Through their eyes: ‘Please marry me’: Ruth
Ruth was brave, faithful and loyal. She took a chance. She left behind her family and her home country of Moab to go with Ruth, the mother of her dead husband. Naomi had nothing to offer her except maybe being an Israelite from God’s chosen people. Ruth loved her mother-in-law like she was her family.
“The Lord will reward you for all you have done. You will be paid in full by the Lord, the God of Israel. You have come to him as a little bird finds shelter under the wings of its mother.””
Ruth 2:12 ICB
https://www.bible.com/1359/rut.2.12.icb
Ruth listened to her mother in law, Naomi. Naomi said, don’t stay near the male harvesters, glean (or harvest) with the women, so you don’t get assaulted. Ruth could have said, ‘but the boss, Boaz, already said I could. I’m fine’. She was humble enough to listen to an old woman.
Ruth trusted and obeyed her mother in law, even when it meant going to a field at night.
“Then Ruth answered, “I will do everything you say.””
Ruth 3:5 ICB
https://www.bible.com/1359/rut.3.5.icb
Ruth defied convention – she asked a man, Boaz to marry her.
““Who are you?” he asked. “It’s Ruth, sir,” she answered. “Because you are a close relative, you are responsible for taking care of me. So please marry me.””
Ruth 3:9 GNT
https://www.bible.com/68/rut.3.9.gnt
Ruth was willing to marry Boaz, an older man instead of going for a younger man. In Boaz’s words, she could have gone looking for a young man, either rich or poor, but she didn’t.
Ruth had a very good reputation. In chapter 3, verse 11, Boaz said to her that all the people in their town knew she was a fine woman, a very good woman. After Ruth married Boaz and had a son, the women of Bethlehem told Naomi that Ruth was better than seven sons. It was obvious how much Ruth loved Naomi.
Ruth’s faithful and courageous acts were not in vain. She had a new family, a kind, loving and rich husband, her son called Obed as well as her dear mother in law, Naomi. Her son Obed became the grandfather of David. David became the king of Israel, one of the greatest kings in the Bible. David also was an ancestor of Jesus. Ruth who was a Moabite ( a foreigner) was named along with Boaz in the genealogy of Jesus.
Boaz himself was the son of Salmon, and his mom was Rahab, the prostitute who had helped the spies in Jericho. Rahab was saved by Joshua when the Israelites destroyed Jericho. Perhaps Boaz knew what it was like to have a mom who was not originally from Israel and didn’t necessarily fit in. Perhaps that made him more sympathetic to Ruth’s course, and even admire her bravery and determination in the face of obvious adversity.
Ruth, through her loyalty, humility and obedience, went from being a poor immigrant, tragically widowed woman to becoming an ancestor of the greatest man that ever walked the earth, Jesus.
Scripture taken from the International Children’s Bible®. Copyright © 1986, 1988, 1999 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
unfetteredconviction 