The Story of Ruth the Moabitess: Part 6      

Read: Ruth 4:13-22 NLT – The Descendants of Boaz – So Boaz took – Bible Gateway

“This is the genealogical record of their ancestor Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David.” Ruth 4:18-22 NLT

When we began our look at the book of Ruth six weeks ago it was noted that the story of Ruth is much more than her story. Ruth is an Old Testament book having three major theological themes. God’s redemption plan is for both Jews and Gentiles. God’s sovereignty and providential care, and Boaz, Ruth’s kinsman redeemer, as a type of Christ. Redemption being the key word is found over twenty times in various forms throughout the book. Boaz was Ruth’s kinsman redeemer who married her and restored the land of her late husband and preserved the family line in her husband’s name. God not only provided for Ruth but also for her mother-in-law, Naomi, through Boaz. But the most important underlying theme of the book is God’s redemption plan of salvation that came through His Son Jesus, a descendant of Ruth and Boaz.

“So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the LORD enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son.” (Ruth 4:13 nlt) The Lord bless Ruth and Boaz for their faithfulness to Him. Ruth became a convert and trusted in the true God of Israel and Boaz fulfilled his obligation of Ruth’s kinsman redeemer. A son was born to them. It was a happy beginning for them both and a happy ending for Naomi. It was also noted in the beginning of our study that Naomi could be considered the main character. She is just as important in this story as Ruth and Boaz. The theological theme of God’s sovereignty and providential care is seen in Naomi’s well-being. The family name will go on, the land was restored, and there will be grandchildren to help support Naomi in her old age. In returning to Bethlehem after her stay in Moab Naomi said to her friends, “I went away full, but the LORD has brought me home empty.” (Ruth 1:21 nlt) The Lord God watched over her and now she is full once again. The Lord brought her from emptiness to fullness.

Concerning the child born the women said, “May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” (Ruth 4:15 nlt) The women named him Obed which means ‘a servant who worships.’ This is the only time in Scripture where someone other than the parents or family have ever named a child. Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of King David. Scripture is clear that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David and would be called the Son of David.

God had this all planned in His sovereignty. God uses those who He chooses for His own purposes. There are both Jews and Gentiles listed in the genealogy of the Messiah. This shows salvation is open to all people who accept Christ as savior. Jesus came to redeem all people, both Jew and Gentile. (Gentile meaning anyone not Jewish) Jesus came for all people. In God’s kingdom there will be representatives from every nation, of every language, and every ethnicity and race. This is part of the story of Ruth the Moabitess, born as a gentile woman in a heathen nation, Ruth went on to trust God having faith in Him proving salvation is open to all people.

Finally, Boaz is seen as a type of Christ in our story. Boaz redeemed Ruth. She became his bride and married her. Jesus redeems those who accept Him as savior and Christians become the bride of Christ. And there will be a day when the wedding will take place. “Let us be glad and rejoice and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear. For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.” (Rev.19:7-8 nlt)

There are many things to glean from the book of Ruth, the story of Ruth the Moabitess. Just as Ruth gleaned the grain that had fallen there is plenty for us to feast on when we read the Bible but let us pay attention to what is intentionally pulled out as Boaz’s men pulled out extra grain for Ruth. The entire Bible is about Jesus Christ and God’s plan of redemption. Every book has additional grain to be pulled out and noticed about Christ. May the book of Ruth be good training ground for us to see Christ as we read all of Scripture.