A. INTRODUCTION: FAITH DECISIONS DETERMINED RUTH’S FUTURE
1. Because Ruth was a Gentile, she was not under the “covering” of Israel.
2. Because Ruth was from Moab, she was under special condemnation. “No . . . Moabite or any of their descendants for ten generations may be admitted to the assembly of the Lord” (Deut. 23:3, NLT).
3. Ruth was 11th generation, i.e., grace.
B. RUTH’S FAITH DECISION FOR SALVATION
1. Ruth’s decision leads to her conversion.
a. Elimelech and Naomi backslide and leave Bethlehem to live in Moab because of a great famine (1:3).
b. Both sons marry Moabite women, and they died (1:5).
c. Naomi decides to return home and counsels daughter-in-law Ruth, “Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods. You shall do the same” (1:15, NLT). Don’t listen to advice from backsliders.
d. Ruth chose four things:
1) Naomi.
2) Her people.
3) Her God.
4) Her country. “Wherever you go, I will go . . . live . . . your people . . . my people . . . your God, my God” (1:16-17, NLT).
2. Ruth decided she wanted Naomi’s God and all that goes with it.
a. New life. “Wherever you live, I will live” (1:16).
b. Illustration of repentance, i.e., change of life-style.
3. Tough decisions make a woman of faith.
a. Gave up old life. “Your people will be my people” (1:16).
b. 100% commitment. “Where you die, I will die” (1:17).
c. God was the focus of decision. “May the Lord punish me” (1:17).
4. Daily decisions to do what her new life required.
a. Hard work. “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain” (2:2).
b. Diligent. “She has been hard at work” (2:7).
c. Productive. “Where did you gather all this grain?” (2:19).
5. God’s blessing flows to significant faith decision.
a. Providence. “She found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech” (2:3).
b. She caught Boaz’s eye. “Who is that young woman?” (2:5).
c. Ate at table and drank water.
d. He arranged abundance for her.
e. He said, “I will redeem you” (3:13).
f. Marriage. “She became his wife” (4:13).
g. Son in the line of David and Christ (Ruth 4:32; Matt. 1:5).
6. Faith decisions must be followed up with faith actions.
a. Ruth acts. “Take a bath, and put on perfume, and dress in your nicest clothes” (3:3).
b. Asks Boaz to be Kinsman Redeemer. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer” (3:9, NLT).
c. Obstacle. “There is another man . . . more closely related” (3:12).
d. Boaz at town meeting. “I cannot redeem it; the family redeemer replied” (4:6).
7. Long lasting fruit of faith’s decisions.
a. Legacy. “And with the land I have acquired Ruth . . . to be my wife” (4:10, NLT).
b. The son was important. “May this child be famous in Israel” (4:14).
c. Grace. Ruth was not only a Gentile, but condemned for ten generations, yet she is welcomed into Israel and is included with the family of Christ.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
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