True & Beautiful Things About the Bible--Old TestamentSample

Ruth: A Love Story

Remember the woman from Jericho who helped the spies? Rahab—the harlot. This next story is about her daughter-in-law. Though their stories are rarely linked, Ruth married Rahab’s son, Boaz.

The beautiful love story takes place in hard times—as most good love stories do. During the wild west days of the Judges, God wanted to remind us that there were still people who loved and followed Him. He also wanted us to see how those who trust Him lead amazing, surprising lives.

Ruth was from Moab—which is like saying Ruth was from the filthy part of town. (Moab is where Lot’s family settled.) But no one dared insult this faithful girl who survived her own share of grief and came out all the sweeter.

This true story begins there in Moab, after Ruth’s life seemed to end there, too, with the death of her young husband. Her brother-in-law and father-in-law had died, too. This is a death sentence for widows in this culture. So Ruth chose to leave her own country to take her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethlehem.

Two widows—one old and bitter, one tender and young—walked into town and heads turned. Especially attentive was the eligible bachelor, Boaz. And a beautiful romance began. This is a real romance—with an honorable warrior who fights for the hand of a kind and humble girl. Boaz moved heaven and earth to get the right to marry Ruth—and in their story we see a picture of what Jesus did to get us, too.

The cultural rule was that someone from the extended family could rescue the widow. Called, “the kinsman–redeemer,” they paid a price to get the widow out of debt and preserve the family line. It also helps if the redeemer loves the woman. Boaz did both—he paid the price because he loved Ruth.

So did the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our Kinsman-Redeemer who paid our debt because He loves us. He didn’t have to redeem us, He could still be God if He chose not to die for us. But His love drove Him.

Jesus likely holds a special affection for this story, in part because it’s in His family tree. Ruth was King David’s great-grandmother and the beginning of Jesus’ family line as Messiah. Ruth’s story, told in four scenes, was read annually as part of Pentecost holiday celebrations, generation after generation. So, Jesus would have heard Ruth’s story His whole life and likely loved how clearly God told the true and beautiful story of how He restores bitter souls and redeems desperate lives.

Next: Three men that changed a nation