My friend has written a book with this title; His story in our story for his glory. That could be the theme for the life of Ruth. Ruth is from the worst family line in the Bible. She is a Moabite cursed to the tenth generation. Ruth places her faith in the God of Israel, and she is about to undergo epic transformation to the glory of God. She is about to enter the most important family line in the history of Israel. She becomes the great-grandmother of King David.
Ruth the Moabite woman is one of the first names mentioned in the New Testament (Matthew 1:6). How did this happen? What is her story? In Ruth chapter 3 the story is unfolding. The story of her redemption is revealed.
The Book of Ruth begins introducing Elimelech from Bethlehem. It takes place during the time of the Judges and there is a famine in Bethlehem. Elimelech and his wife Naomi go to Moab because there is no food for them in Bethlehem. Naomi has bitter experiences in Moab. Her husband dies. Her two sons marry Moabite women and then both of her sons die. Naomi says, "The Almighty has dealt bitterly with me." (1:20)
But there is a bright spot in Ruth chapter 1. It is this Moabite woman, Ruth. She remains faithful to Naomi, puts her faith in the God of Israel and returns to Bethlehem with Naomi. We also find out in chapter 1 that Ruth and Naomi arrive to Bethlehem at the time of Barley harvest. This is going to change their lives. This is the story of Ruth’s redemption unfolding.
In Ruth Chapter 2 we see how God uses the unlikely. We see grace, we see kindness. It says that Ruth “happened” to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz. By “happened” we understand that God is orchestrating everything. Now Naomi is asking God to bless Boaz who has shown them such kindness. (2:20).
Boaz made arrangements that Ruth get exceedingly more grain that would ordinarily come from gleaning. He fed her and provided water for her. Naomi was overwhelmed by what was unfolding. Naomi has a plan to bring even more blessing to all from the kindness of Boaz. Naomi was alive with hope. Her faith is strong, and she is ready for action.
One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. 2 Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. 3 Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.” (Ruth 3:1-4)
The plan Ruth has will provide a home for Ruth. Boaz is their relative. He is what is called their kinsman redeemer. Already there was a law in Leviticus called the laws of gleaning that provided for the poor and destitute. That is why Ruth was gleaning, but Boaz in his kindness had provided way beyond the law.
Now again there is a law in Leviticus that will be part of the story of Ruth’s redemption. “If one of your fellow Israelites becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative is to come and redeem what they have sold” (Leviticus 25:25). Naomi and Boaz are relatives. Not only is Boaz the one to redeem their property, but this would make him the eligible husband for Ruth.
Naomi lays out the plan. Ruth is to prepare herself. Naomi tells Ruth to put on her best clothes, perfume and go to Boaz’s threshing floor. When he lies down uncover his feet and do whatever he tells you to do.
5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do. 7 When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”
Ruth is going to do everything Naomi has told her to do. It is a bold step, to uncover Boaz feet in the middle of the night while he is sleeping, but she trusts her mother-in-law completely. When he awakes and asks who it is she tells him. I am Ruth and you are my kinsman redeemer. Boaz may not have thought this through the way Naomi had. The kinsman redeemer concept is begun. The story is unfolding to the glory of God.
“The Lord bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. 11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character. 12 Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. 13 Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the Lord lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.” 14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he went back to town.
In the movie Chariots of Fire the star British athlete Abrahams asks Sam Mussabini to coach him. Mussabini is taken back by Abrahams question. The coach asks Abrahams how he would feel if the right girl came along and then she popped the question of marriage. It seems that is what happened to Boaz. He noticed young Ruth gleaning grain and was taken in by her. Now she is popping the question. Boaz and the whole of Bethlehem know that Ruth is a woman of noble character. To act on his kinsman redeemer duty is to marry Ruth.
Yes, Boaz is the near relative, but someone is closer. There is someone else who can redeem the property and marry Ruth. Boaz has responded and will take action. He gave her grain as an act of his intentions, but this will have to work out. We will again have to wait for the Lord to orchestrate this marriage.
16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?”
Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”
The story of Ruth is unfolding in Ruth chapter 3 and so is the story of our own redemption. The story of Ruth and Boaz unfolds it is a redemption story. It is a picture of our redemption story. This story is the historical account of our awaited Messiah.
Ruth represents one of the great redemption stories of the Bible. From cursed outsider, to redeemed. Ruth came from the cursed Moabite family line. What about us. What about our line in Adam. He disobeyed God. He was cursed and banished from the garden of Eden.
But God had a plan of redemption for all of us. To send his son Jesus Christ. God planned for our redemption to come from the line of Ruth and Boaz. Through our redeemer in Jesus Christ, we have been seated in the heavenly places. We are part of the royal family of God.
That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7)
It is by grace you have been saved. Has His story in your story unfolded for his glory? Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ? When we are redeemed in Christ it is more kindness than Ruth showed Naomi or Boaz showed Ruth. Now you who were far away from God are brought near by the bold of Christ.
