I really appreciate the book of Ruth because it's a story of things gone wrong that are made right. To begin with, the lack of obedience by the Israelites led to famine, and Elimelech was forced to move his family to find food. And his sons took wives from foreigners – a practice that was forbidden by God. When the boys died, however, Ruth chose to cling to Naomi in spite of Naomi's apparently abrasive attitude. They returned to Bethlehem, Ruth met a kinsman redeemer who paid the price to welcome her as his wife. She moved from being a penniless orphan to a mother and a wife. It's a beautiful story that should not have had a happy ending… but it did. Because of the quality of Ruth's character, she was chosen by God to be a part of the lineage of Jesus. What's truly amazing is that Ruth's story is really a foreshadowing of our stories – if we're willing to accept Christ as our kinsman redeemer. He finds us in the midst of our sins as penniless orphans and pays the price to redeem us. Our stories shouldn't have a happy ending, either… but they can. Have you allowed Christ to redeem you? If so, then you can participate in the joy that Ruth experienced, too.
Leave a Reply