New Beginning

One of the most beautiful stories of God’s faithfulness is found in the book of Ruth. It is a story of how God brings blessing and fulfills His plan of redemption of mankind through the person of one gentile woman named Ruth. Ruth is a Moabites and she is married into an Israelite family. When her father-in-law dies and her own husband dies and her broth-in-law dies, she is left without hope for a family and a future. She pledges herself to her mother-in-law, Naomi and her God, Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews. They travel together to Naomi’s home of Bethlehem. It is there by God’s providence and direction that she meets Boaz, who is to be her Kinsman Redeemer. The Kinsman Redeemer was a provision under Jewish law whereby the closest male relative to a widow who is childless could marry her and have children by her. She and her children would have protection and financial provision by becoming part of the family of the Kinsman Redeemer. The widow would be saved from a future life of poverty and desolation. And along with Ruth the future of Naomi is preserved as well. I like the way the story ends. When Ruth gives birth to her first child by Boaz, we are told: “Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.  The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.” And it is from this line that the Messiah, Jesus comes. (Ruth 4:16-17) There is a new beginning for Ruth and Naomi.