Ruth
Book of Ruth Old Testament
SCRIPTURE
This is the only whole book in the Bible about a non-Jewish woman.
Ruth was from Moab, an enemy of Israel, and despite not being Jewish, she was an example of how God chooses whoever He wants to bless the Jewish people and fulfill the prophesy of a Messiah.
Naomi, a Jew, is a key character in this. She had two sons with Elimelech. The one son married Ruth. Naomi's two sons and her husband all eventually die and Naomi is left a widow and no son. Ruth, Naomi's daughter-in-law, decides to live with her and support her. Ruth gathered the leftover parts of grain the harvesters left behind. Ruth met Boaz, the handsome, rich landowner of the grain fields. He protects her. One thing leads to another and they fell in love and marry.But in the meantime, Ruth continued to support Naomi
In Ruth 1: 16-17 it says, "Ruth replied, 'don't urge me to leave you or turn my back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely if even death separates you from me.' " These verses show Ruth's commitment and love that Ruth had for Naomi. Throughout this story there was a long drawn out negotiation about marrying a widow, but Boaz was steadfast, honest, proving himself to be a righteous man. Ruth and Boaz became the great grandparents of David.
LESSON
The story of Ruth is how God worked and planned the salvation of mankind, the birth of Jesus through direct lineage of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth shows her love by putting her mother-in-law before her own self. Ruth is loyal and faithful. Again, God uses all people for His plan of salvation for the world.💕