We read in the Bible that Ruth, of Moab, had a loyal and loving heart. So upon the death of her Hebrew husband, she felt that she couldn’t part–from Naomi, her beloved mother-in-law, who had urged her to make her way, back to Ruth’s own parent’s home; but, instead, Ruth begged to stay.

She shared her heart, stating that where Naomi went, so, in fact, would she; where she lodged and the God she worshiped–these would also be…what she desired for her own particular life, even to her day of dying. To stay with her late husband’s “family” was the future on which she was relying.

Naomi allowed Ruth, then, to go with her on her Bethlehem-Judah return; there Ruth would find a special blessing that only God could have discerned. For there was a kinsman-redeemer through Naomi’s husband’s line, whom Ruth would meet, while gleaning in his fields, by God-ordained design.

Related by blood, willing and able to redeem this woman, Boaz entered her life; a prominent free man, total provision was hers, when she later became his wife. One can easily see an analogy here to the Bible’s New Testament account that we read…of God becoming Man, through Jesus Christ–the Kinsman-Redeemer He knew we would need.

Like Ruth, leave the “god” you once were told about; find shelter under the true God’s wings. Look to the Way, the Truth, and the Life–and experience the peace that Christ brings. Don’t try to make it on your own with God, through acts of service, however kind; there’s provision for us as “the bride of Christ,” which He, the Bridegroom, wants us to find.

P. A. Oltrogge

“If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold.” Leviticus 25:25 (The concept of a kinsman-redeemer comes out of the book of Leviticus.)

“But Ruth said, ‘Entreat me not to leave you or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.’” Ruth 1:16-17 

“And Boaz answered and said to her, ‘It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.’” Ruth 2:11-12

“And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.” Ruth 2:20 KJV

“You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:28-30 NASB (words of John the Baptist regarding Christ, the Bridegroom)

Other references:

Enjoy an encouraging message also on the account of Ruth today, her place in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, and God’s unmerited favor upon your own life through Jesus at: http://www.josephprince.org

Matthew 1:5, Matthew 9:15, Mark 2:19,20

Rejoicing to hear of those of today who have left their perception of God to find faith in Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life…

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.” spoken by Jesus in John 14:1 

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” spoken by Jesus in John 14:27

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” spoken by Jesus in John 17:3

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true; in His Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God and eternal life.” 1 John 5:20

Scriptures: NKJV or as noted