Want to be rich and famous? Want to be known for all eternity? How about the most well known man who ever lived to be born through your blood line?
I can't guarantee it will work for you, but it sure worked for Ruth! Who would have known... Her Husband dies, her sister in law's husband dies, her mother in law's husband dies... Mother in Law(Naomi) is crazy bitter over it...
Sounds like a good time to jump ship, you know, enjoy some freedom, see what else is out there for you. I'm guessing Naomi was pretty poor company, Husband dies, both sons die, she's openly blaming God, changes her name to Mara(means bitter). Doesn't take great imagination to figure out that this situation SUCKS.
Naomi gives both of her daughter in law's the oportunity to make a run for it... Orpah, the other daughter in law takes advantage of Naomi's offer and bails... gives her a kiss, sheds a tear and is on her way. Ruth on the other hand clings to Naomi. This is a wondeful testimony of what our faith should look like... do we experience God as a passing emotion? Or are we clinging to him with all our might?
So Ruth stays with Naomi, honors her Mother in law, stays true to the family and God is so pleased with Ruth, he blesses her in a way only God can accomplish. Ruth is a fantastic woman, it's obvious why she has her own book of the Bible, one of only two women. She's not just sitting in self pity with her mother in law... she goes out to work and it's while working that God brings about a meeting with an unknown non blood relative Boaz.
Long story short, Boaz is dreamboat... mature, wealthy, loves God and Ruth tells Naomi about him, Naomi is like, "NO WAY GIRLFRIEND! HE'S A RELATIVE OF MY HUSBAND!". As was customary, a man back then could/should take the wife of his dead brother, so Naomi gives Ruth some instructions on how to approach Boaz and she follows them. So Ruth obeys and goes to see him, Boaz is so impressed that Ruth didn't try and get with some of the younger(perhaps more studly) men, and presents herself in a humble way, he falls in love with her.
As yet another example of how our faith is be enacted, Boaz admits there is another relative who has first dibs for taking Ruth as a wife. So, eventhough he's fallen for her and it seems like a miracle that their paths have crossed, he obeys the law, and offers Ruth to the other relative. The other dude has an obligation with his birthright that prevents him from being able to marry Ruth, so Boaz at this moment must be doing a heck of a happy dance internally and agrees to take Ruth as his wife.
God is so pleased with these two obedient, self sacrificing individuals, he blesses them with the highest honor you could imagine, a son named Obed. Not impressed? From this son's line comes one of the greatest human kings the world has ever known, David, and from David's line, the KING OF KINGS... Jesus Christ.
Let's be loyal to our families, both blood and law. Showing the love of Christ to our families shows God that we truly love him.
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