From Moab To Marriage To Messiah
Ruth 4:1-22
Chad H. Ballard
Introduction
This morning we are going to finish looking at the book of Ruth, GOD’S LOVE STORY FOR US.
The story of Ruth is one of the most fascinating stories I have ever heard. It’s true that it is a love story, but it is also quite a success story.
We saw in chapter one that Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, had ran from God’s judgment in Bethlehem to try to make it without Him in Moab. As a result Elimelech died, his sons marry Moabite women and die 10 years later, and Naomi and one of her Moabite daughters-in-law returned to Bethlehem.
Now we already looked at the fact that YOU CAN’T RUN FROM GOD, and that you must come TO THE END OF YOURSELF TO COME TO THE BEGINNING OF GOD. And we even discussed God’s providence.
But I didn’t point out that the biggest example of God’s providence in chapter one is that a poor, Moabite woman would happen to marry a man who was going to die and whose mother would take her to Bethlehem in the first place.
And in chapter 2 we saw that as a result of these circumstances that God had brought into play, Ruth met a man named Boaz and they fell hopelessly in love. We see in this the sheltering, caring love of Jesus Christ for us.
And in chapter 3, we found out that of all the men that Ruth could have fallen in love with, she fell in love with a man who was a kinsman-redeemer.
Now let me assure you that none of these things are coincidence. God had worked out all of these events. He did it not only because of His love and care for Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi, but also for a much larger demonstration of His love that we’ll see in a minute.
Now with all of the things that have gone right with Ruth and Boaz, there was still one problem that had to be addressed. There was a kinsman-redeemer who was closer kin than Boaz and he would have to be dealt with first.
So let’s read what happens:
I. From Marriage (Read vv. 1-12)
A. Boaz has gone to the city gates, which is where all the official business is taken care of. It is like the courthouse of the day.
1. Boaz has got to find this “closer relative” and give him the first opportunity to redeem Elimelech’s land and Ruth as well.
2. Now the city gate was the place not only to take care of business, but it was apparently the most likely place to run in to someone.
3. It was kind of like walking through Wal-Mart today. You are pretty likely to find anyone you want to see in Wal-Mart if you hang out there long enough.
B. Now when Boaz saw this relative, he asked him to sit down with him in front of the elders and he told him the story.
1. Of course, we weren’t there, but I can just imagine that Boaz’s heart just sunk when the kinsman redeemer agreed to redeem the land.
2. But Boaz was quick to remind him that he couldn’t redeem the land without marrying Ruth, in order to carry on the name of the deceased.
3. Now that was a whole different story. You see if this man were to redeem Ruth and have a son by her, this son would get the piece of land that this kinsman was redeeming and possibly some of the inheritance that had been saved up for the sons he already had. That’s why he says that it “might endanger my own estate.”
C. I figure that about now Boaz is turning cartwheels inside. Finally he can marry the girl of his dreams.
D. Now there are some things here that we need to apply in our own lives. The first one is this: WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT GOD PUTS IN FRONT OF US.
1. Boaz could have asked Ruth to run away to Moab with him, but remember that’s how Ruth got in such a mess to start with.
2. But rather than do that, Boaz dealt with the issues that faced him openly and honestly.
3. And when we face problems in our lives, we need to deal with them in the same way.
4. When we have a cut we go ahead and clean it and put antiseptic on it. And while that might cause it to sting for a few minutes, its better than allowing it to get infected and make us sick.
5. Well our spiritual lives work the same way. There are those that God has dealt with about their salvation and they’ve put Him off. There are some, maybe even Christians, that God is convicting about the way they live, and they have decided to wait and see what He will do to them.
6. And the sin in our lives will only make us sicker and sicker until we allow it to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus. It may sting for a moment, but it will save your life.
E. The other thing that we need to learn from Boaz’s situation is this: GOD HAS A WAY OF WORKING THINGS OUT.
1. God knew that the nearer kinsman would not redeem Ruth so that Boaz could. He is control. He had planned it that way.
2. The only way that this could not be so is if somebody were smarter or stronger than God.
3. Can you imagine God saying, “I’m sorry Ruth and Boaz. Your nearer kinsman outwitted me so now you can’t get married.”
4. Or, “Oh no! This near kinsman just out muscled me and took control of you, so now I don’t know what is going to happen.”
F. That’s ridiculous isn’t it? Folks, God has a purpose and plan for your life. Even if you are lost today, he has a plan for your salvation. But you have to deal with the issue of your own sin.
1. If you’re here and you don’t know for absolute certain where you would spend eternity if you were to die right now, get that taken care of today. Come and accept Jesus as your Savior, and follow Him in obedience through baptism.
2. If you’re here and you are saved, but God has been convicting you that you’ve stopped following Him and you need a fresh start, give your life back to Him today.
3. There are some people who think that they walked down the aisle to get a “Get Out of Hell Free” card. They believe that they purchased a license to sin because their name appears on some church roll and that one day they will stand before God and He will be somehow forced to let them into heaven.
4. Jesus didn’t die so that you could sin all you wanted to. And if that is what you are basing your salvation on, if that’s your hope for heaven, you need to get saved. The truth is, we Christians do sin all we want. But we just don’t want to anymore.
II. To Motherhood (read vv.13-14)
A. So once all of that business with the nearer kinsman was concluded, they got married and lived happily ever after. Don’t you imagine that they had some kind of wedding? I bet everyone in Bethlehem was there.
B. And immediately, Ruth conceived and they had a brand new son named Obed.
C. What an unlikely story! It started out with a poor Moabitess. She married a man who was on the run from God. How could this turn out good, right?
1. She was only married to him for 10 years, and he died suddenly. Her future was not exactly getting brighter.
2. She and her mother and law travel back to Bethlehem. They had no possessions, and the only way that they could survive was for Ruth to glean wheat and barley in the fields. Not much of a promising career.
3. And then comes Boaz, a man who saw Ruth and was willing to pay any price, to do anything to have a relationship with her.
4. And suddenly life became good. Even when there was the problem of the nearer kinsman, you just knew everything was going to be all right.
5. God is good isn’t He?
6. Jesus Christ saw you and He was willing to pay any price, do anything to have a relationship with you.
D. You may remember the movie “Rudy”. It was about a small young man who wanted to play football and Notre Dame. Everybody laughed at him and mocked him.
1. He did eventually make the team and was allowed to play. Through all of this he developed a relationship with a kind elderly priest on campus.
2. As they were talking about Rudy’s ambitions to make the team, the priest gave some good advice.
3. He said, “In all of my life I’ve come to the conclusion that there are two things that I know with all confidence. Number one: There is a God. And number two: I’m not Him.”
E. The application for us is simple: Trust in Him! Trust God with you whole life. You can’t be in any safer place than in His hands.
1. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
2. I read that Scripture to Mrs. Edith Thursday night. She had trusted God with her whole life. And now He is taking care of her.
3. Give Him your health, your marriage, your family, your money, all that you have. Rest in His faithful caring hands. He will take care of you.
III. To Messiah
A. Let’s look at something else amazing in this sweet little love story. Read verses 15-22.
B. Boaz was the great-grandfather of King David. That made him the great24 grandfather of Jesus.
C. God loved Ruth and Boaz so He caused them to be together. But He also brought them together because He loves you and me.
D. Through this unlikely pair, God brought redemption to you and me.
1. The women told Naomi that Ruth loved her and was “better than seven sons.”
2. They were right, because God would use the lineage of Ruth and Boaz to redeem the world from sin.
Conclusion
Naomi had had a rough life. But now she was restored through the new life she held in her hands.
V.16 says, “Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him.”
Naomi was holding her redemption.
Think about where Naomi had come from. Remember in chapter one that Naomi said, “Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
Naomi had given up all hope of ever pleasing God. Her life had once been so dark.
But God…isn’t that a great phrase! But God had other plans…plans of redemption.
The story doesn’t end with the picture of Naomi holding this newborn. Redemption gives new life so that redemption may continue.
Jesus Christ is our Kinsman-Redeemer who redeems and gives new life to all who come to Him.
This story of redemption isn’t over. It continues each time a person confesses and believes in Jesus Christ.
The story of redemption continues to give new life today!
Will you curl up at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to redeem you today?
PRAY.
