Ruth

We are all family; related to one another no matter how distant our connection the fact remains that we all occupy a single link in a finite family chain. If we are willing to look logically at this question the answer we arrive at is that all human life can be traced back two unique individuals.  Even though there was a worldwide deluge that wiped out the entire planet, a remnant survived and begins to multiply through Noah and his three sons and their wives.

Historical, genealogical proof exists in bible prophecy proving that Jesus is the foretold Jewish Messiah. Digging for, uncovering these prophecies, fulfilled by Jesus, catalyzes our Christian faith. There’s enough evidence buried in the genealogies alone to prove that Jesus is the Messiah. These texts written by 40 different authors, over a period of thousands of years, stand up to the test of time and prove the son of Mary to be the long awaited Jewish Messiah and Savior of the world.

Woven into this historic tapestry are many women who form essential threads in the genealogy of Jesus. Mary, the most renowned, was a virgin when she became pregnant with Jesus. However, there are many other women who also became essential links in the family chain of the Messiah. Tamar, Rahab and Ruth are three that stand out and are included in genealogies found in the gospels of Matthew 1:1-16,  Luke 3:23-38. Both Mary and Joseph are related to King David, Jesse, Boaz and Judah which fulfilling several requirements pointing to Jesus as Messiah.

A prophecy found in Psalm 132 makes reference to an eternal King that will be coming from the house of David, who will occupy the throne in Jerusalem forever.  What’s interesting to me is that both Mary and Joseph’s genealogies trace Jesus back to the tribe of Judah; more specifically through the house of King David.

In the gospel of Matthew chapter one, we find the descendants of Joseph listed which include Tamar, Rahab and Ruth.  For this discussion we will focus on Ruth.  One question that should come to mind is why did ancient Rabbis include the book of Ruth into Jewish history when it spotlights a gentile woman of Moabite ancestry?  What purpose could the books inclusion fulfill except to showcase the fact that a gentile woman could be redeemed through Jewish law? Many believe that this inspired book illustrates the fact that the entire gentile world has a role to play in God’s plan of salvation.

The book of Ruth recounts a story of redemption. It’s a story about a family where a widow is redeemed by her mother-in-law’s dead-husband’s brother, Boaz.   As Boaz goes through the proper steps to become Ruth’s   goel or kinsman- redeemer, he first asks his older brother if he would like to redeem the family property. In front of several elders sitting at the city gate his brother declines when he realizes his own property might be in jeopardy by having to marry Ruth and produce an heir.  Boaz is now free to accept the role of kinsmen-redeemer and becomes Ruth’s goel. 

“Then the elders and all those at the gate said, ‘We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.’” Text from Ruth 4:11-12, written over 1000 years before Jesus was born.

These Jewish elders prophesied that Ruth, who was not only a gentile woman but also a Moabite, would be responsible for building up the house of Israel. In addition this special someone would come from the village of Bethlehem Ephrathah.  Let’s put some icing on the cake before moving on ; Micah 5:1-4 states “But you, Bethlehem  Ephrathah, though you are small among the tribes of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” Written 700 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

 Ruth demonstrated great faith in her dialogue to Naomi recorded in Ruth 1:16-18 “Where you go I will go. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Her desire to commit herself to the God of Naomi demonstrated a step in faith foreseen by an omniscient God. The precious story of Ruth’s redemption helps us to see the entire picture of God’s plan for salvation in a clear light. W e are seen by God as cleansed and faithful, not on our own merits but on the merits of Jesus Christ alone; our goel or kinsman-redeemer.