Women of the Bible Lesson 1 Ruth: A Redemption Story

This week we are beginning a new study on the women of the Bible.  We will not cover every woman mentioned in scripture and we will probably bounce around a bit, however, I believe that we will gain valuable truths about God and ourselves through the lives and testimonies of these women.  

To begin our study, we will be diving into the life of one of the most famous Bible women, Ruth. Ruth is one of two women to have a book of the Bible named for them, the other being Esther, whom we will study later.  

Let us begin with a little history lesson on Moab.  When Abraham left Ur, he took his nephew Lot with him.  After separating from Abraham, Lot settled in Sodom, a godless city.  After some time, God chose to destroy Sodom and the surrounding area because of their wickedness and great depravity.  God confided His plan to Abraham, and Abraham interceded on behalf of his nephew’s family, who God spared from the destruction.   

Lot and his two daughters were left homeless and alone. “Discouraged by the recent destruction which consumed both their fiancés, coupled with the isolation in the caves, the oldest daughter convinced the younger daughter to join her in an incestuous relationship with their father to perpetuate the family lineage. Both daughters conceived sons by their father by getting him drunk. The son of the youngest daughter was named Ammon, father of the Ammonites. The son of the oldest daughter was named Moab, the father of the Moabites.” i 

The Moabites were a pagan people who worshipped the false god, Chemosh.  They were polytheistic, meaning they also embraced many other false gods as well. Throughout their history they were enemies of Israel (see Judges 3:28). 

It is also interesting to note that although the Moabites were not part of God’s chosen people, they were related to them, and God provided for them. Deuteronomy 2:9 says, the Lord warned us, ‘Do not bother the Moabites, the descendants of Lot, or start a war with them. I have given them Ar as their property, and I will not give you any of their land.’” (NLT) 

It is in this pagan land of Moab that the life of Ruth begins.  The book of Ruth opens with Elimelech, an Israelite, taking his family to live in Moab during a famine is Israel.  We are not given an exact amount of time but based on Ruth 1:3 we can assume that Elimelech died shortly after their arrival, leaving his wife Naomi with their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion.  Then his two sons both married Moabite women.  Ruth 1:4b tells us, one married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. (NLT) Ten years later both of Naomi’s sons died, leaving her with only her two daughters-in-law.   

Naomi hears that God has provided good crops again for Israel and decides that her best chance is to go back to her homeland and live as a widow.  However, in her grief, she still thinks about the wellbeing of her daughters-in-law.  Ruth 1:8-9, But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me. May the Lord bless you with the security of another marriage.” Then she kissed them good-bye, and they all broke down and wept. (NLT) 

Initially both women said they wanted to go with Naomi, however, after some persuasion Orpah decided to turn back for home.  Ruth, on the other hand, chose to leave her past behind her and follow Naomi and her God. Ruth 1:16-17, But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” (NLT) 

Here we learn our first lesson from Ruth.  Our past is just that, our past, it does not define our present or our future. Ruth took her second chance and moved forward. She didn’t let her past define her but moved forward into her destiny. The Apostle Paul, who before his conversion, persecuted the early believers in Christ, encourages us to do the same, “No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT) 

Like Ruth and Paul, we all have a story. No one ever born has been left unmarked by sin. We all have scars, things done to us by others, or choices we made for ourselves.  However, when we come to the foot of the cross and find forgiveness and redemption, we also find healing from the past and hope for the future.  

Our second lesson is found here in Ruth chapter 2.  God honors loyalty and diligence. Ruth chose to leave the security of her family and homeland to follow her widowed mother-in-law into an unknown country.  As we read through the book of Ruth, we see that she not only went with Naomi to Israel, but she also took responsibility for Naomi’s care. Ruth 2:2, 17-18, 2One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.” 17So Ruth gathered barley there all day, and when she beat out the grain that evening, it filled an entire basket. 18She carried it back into town and showed it to her mother-in-law. Ruth also gave her the roasted grain that was left over from her meal. (NLT) 

When Ruth set out, she was looking for anyone who would show her kindness and allow glean in their fields.  Ruth 2:3, And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech. (NLT) (Italics added for emphasis). As it happened is Bible talk for by God’s leading.  How can I be sure of this, you ask?  We know that with God there are no coincidences.  God directed Ruth’s path to the field of the man who would turn out to be her kinsman redeemer and even before Boaz redeemed Ruth, he provided abundantly for her. After seeing her diligence, he acknowledged her loyalty to Naomi and blessed her.  

Ruth 2:14-16, At mealtime Boaz called to her, “Come over here, and help yourself to some food. You can dip your bread in the sour wine.” So she sat with his harvesters, and Boaz gave her some roasted grain to eat. She ate all she wanted and still had some left over. When Ruth went back to work again, Boaz ordered his young men, “Let her gather grain right among the sheaves without stopping her. And pull out some heads of barley from the bundles and drop them on purpose for her. Let her pick them up, and don’t give her a hard time!” 

The third lesson we can learn from Ruth is this: God blesses obedience.  Even as an adult, Ruth chose to obey Naomi’s directions.  Ruth 3:5-6, “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law. (NLT)  

Ruth knew little about the culture in which she found herself, however, Naomi knew.  Ruth chose to submit to Naomi’s leading and as a result, she not only gained provision and protection for herself but also for her mother-in-law.  We see that Boaz wasted no time in getting matters settled so that he could redeem Elimelech’s land and marry Ruth.  

Our fourth lesson is this, just a Boaz was willing to pay to redeem Ruth, God paid the highest price to redeem us. Ruth 4:9-10, Then Boaz said to the elders and to the crowd standing around, “You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.  And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. You are all witnesses today.” (NLT) 

Redemption is an act of love!! John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (NLT) 

Galatians 3:13, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (NLT) 

Finally, we learn that God will use anyone who is willing, to fulfill His plans on the earth!  God took a Moabite widow and raised her up to be the great grandmother of one of the most famous kings in the Bible, King David. However, more important than that, we find Ruth listed in the genealogy of Christ.  Matthew 1:5b-6 and 16 5Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of King David. 16and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.  

God redeemed Ruth out of Moab and put her in His family line!!!!  Ruth’s decision to follow Naomi, leaving her past behind, her loyalty and diligence, her obedient heart, and her willingness to be of service lead her from enemy of God to ancestor of the Messiah.  Ruth’s story of redemption is a beautiful reminder to us that God is still in the redeeming business.  If we will allow Him to, He is willing and able to make our story one of beautiful redemption too! 

Works Cited:i https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/who-were-the-moabite-people-in-the-bible.html