The book of Ruth begins with the days of the judges and concludes with the genealogy of David.
The main characters include Ruth, Naomi, Boaz.
During this time judges were still in rulership and a famine occurred in the land. Elimelek and his wife, Naomi along with their two sons decided to leave from Bethlehem and relocate to Moab. While in Moab, Naomi’s husband died and she was left with her two sons. As the sons grew older, they married Moabites women, Orpah and Ruth. After living there for about 10 years, both sons Mahlon and Killion also died. Naomi was left without her sons and her husband in a foreign land.
She decided that it was in her best interest to go back to her hometown. Her daughters-in-law wanted to come with her but she encouraged them to go home to their parents. Orpah left and returned to her parents but Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi.
Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Ruth goes to glean barley from a local field which belonged to Boaz. He was a well-known, noble and respected man and also very wealthy. It was later revealed that Boaz was actually a distant relative of Naomi’s husband Elimelek. As Ruth is working in the field, Boaz arrives and takes notice of her and inquire of her. Once he finds out that she’s Naomi’s daughter-in-law. He extends an invitation for her to continue to glean in the field. He instructs the men not to bother her and also offer her food and water to drink.
At this she was grateful. She asked him why was he being so generous to her, His reply –because of her loyalty and commitment to Naomi. As Ruth returns to Naomi that evening with a great amount of barley, she asked where did she glean. When Naomi realized it was her relative Boaz, she spoke God’s blessing over him and tells Ruth that Boaz is their family redeemer.
A family redeemer was a cultural practice at that time that that if a man in the family died and left a wife , children or land, it was the Family Redeemer responsibility to marry that widow, take up the land and to protect that family
Naomi and Ruth come up with a plan to get Boaz to notice their situation. Ruth gets dress and prepares to go to the threshing floor to met Boaz. As she approaches, she finds him sleeping in a pile of grain. Ruth approaches quietly, uncovered his feet and lie down near him.. During the night, he was startled by this woman and asked who was she. She explained who she was and asked if he would redeem Naomi’s family and marry her. He tells her yes but wait until the next day in order to follow proper protocol.
Boaz finds out that there is another family member closer than he is that is entitle to be the redeemer. The family member is informed that he has to marry Ruth, a Moabites and he declines the offer. Therefore, Boaz would be next in line as the family redeemer. He steps in as the guardian redeemer acquires the family property and marries Ruth. Ruth later gives birth to a son, Obed which is the father of Jesse and Jesse, the father of David.
Although the story started with many trudges in the beginning-- the famine, losing her family, her husband and sons --- it also demonstrates the loyalty of a relationship with Ruth and Naomi and also how God was working behind the scene all along in spite of what was happening in the natural.
Regardless of what you are facing in the natural, do not get consumed --- because anything that is seen is subject to changed --- for He is always present working on our behalf regardless of what it looks like --- for He is always on the scene.
