Ruth is the story of Christmas 850 years before Christ--a story of a woman who listened to God and move to Israel away from her family. Naomi's husband and two sons die leaving Naomi with daughter-in-law in a strange land. Ruth's sister-in-law returns to her home land, but Ruth stays with Naomi "I will go where you go, I will go; Your God will be my God". Ruth was born again at that moment, a stranger in the land, not a Jew. They discover a righteous man, Boaz, who owned a field. As a poor woman, Ruth was able to glean from Boaz's field. Boaz finds favor in Ruth, a foreigner because of her submission to Naomi, and extends that favor to her. Boaz was a righteous man, an example of Christ.
Boaz executes the rights of Redeem, purchasing the land that was held by Naomi's deceased husband. Ruth asked for Boaz to spread his wings over her, to be her redeemer. Boaz presented the redemption plan to the family who should have had first choice to redeem the land, but it came with Naomi and Ruth. Other family members turned down the offer, so Boaz received the land along with taking Ruth as his wife. God will bless Boaz beyond measure with a child, Obed, direct linage to Jessy, the father of David--thus begins the Christmas story. There will always be a descendant from David to sit on David's throne. But David himself said "don't look at me as your redeemer, but look to my redeemer, the Lord". The Jews are still waiting for that redeemer, but we know that He has already come. Boaz was the redeemer for that moment, but Jesus is the Redeemer for now. Story of a child that reaches from 850 BC all the way to the birth of Christ. Boaz demonstrated the same characteristics as Jesus. Instructs us to be kind and compassionate to our family. This is what discipleship and our Faith Path is about.
