Ruth

So, as previously mentioned, the story of Ruth is right up my alley.  I think I have completed four different studies of the book of Ruth in multiple settings.  The story of Ruth is so very many times overlooked.  We think of her story as a novel one, but not necessarily one of importance.  So why is it in the Bible?  Easy.  Kinsman Redeemer. 

Let's back up a minute.  Naomi was married to Elimelek. They were from Bethlehem, but they had to travel to Moab because of the famine.  They took with them their two sons.  While in Moab the boys fell in love (wuv, sweet wuv...)  and married women from Moab.  (Ruth and Orpah).  Eventually, Elimelek and his sons passed away.  Being a widow left Naomi in a very precarious position. She was poor, had no social status and no way to earn income.  She planned to return to Bethlehem since the famine was over.  (It would be likely - although not explicitly stated - that there would be some sort of family in Bethlehem for her to return to).  Naomi encouraged her daughter in laws to stay in Moab, to return to their families.  Ruth and Orpah were still young, they still had marrying potential.  Orpah took Naomi's advice and returned to her family in Moab.  Ruth, however, was resistant.  She insisted on traveling with Naomi and making her life with her mother in law.  Ruth would be an outsider in Bethlehem.  Life would be difficult for her, especially as a widow.  She still chose to go with Naomi. 

In Bethlehem Naomi and Ruth had a hard time.  They were very poor and they had to glean local farms for food.  Much to the luck of Ruth, she just happened to glean on a farm owned by a man named Boaz.  Boaz noticed Ruth and gave instructions for his workers to leave a little extra for Ruth and Naomi.  He treated Ruth well, giving her some extra food and water.  (He had asked one of his workers who the girl was, the worker explained to Boaz that she was Naomi's daughter in law, to which it is likely that Boaz figured out then that he was a family member to Naomi...again not explicitly stated, but could safely be assumed). 
Eventually Ruth and Naomi took a big risk.  Boaz was staying on the threshing floor (where they separate the grain) with the rest of his men.  When the workers stayed on the threshing floor it was a high time of temptation.  Many prostitutes visited at this time, knowing that the wives were left at home.  Ruth slipped into the threshing floor and slept at Boaz's feet.  This was symbolic, meaning that Ruth was asking for marriage, however this was a big risk on Ruth's behalf. She could have been misunderstood. If she were to be misunderstood, it would mean that she would lose his favor and she would have a very difficult time finding food for both her and Naomi. 
Fortunately, for Ruth and Naomi, Ruth was not misunderstood.  Boaz was willing to take Ruth as a wife and care for her and Naomi.  He had just one problem - there was one man who was a closer relative.  Boaz went to that man, but the man did not want to marry Ruth.  So Boaz took Ruth as his wife.  He became Ruth and Naomi's kinsman redeemer.  A kinsman redeemer is person (a man) who could step in when a woman was widowed to take care of her, but also to provide an heir to continue the family name, so that that prestigious name would not be lost in history. 
Boaz became Ruth and Naomi's kinsman redeemer.  He and Ruth married and had a son - Obed.  Obed had a son named Jesse.  Jesse had a son named David.  As in, King David. As in David and Goliath.  As in Jesus came from the line of David.  Without Ruth and Boaz, that fortunate choice, all of Christian history could have been altered.  That was a close one! 
Boaz became Ruth's kinsman redeemer, Jesus became ours.  He saved us from our time of loneliness and separation from God. Without this precious story, all could have been changed.   Our life could be very different.  Ruth took a risk, Boaz made a choice - all of history was changed. 

The power of one. 

How are you influencing the lives of those around you? 

~jennifer