiring. But, according to the practices of the time, Boaz was free to take another wife, especially since he was a kinsman. There is no bitterness or hostility that shadows over their relationship. Application: God had a wonderful plan for Ruth. Nineteenth-century American historian Elizabeth Ellet imagines that Ruth's beauty and foreign appearance attracted Boaz's attention.. Little Things Can Accomplish Bigger Plans. Both Naomi and Ruth experienced a great amount of grief, however both prevail Naomi loses her husband two sons. Love is organic and the Book of Ruth is just one of the best examples to portray these ideal. She did not know her rights as a young widow in the Jewish community. She was so thankful, especially considering her status of widow which made her automatically become a part of the lowest class in society, right there with beggars, orphans and people with disabilities. In the Hebrew Bible, Ruth stands with the Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther; together they make up the Megillot, five scrolls that are read at prescribed times on Jewish religious festivals. 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