Welcome to episode 124 of Grasp the Bible. In this episode, we continue our study in the Book of Ruth, covering chapters 1:21-22:23. The series is called “My Redeemer Lives.” Today, we will cover:
- The new setting (vv. 1:21-2:1)
- The initiative of Ruth (vv. 2-3)
- The grace of Boaz (vv. 4-16)
- The results (vv. 17-23)
Key takeaways:
- For the first time, Ruth takes the lead role in the story. She, an alien in a foreign land, is determined to make something of her life.
- The hand of God is at work! The same hand that had sent the famine (1:1) and later provided food (1:6) is the hand that had brought Naomi and Ruth to Bethlehem precisely at the beginning of the harvest (1:22) and has now guided Ruth to that portion of the field belonging specifically to Boaz.
- In a cultural context in which normally foreigners would draw water for Israelites, and women would draw for men (Gen 24:10–20), Boaz’s authorization of Ruth to drink from water his men had drawn is indeed extraordinary.
- Preferring the unknown world of her mother-in-law, like Abraham centuries before, she abandoned her own father and mother and her native land and cast her lot with a people whom she had not previously known. Like Abraham, she had left the security of the familiar (family and land) and committed herself to the unknown.
- For the first time, we encounter the word “redeemer.” As a kinship term it denotes the near relative who is responsible for the economic well-being of a relative, and he comes into play especially when the relative is in distress and cannot get himself/herself out of the crisis. This word will play a major role in the remainder of the story.
Quotable:
- When Jesus redeems, he restores.
Application:
- There are times when we are experiencing adversity and God is working behind the scenes to change our situation, but we may not be aware of it at the time.
- In a similar way that Boaz elevates Ruth (a foreign, widow, woman), so Jesus elevates us to a status we do not deserve.
- By inviting Ruth to eat with Boaz and his men, Boaz dignifies Ruth, giving her the same status as Israelite men. When Jesus saves us, his righteousness is imputed to us so that God sees Christ’s righteousness as ours.
- Jesus is our redeemer who buys us back from the consequences of our sin.
Download the devotional here.
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