November 22, 2025
A short history of Moab:
• Moab was the son of Lot and his oldest daughter (see Genesis 19:36-38).
• The Moabites were not among the nations God told Israel to destroy (see Deuteronomy 2:9).
• The king of Moab tried to have Israel cursed (see Numbers 22-24).
• The Moabites seduced Israel into idolatry at the suggestion of Balaam (see Numbers 25:1-3).
• God used Moab as an instrument of discipline against Israel (see the story of Ehud in Judges 3:12-31).
The relationship between Israel and Moab was not a good one – and that animosity would continue for hundreds of years (see Isaiah 16:6-7).
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Deuteronomy 23:3 tells us that, “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of Yahweh, even down to the 10th generation.”
According to genealogists, a modern generation is between 25-30 years, while also stating that ancient generations could be closer to 20-25 years, so the above prohibition lasted a maximum of 250-300 years.
In the story of Jephthah, while attempting to negotiate peace with the King of Ammon, he made the following statement: “For 300 years Israel occupied Heshbon, Aroer, the surrounding settlements and all the towns along the Arnon. Why didn't you retake them during that time?” (see Deuteronomy 2:26-37 and Judges 11:26)
So, by the time we get to Jephthah, 300 years had elapsed….
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In Christian Bibles, the story of Ruth appears between the books of Judges and 1st Samuel, interrupting the flow of the story. But, according to the 1st verse, “And it happened in the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land…” Ruth’s story takes place during the time of judges, likely sometime between Gideon and Samson. My Chronological Bible places Ruth’s story between Jephthah and Samson.
As we know, the era of the Judges was a difficult time in Israel due to the never-ending spin cycle of disobedience – defeat – crying – deliverance. And as the story of Ruth unfolds, we read that famine drove Elimelech, his wife Naomi and their two frail sons, Mahlon and Chilion out of Judah and into Moab – where they remained for 10 years.
Shortly after arriving, Elimelech died. Mahlon married Ruth and Chilion married Orpah. Sadly, both men died without producing children.
As widows, these ladies had no social standing and little to no economic means to survive, so Naomi decided it was time to go back home to Judah. Why? Because God had made provisions for the care and treatment of widows within Israel’s societal structure (see Leviticus 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 24:19-21).
Aware that she had no ability to care for herself, let alone for her widowed daughters-in-law - and perhaps out of embarrassment - Naomi attempted to persuade Ruth and Orpah to remain with their own families.
Initially, both girls insisted on going with her. Eventually, Orpah returned to her family, but Ruth chose to stay, sealing her decision with an oath:
Ruth 1:16-17 ….. Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May Yahweh deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.
Ruth was leaving everything she knew – family, culture, religion – and going to a place where she would be viewed with suspicion and hostility. Yet, she chose to embrace Naomi’s people and she chose to follow Naomi’s God. She chose to live the rest of her life in a foreign country and she even called down a curse on herself if she failed to keep her promise. This decision is unparalleled in Scripture.
It was the beginning of barley harvest (late April/early May) when Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem. Naomi was welcomed home, but she insisted that her name was no longer Naomi “Pleasantness” but Mara “Bitterness” because she believed that Yahweh had dealt harshly with her.
Ruth took it upon herself to become the chief bread winner and so into the fields she went. More specifically, she “happened” to begin her gleaning career in the fields belonging to Boaz, “a relative of Elimelech her father-in-law.”
While she was gleaning, Boaz arrived and greeted all the harvesters, then turned to his foreman, "Who is that girl?"
"She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi. She asked if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, resting only for a few minutes in the shelter."
Boaz went over and said to Ruth, "Listen, my daughter. Stay here with us and don't go to any other fields. See which part of the field the women are harvesting and follow them. I have warned the young men not to bother you. When you need something to drink, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well."
No doubt taken aback, Ruth asked Boaz why he was showing her – a foreigner – such kindness.
He told her that he knew of the love and kindness she had shown Naomi and that she had chosen to leave her family and attach herself to Naomi and her God. Then he prayed a blessing over her:
Ruth 2:12 – May Yahweh repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.
Up to this point in the story, it seems that Naomi has been MIA, not participating at all in her care and up keep. That all changed when she was made aware that Boaz had been kind to Ruth – then the lightbulb went on. She explained to Ruth, that as a member of the Ephrathite clan and as relative of Elimelech, Boaz was a possible Go'el “kinsman-redeemer” for them.
After the Conquest, every family had been given land and that land was to pass from generation to generation – not going outside the family. Sometimes, however, circumstances forced a family to sell their property, so, in addition to providing care for the least in society, God also provided a way for the “redemption” of property that had been sold under duress – namely through the Go’el (see Leviticus 25:25).
There were 3 conditions that had to be met before a kinsmen would be allowed to take on the role of Go’el:
He had to be qualified (a blood relative).
He had to be able (have the means to buy back the land).
He had to be willing (the role of go’el was completely voluntary).
For the 1st time, Naomi felt hopeful. She came up with a plan, but waited until the end of harvest to put it into action.
During harvest season, as a part of pagan worship practices, prostitutes would go to the threshing floor to help the farmers “thank” the gods for providing food – Hosea even writes about it:
Hosea 9:1 - Do not rejoice, O Israel, do not exult like the nations! For you played the whore, departing from your God; you loved a harlot’s wage on all the threshing floors of grain.
Harvest was now over… Time to put her plan into action!
Naomi: Tonight, Boaz will be at the threshing floor winnowing his barley. Do as I tell you – take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Go to the threshing floor, but don't let Boaz see you… Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.
I can’t help but feel that Naomi was trying to manipulate the situation. She was a bitter woman who believed that God had dealt harshly with her. Perhaps she felt that she couldn’t rely on his care, so she must take matters into her own hands. The life of a widow was precarious at best – never sure of food or shelter. Boaz was a kinsman, but for whatever reason, Naomi did not feel that she could go to him directly, instead, she would attempt to trap him into fulfilling the role of Go’el and she was willing to use Ruth to accomplish her goal.
Ruth had guarded her reputation fiercely and what Naomi was asking her to do would irrevocably damage what she had worked so hard for, should she be discovered, yet she obeyed.
She went to the threshing floor and waited…..
Ruth was caught. Naomi was hoping to manipulate Boaz but Ruth desired to be a woman of upright character. What will she do?
Boaz was having a great time. He ate. He drank. He got a little tipsy and went to lie down amongst his piles of grain.
As Boaz slept, Ruth crept down, quietly uncovered his feet and lay down.
In the middle of the night, Boaz was startled awake. He reached out and “Behold! A woman was lying at his feet!”
“Who are you?”
“I am your servant, Ruth. Spread your garment over me because you are a redeemer.”
Naomi might have counted on manipulation, but Ruth chose to tell the truth – she needed a redeemer. Ruth’s request was one of marriage not a one night stand. She was asking Boaz to put the authority of his house over her and be go’el for both Elimelech’s land and for herself as the widow of Mahlon, so that Mahlon’s name would not be blotted out from Israel (see Deuteronomy 25:5-6).
For his part, Boaz seemed to have understood exactly what she was asking of him:
Ruth 3:10-13 - “You are blessed by Yahweh my daughter. You did better in this last kindness than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. Do not be afraid. All that you ask I will do for you, for the entire assembly of my people knows that you are a worthy woman. Truly I am a redeemer, but there is also a redeemer of a closer relationship than me. Stay tonight, and in the morning, if he wants to redeem you, good; but if he is not willing to redeem, then as Yahweh lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”
Now we have another problem. So far, both Ruth and Boaz’ conduct has been above reproach. That would all change if someone were to see her leaving the threshing floor. Because why else would a woman, who was all dressed up, be at the threshing floor at night but for, “you know.”
Ruth remained at Boaz’ feet until just before dawn, before it was possible for people to recognize each other. Boaz asked Ruth to remove her cloak then he placed 6 measures of barley in the cloak and she headed back to Bethlehem.
Naomi pounced the second Ruth walked through the door, “What happened? How did it go? Were you successful?”
Ruth told her that Boaz was willing to be Go’el and now there was nothing to do but wait.
Meanwhile, Boaz made his way to the town gates.
There were two issues at stake: the redemption of Elimelech’s land for Naomi and the taking of Ruth as his wife. The other man, being a closer relation, had first right of refusal, so he would have to step aside before Boaz could step into the role of Go’el. Boaz called 10 leaders from the town to witness the upcoming negotiations.
The other relative appears to have been willing to redeem the land, but for some reason, he was unable or unwilling to perform his duties where Ruth was concerned, so he backed out of both.
Boaz offered to be Go’el for both and in the presence of the witnesses at the gate, sealed the transaction by trading sandals (It was the custom for anyone transferring a right of purchase to remove his sandal and hand it to the other party. This publicly validated the transaction). The witnesses at the gate then blessed the transaction.
Boaz and Ruth married. Later Ruth bore a son, named Obed, who carried on the family lines of both Boaz and Naomi.
Ruth 4:14-17 - And the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be Yahweh who today did not leave you without a redeemer! And may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be for you a restorer of life and a sustainer in your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is better for you than seven sons, has borne him.” And Naomi took the child and she put him on her bosom and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” And they called his name Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
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On the surface, Ruth tells a sweet love story. A young Moabite widow, who chooses faithfulness, in the end, finding love with Boaz, an Israelite, whose descendant was also not of Israel (Rahab of Jericho).
But if we dig just below the surface, this little book is doing some deceptively heavy lifting.
It reveals that God welcomes both Jew and Gentile, and invites them into the covenantal relationship He offers.
• Isaiah 56:4-7 - For this is what Yahweh says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant – to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. And foreigners who bind themselves to Yahweh to serve him, to love his name and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."
In sharp contrast to the lack of faithfulness on the part of God’s people, this story is one of uncommon faithfulness on the part of a hated Moabite woman and an Israelite man of questionable parentage. What Israel as “God’s covenant people” should have been and what Ruth and Boaz were.
The concept of Hesed (loyalty, goodness, kindness / lovingkindness, devotion, faithfulness, favor, mercy, unchanging love --- going above and beyond what is expected), which is clearly lacking in the book of Judges, is on full display:
• Ruth chose to bind herself to Naomi and Naomi’s God when it would have been so much easier to return home. She chose Hesed and in a real sense redeemed Naomi at great risk to herself – by going above and beyond the expected – to restore her life.
• Boaz was a man of integrity, but Ruth was a Moabite. It would have been so much easier for Boaz if she had just moved on to the next field, yet he chose Hesed when he welcomed her to glean in his fields. Then, he went above and beyond the expected and chose to become Go’el – redeeming both the land and the family name.
Most importantly, the story of Ruth points us to something beyond - something eternal. It points us to God’s HESED toward us – His consistent, ever-faithful, relentless, constantly-pursuing, lavish, extravagant, unrestrained and furious love:
• Genesis 3:8-9 - Then the man and his wife heard the sound of Yahweh as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from Yahweh among the trees of the garden. But Yahweh called to the man, "Where are you?"
• Jeremiah 31:3 - Yahweh appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.
• Hosea 11:3-4 - It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.
• 1 John 4:10 - This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
and to Jesus as our Go’el – our kinsman redeemer.
He was qualified:
• John 1:1-4, 14 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ….. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• Hebrews 1:3 - The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
• Revelation 5:2-7 - And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
• Ellen White {PP 64}: The angels prostrated themselves at the feet of their Commander and offered to become a sacrifice for man. But an angel's life could not pay the debt; only He who created man had power to redeem him.
He was able:
• Hebrews 2:17-18 - For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
• 1 Peter 1:18-19 - For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
He was willing:
• Philippians 2:5-8 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!
• Titus 2:13-14 - while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
• Ellen White {DA 22.4}: This was a voluntary sacrifice. Jesus might have remained at the Father's side. He might have retained the glory of heaven, and the homage of the angels. But He chose to give back the scepter into the Father's hands, and to step down from the throne of the universe, that He might bring light to the benighted, and life to the perishing.
It would have been so much easier – more convenient – for Jesus to just stay home. Instead, He chose to extend to us the HESED of God and He chose to be our Go’el – our kinsman-redeemer.
Until Next Time…………..
