“He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” (Ruth 3:9)
The story of Ruth in the Bible is one of the most loved. It demonstrates the grace of God through providence and through redemption. We see the hand of God in sending Naomi, with her husband, and their two sons into the land of Moab because of the famine in their territory – Bethlehem of Judah (1:1). How significant the name of Bethlehem is to us. After a ten year period in Moab, Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) died and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, who had married Moabite women (Orpah and Ruth), also died (1:2 -5). We see the incredible dedication and loyalty of Ruth to her mother-in-law, Naomi, in being willing to leave her own people and go back to Bethlehem with Naomi (1:6 – 18). The beautiful confession of going and lodging, of taking to herself a new identity and of commitment to the living and true God and of being willing to die in a new land, is a remarkable statement of faith (see vv. 16, 17).
Along with Esther, Ruth is the only other women to have a book in the Bible named after her. It is interesting to note that Esther (a Hebrew exile) married a Gentile, and that Ruth (a Moabite exile) married a Hebrew. The inclusion of Ruth into the family of Naomi and ultimately as the wife of Boaz, is a beautiful picture of the Bride of Christ, the Church, wooed and won by the Lord Jesus Christ. [Read more…] about You Are A Redeemer