Ruth: A Changed Heritage in Christ

My daughter’s favorite story in the bible is the story of Ruth. The story has everything: adventure, romance, and intrigue. What this story also has is a change of what Ruth was before, in Moab, and what she was after, in Bethlehem. Maybe you need a change of perspective and identity, too?

Ruth’s Old Identity

We first meet Ruth in the first couple verses of the book of Ruth. One of the first things we learn about Ruth is that she lived in Moab and had no connection to Israel. But why is this important?

Jews were not encouraged to marry those outside Israel.

They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. (1 Kings 11:2)

We know from this verse, and many examples of intermarriage in the bible, that this verse is true.

Even though intermarriage with a Moabite was not forbidden, it was cautioned against. Ruth was an amazing woman, but she would have been seen as an alien from a country who had married one of their men.

Because of where she came from, Israel would not legitimize any of her children, which meant that none of her offspring (for 10 generations) would have been recognized as fully Jewish and would have been excluded from gatherings.

Ruth had no way of changing her lineage or where she was from. Knowing Jewish law and tradition, one would guess that her move to Bethlehem would not go well and that she would not amount to much.

But God had a different plan.

God’s intervention: Ruth’s Identity in Christ

Ruth’s identity in Christ starts to change when she comes to Bethlehem. Once she gets to this new country, we see God’s intervention and care for her.

1. Ruth makes use of the Law of the land 

Once Ruth and Naomi get to Bethlehem, they have nothing. They have no home, no money and no way to provide for themselves. Naomi remembers Jewish law and tradition and encourages Ruth to glean from the land of Boaz.

There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz. 2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.”And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. (Ruth 2:1-3)

Even though Ruth was a stranger in the land, she could still access God’s provision for her. God has always loved the stranger, and the downtrodden and made sure to provide for them in the law.

Had they left to go to another city–one outside of Israel–these provisions may not have been there and they could have starved.

2. Ruth is welcomed by a well renowned man in the area

8 So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.”

10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?”

11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

13 “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.”

14 At mealtime, Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”

When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.” (Ruth 2:8-16)

After reading this passage, we find out that Boaz is the owner of the fields. Not only does he allow Ruth to glean there, he asks his men to make sure she gets extra. He also welcomes her to join the others and gives her food to eat.

This is generous hospitality. The law required Boaz to let Ruth glean, but he went a few steps farther.

He provided more than he needed to. 

This passage also hints that Boaz knew that other fields may not be as safe and wants to protect Ruth. He knows his men would not harm her and he wants to make sure that she can do her work.

This part of the story reminds me of the good Samaritan. Both of these men went beyond to take care of a stranger. Reading this part makes me question how hospital I am to people and how willing I am to share what I have with others. Even those people I don’t know and may not agree with!

3. Ruth marries a man of Israel

The book of Ruth is known as a romantic book in the bible, and a true love story. But the reality might not be so close to that. Ruth would probably have been in her mid 20s and Boaz would have probably been in his 50s.

Boaz would have married out of duty and Ruth, being a woman, would have married out of a need for provision and security. This type of marriage was common in the OT and it was part of Jewish customs for widows to be taken care of by their closest relative.

The OT is full of laws and regulations to help people live a good life. It was the job of the closest relative to marry a widowed woman (Deuteronomy 25:5-10)

Sorry if that bursts your romantic bubble!

4. Ruth becomes part of the Lineage of Jesus

One of the things I find amazing about this book is that God takes a Moabite and elevates her to be part of the lineage of Jesus.

According to Deuteronomy 23:2-3, no one born of a forbidden marriage nor any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation. Yet, Ruth was the mother of Obed who was the grandfather of King David. We know that David is a key person in the lineage of Jesus.

Even though Ruth was not a “legitimate” Jew, there are enough generations between her and the birth of Jesus that no one could take the law and say that Jesus was not Messiah.

I find it amazing that God legitimizes Ruth by giving her this amazing legacy. Her faith in God and trust in His provision made her part of this bigger story!

Summary of Ruth’s Identity in Christ

• Once Ruth comes to Bethlehem, she is careful to listen to her mother-in-law and follow the customs of the land. Her hard work and trust soon pay off.
• It’s hard to know how long she was in the land before she met Boaz, but this story would have happened over one planting/harvesting season (at least).
• Ruth starts as widow with no prospects and soon marries a wealthy man who is respected by the community.
• Because of her respect and dependency on God because of her actions, she becomes part of the lineage of Jesus.

Ruth’s identity in Christ is now complete. She is no longer an outsider, but one that many people would look to for encouragement and direction.

Four things we can learn from Ruth’s identity in Christ

1. God has always taken care of His people and He always will.

In the OT, God incorporated laws to provide for the needy. In the NT, Jesus reminds us that we are not to worry about what we should eat.

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one [a]cubit to his [b]stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [c]arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:26-30)

If God can provide for the birds and the lilies, then He will also provide for us. It may not look pretty. It was hard work gleaning in the field, but God provides.

2. God always intended for salvation to be offered to everyone.

When you read the OT, it is clear that God has chosen the nation of Israel for Himself. He separates them from the world and blesses them. People who are not part of Israel are not given the same blessings. So there are some promises in the OT that are only for Jews and not for everyone.

But, one thing that is for everyone is salvation. It was always God’s plan to offer salvation to all.

4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:4-6)

3. Small acts of trust have large (and good) consequences.

Ruth watched Naomi and saw her faith in action. The only thing Ruth knew about God was what she learned from Naomi. Our walk with God can have a huge impact in the lives of others. We can turn people to God by what we do and say.

In the same way, Ruth acted in faith by doing what Naomi asked her to do. Her simple trust led her to Boaz and started her journey into an amazing inheritance.

As a mom, I sometimes get discouraged with how “little” I do to share my faith with others. But then I remember my heritage. There are at least four generations of Christians before me.

Just the fact that I raised my children to know God could affect generations after me. It’s hard to know what a small act of faith can lead to. But each time we obey God, we bring Him joy. Knowing that is enough for me.

4. Our past does not define us.

Ruth’s identity in Christ was not based on her past, but on God’s intervention in her life. So often people let their past define who they are, but with God–none of that matters.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

This verse clearly spells out that heritage, gender and status does not define our position in Christ. In Christ, we are all one and we are together.

Conclusion

By our standards, Ruth would have become a nobody. But God’s standards and plans are beyond our own.

God chose Ruth to be part of the lineage of Jesus to show that all are welcome into His kingdom. Our family’s history or our nation’s history does not keep us from God’s grace.

All that He asks is that you come.