God bringing people together.
The story of Ruth is very fascinating, her loyalty, humility, faithfulness, and love for Naomi her mother-law, very special. Ruth was a Moabite and a widow, she insisted on leaving her family and country, and the decision got her a place in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. (the birth line of Jesus).
Naomi, her husband and two sons escaped famine from Bethlehem to Moab. The book of Ruth 1:4 tells us, “Naomi’s sons married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth, they had lived there about ten years.” but after the death of her husband and two sons, she was left with two young widows, one of them is Ruth. When the famine was over in the city of Bethlehem, Naomi decided to return, but Ruth insisted on returning with her. She told Naomi, “Do not 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.” (Ruth 1:16) (NIV). So, Ruth accompanied Naomi to Bethlehem.
Ruth wanted to work, so Naomi advised Ruth on what to do while working with the men and how to act, and she caught the attention of Boaz, who decided to marry her.
And Ruth 4:10 tells us, (Boaz told the elders that gathered), “I have acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, (one of the sons of Naomi) in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown, today you are witnesses!”
Now, this is customary for the children of Israel in those days.
The book of Ruth demonstrates God’s grace towards mankind. In this story, Ruth received blessings from God being a Moabite woman, a gentile.
-She was accepted to Israel, and
-Secondly, the social behavior while gleaning on the fields of Bethlehem; (she laid down by Boaz while he was asleep and a little drunk) and
-Thirdly, the marriage which Boaz enters with her. Brother in-law or (Levirate Marriage) means that a widow is married by her brother in-law or by another relative of her deceased husband. To keep the family line going.
A Scholar Dr. Hindson Affirm. “Ruth is in the line of Messiah, the great grandmother of King David, ultimately the ancestor of Jesus, and her name appeared in the book of Matthew, the genealogy of Jesus.”
Scripture tells us, “Judah had three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er married a woman named Tamar, but Er was so evil that God killed him. Onan married Tamar but did not want to preserve his brother’s place in the lineage, and so he did not impregnate Tamar, so God killed him. Judah had seen both of his sons die after marrying Tamar, so he hid Shelah away and kept him from Tamar.
Tamar, the widow who had the right to bear Judah’s eldest son’s child and continue the family line, responded/acted, took matters into her own hands. She dressed as a prostitute, tempted Judah, and conceived a child with him, without him knowing who she was (Gen. 38:13-19). Later, when Judah found out she was pregnant, he threatened to kill her for adultery against Shelah, whom she was technically married to. When she revealed that Judah was in fact, the father, he then admitted that he had wronged her. Tamar had twin sons, Perez and Zerah, and Perez continued the family line, and his descendants included King David and Jesus.”
There are Similarities:
-The story that comes to mind is when Jacob left for Egypt with his family due to famine in the land.
-Naomi and her family left Bethlehem for Moab due to famine, and her sons married Moabite women.
-Joseph whom God sent to Egypt ahead of his father and brothers, due to famine and he took for himself an Egyptian wife.
-Moses married Pora a Midianite,
-And Boaz marries Ruth a Moabite.
Also, Joshua sent two men to spy out the land of Jericho, the men met Rahab a prostitute who hide them on the roof top when the king of that Nation found out about the men. The two men made a covenant with Rahab that she will be spared, including family. Later, when it was quiet, Rahab let the men go.
Joshua was told who showed them favor, and he kept the promise. (Joshua 2:1-24)
– The genealogical list tells us that Rahab the prostitute was the great-great grandmother of Boaz, the great-grandfather of King David.
A Scholar, Adelman, Rachel tells us. “The seduction of Lot by his daughters (Gen. 19:30–38) and of Judah by his daughter-in-law Tamar (Gen. 38), and the near-seduction of Boaz by Ruth the Moabite (Ruth 3), constitute the problematic background of the Davidic dynasty.” Simply said, God does not call perfect people. His ways are different from our ways.
God’s mercy is rich in the lives of humanity, and He is still reaching out to all mankind from different countries, religions, and cultures. For example, A Scholar, Braulik Georg Argues, “When the children of Israel left Egypt, God told them, no Ammonite or Moabite might be admitted to the assembly of Yahweh, even in the tenth generation. Their descendants are not to be admitted to the assembly of Yahweh for they did not go to meet you with bread and water on the way when you moved out of Egypt.”
God warned the Israelites to keep away from the Moabites and Ammonites, not to have any relationship with them. So, what happened?
God is using the Jews to reach out to all people. “God again will move in history to provide redemption and salvation to all mankind.” (Dr. Hindson, a Scholar, Aver).
Again, Dr. Hindson. Ed. says. “God calls a girl across the Jordan from Moab, from the enemy’s nation, enemies’ territory to trust Him and believe in Him.” And she clung to her mother in-law. (Where you go, I will go, Your God will be my God).
God is very merciful and forgiving. He is looking for women like Rahab, like Ruth, and Tamar. He is looking for women that are broken, that are physically abused, verbally abused, spat upon, mocked, looked down on. He will heal your broken heart and deposit His love within you, He will give you courage and boldness. God will lift you and use you for His Glory.
God will never waist a very good suffering. Every Bad suffering is a good suffering for the Lord.
Tamar, God is calling you, He will make you a better Tamar.
Ruth, God is calling you, He will make you a better Ruth.
Rahab, God is calling you, He will make you a better Rahab.
You will be the voice of the Lord. His hands are stretched out to you right now.
You will never be forgotten. Jesus loves you so much.
Please take hold of His hands, our Sweet Jesus, and He will transform, mentor, guide, and teach you.
Hallelujah!! 3x