A simple Moabite widow becomes an essential character in the powerful story of salvation woven through the Bible. Boaz was driven by authentic love for Ruth just like Jesuss love for us caused him to give up heaven for our sake. It doesnt matter if youre a male or female, God cares about everyone the same. They choose to stay together and forge a union. Tucked between the books of Judges and 1 st Samuel, it can be easily missed when thumbing through the Old Testament. Lesson 1: Sometimes, the right choice requires immense sacrifice. The book of Ruth starts with the life of Naomi. The indescribable passion and struggles that accompany love is displayed in the Book of Ruth and these actions personify our own struggles that we come face-to-face with on a daily basis. Install Feel The Words, and access it like a regular app. Ruth and Boaz got married and had a child they named Obed. Boaz took interest in her and increased his kindness. Boaz was one such person but there was another who came before Boaz. It might mean he was old enough to be her father. Naomi loved Ruth, but she was willing to let her go back to her family. She urges Ruth and Orpah to stay in Moab and find new husbands. We will start with some of the spiritual lessons we can learn from Ruth in the Bible. Everyone makes mistakes and no one should judge the other for their past actions as a man or woman. The story is a mirror opposite of Israel's depressing journey from triumph to tragedy that is presented in the book of Judges. She wasnt hired but he invited her to partake of those provisions. Ruth had a whole lot to learn. I dont imagine that he solved all her problems nor did they have a perfect relationship. Bethlehem was where Jehovah was worshipped but Moab was a place where heathen, false gods were worshipped. There was a law that provided this opportunity. Her commitment to journey on with Naomi was a beautiful, selfless act, and a stunning example of the love of Christ the same Christ who would be of her bloodline years later. Both Naomi and Ruth experienced a great amount of grief, however both prevail Naomi loses her husband two sons. Ruth is a woman of great character who embodies many positive traits. Subscribe today to receive our free Bible Study printables sent to your inbox. He made kind gestures to reveal his heart to her and left it there. God had an amazing plan for Ruth. A selfish man will give you headaches. When these two women arrive back in Naomis home town, they are destitute, devastated, and broken. He immediately takes to her and starts to protect her. The book of Ruth is a fascinating tale of romance, intrigue, loss, disobedience, and ultimately of faith. Today we consider the third option. In the Book of Ruth, both Naomi and Ruth are continuously blown away by others who thank and recognize them for what they did rather than what they may have done incorrectly. Naomi decided to move back to Bethlehem to be near family. Naomi even extends thanks and recognition to Ruth for providing her with a beautiful blessing. Then she had to do the work to make it into barley flour. Elimelech was trying to escape hard times by leaving Bethlehem to a pagan country. Its every girls wish to have such a happy ending. In those days when men died before they had children, a male relative was responsible for taking his widow as wife and giving her children who would be considered the child of the deceased. Doing the right thing isnt always easy. Be clear about what you want for and in your relationship. "Wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge.". There is no clear answer to this question in Scripture. 6: God redeems us from our hopeless situation The story of Boaz and Ruth has a lot of symbolism for us to take note of. Be Blessed. There will be days where you completely mess things up and there will be other days when you succeed in every aspect. Her two sons found wives, Ruth and Orpah, but 10 years later, both sons died as well. With love does come heartache this can is seen through break-ups, divorce, or even death. Couples must balance each other and have a forgiving heart. Ruth allowed herself to be loved and led by Naomi. Boaz was a prophetic symbol and his redemptive work lives on even today. It seems that Naomi's entire life crumbles in those years. Samson's relationship with Delilah is a far cry from Ruth's relationship with Boaz. The story is told in the Book of Ruth, part of the biblical canon called Ketuvim, or Writings. He asked them to allow some to fall purposely for her. Naomi told the women, Go back home. Your past is not your final destination when you make a choice in faith. This is the edited manuscript of Lesson 1 in the series, Ruth: A Story of Redemption, prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh on January 10, 2010. The word root for the name "Ruth"in Hebrew, "Rooth"means "friendship" or "friend.". So he did the next best thing. One of the most important Naomi and Ruth relationship principles is to trust God. The Book of Ruth enables readers to view, in a small-scale way, the foundational biblical story of the exodus. A man named Elimelech, from Bethlehem-Judah, left his hometown when a famine struck. When Boaz decided to act on Ruths interest in being married to him, he was not willing to break the law or conduct underhanded business. The Book of Ruth provides many relationship lessons that perpetuate the meaning of true love. She might have been married before but now she was practically starting her life over. Boaz is a type of Christ, meaning, he had many characteristics of Christ and foreshadowed what Jesus was going to do for humanity. Naomi was essentially empty and devastated after she lost her husband and sons. God doesnt not discriminate and wants His people to have the same viewpoints and understanding. If not, you should probably get one. As much as is possible, try to get to know your significant other through the people he or she interacts with outside of your presence. Lesson 2 - Obedience Brings About Breakthrough. Later tragically, Naomis husband and two sons died. ( Ruth 2:2). Here are seven lessons to learn from Ruth. He was wealthy but he gave more than grains and barley. All these little details in the story, gives us a glimpse of Boazs character and influence. The Book of Ruth provides us with a great story about love. Remember to thank and recognize your partner each day. Blessings occur seven times in the book of Ruth, from Naomi blessing both her daughters-in-law (1:8) and Boaz (2:19-20), to Boaz's casual blessing of his workers (2:4) and deeper blessing of Ruth (3:10), and climactically to the women blessing the Lord for the birth of the child (4:14). Go have babies. I hear people say, Gods got Made with by India A place where world feel the words. The book of Ruth is packed with so many lessons about, life, love and faithfulness. Both of her parents worked in the church. The relationship between Ruth and Naomi is a reflection of the faithful love of God offered to Israel and to us in the gift of covenant. Little Things Can Accomplish Bigger Plans. Through Naomi and Ruths mother and daughter-in-law relationship, were able to see the heavenly presence that takes place because of love. God doesnt not discriminate and wants His people to have the same viewpoints and understanding. Well, there is a lot to be said about her. There are three lessons that can be learned from Ruth and Naomi's relationship that are reflected in this verse. One day you will find your true love and all of the obstacles that you had to overcome will provide you with the strength for that love to withstand the test of time. Having dedicated herself to the God of Israel, Ruth, in chapter 2, begins to grow in her relationship and dedication to Boaz. . They were living in Moab when both of their husbands died. The book of Ruth begins by looking at the life of Naomi. There are two texts in the book of Ruth which speak to the relationship of conjugal love to divine love. The book of Ruth follows the book of Judges in our Bibles because its setting was in that time period. This book is the story of a young widow named Ruth, whose heart had been broken by her husband's death yet healed by faith in the God of Israel. This in-depth Bible Study will take you verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter through the book of Ruth. Soon, Naomi becomes aware that Boaz has a thing for Ruth. God bless you. Naomi was open with Ruth about the joy, the fear, the pain, and the anguish that came with her faith in God. Ruth the Moabite is loyal to Yahweh and Naomi. We just talked about some of the qualities of Boaz that makes him a great biblical example of the kind of man to date and marry. While your confidence may be wavering, Gods promises are not. Now that we have dealt with what it means to wait for your Boaz, there are some other relationship nuggets buried in the story. He should have already taken her in to provide for her. When we are going through some of our toughest struggles, he often brings us to the mindbarthis is where he gives us strength. Moral Lesson 1: The Value Of Making Wise Choices. And wasnt she quite the friend to her mother-in-law Naomi? Mrs. Mckinnel would stay at home, while her father was the type of person who saw well in everyone. Boaz was always ensuring Ruth had food. Introduction. i. If you intend to move from where you are in life, you have to put some skin in the game. Her name might have formed the core of the qualities she possessed. Clearly, the exalted nation of Israel, God's chosen people, has lost its sense of direction. In a place where many would have thought shed be ostracized, she found love with a man named Boaz. February 10, 2023. This would mean marrying the widow of the deceased and making children. You will be surprised at how much growth will take place in your life and how much less the struggle to your next level will be. Your email address will not be published. Everyone lives their lives the way it best suits them therefore, others shouldnt judge love. Dont over spiritualize your relationship. Thankfully, she had Naomi to help. He called her virtuous. Ruth was taken and overwhelmed with his kindness that she bowed before Boaz. But he didnt do that. No matter your past, you still have a purpose. Book of Ruth, Old Testament book belonging to the third section of the biblical canon, known as the Ketuvim, or Writings. Later we see him ensuring that they have food to eat during their lunch break and he sits and eats with then. by I Gordon. Every relationship will have its ups and downs because no relationship is perfect. She lost her husband and her two sons. Ruth had no idea that millions of people would read her story. Each person within the relationship must understand that everyone has imperfections and its imperative that they come to terms with this reality. She could have qualified for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. So well only look at a few. Their sons marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Everyone can find something relatable in Ruths love story. Through Naomi and Ruths mother and daughter-in-law relationship, were able to see the heavenly presence that takes place because of love. She was a convert to Judaism and she knew very little about Jewish rules. However, the contents of this blog post may not be modified, compiled, combined with other content, copied, recorded, synchronized, transmitted, translated, formatted, distributed, publicly displayed, publicly performed, reproduced, given away, used to create derivative works and otherwise used or exploited (including for-profit or commercial gain) without the creators expressed permission. Boaz did say that Ruth chose not to marry a young man. When were in a relationship, its relatively easy to subconsciously take advantage of your partner because they are with you each day. The love of a man and the love of a woman should always be considered as an equally powerful element. Our doctrines, practices, policies. To some extent, she might be considered naive. 7 Beautiful Ways to a Better Relationship with Your Mother-in-Law. (6-7) Ruth lays down at Boaz's feet. . I will not talk much about Naomi here as I have dedicated an entire post to her. Later tragically, Naomis husband and two sons died. 6 Relationship Lessons from the Book of Ruth There are many things married and single people can learn about in the Book of Ruth. When Ruth made the decision to follow Naomi, this was a massive life transition. God had an amazing plan for Ruth. But, according to the practices of the time, Boaz was free to take another wife, especially since he was a kinsman. We also see the freedom in their relationship. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The events occurred during the period of the judges, about a century before David became king of Israel. Boaz didnt seem to have this concern. 6 Relationship lessons from the book of Ruth . As we see in Ruth 1:16, Ruth chose that she will serve the God of Naomi even to the point of death as she had fully resolved and purposed in her heart. It was their faith that was at the center of their relationship and intimate communication. Can the same be said of you? Its a popular saying: Im waiting for my Boaz. The word that Boaz used to describe Ruth is the same word used to describe the Proverbs 31 woman. Naomi reminded Ruth that she was free to leave and go back to her family. Nothing is going in her favor, but shes brave, and her faith never wavers. He says The Lord be with you. If she had to go it alone, it would be 10 times harder. When Boaz showed up, Ruth was having a pretty rough season in her life. He was wealthy. Ruth blesses Naomi with her friendship because Naomi never expected to have someone to hold onto after the loss of all the men in her life. Like Abraham, Ruth left her life of false worship, a life surrounded by a predictable routine and people she knew. And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. One of the moral lessons we can get from the bible story of Ruth is the importance of making wise choices as Ruth did in Ruth 1:16-18 that made her choose to stay with Naomi despite Orpah choosing otherwise. When you least expect it God provides His children with the things they need in life. That journey to Israel must have been frightening. Ruth is just a widow one from an enemy nation, at that. More often than not, youll find that love mirrors our reality in many cases within biblical stories. The rest of the book tells how Ruth married a . When he tells them to allow more stalks to fall for Ruth to pick up, they do it. This chapter also displays the gracious provision and protection . Her actions told Boaz that she was there to claim her right to be redeemed by him. While you may be going through pain in your current heartbreak, its important to realize that this is all for a reason. Go get married. These two sons married Moabite women: Orpah and Ruth. The book of Ruth offers an entirely different perspective on this often maligned relationship. Rahab was a prostitute whose faith saved her from the crashing walls of Jericho. Or do they follow Naomi into an unpredictable future where Jehovah would lead? But, that was only half the solution to the problem. In fact, we know more about the relationship between these two women than we know about them individually. The meeting with the other kinsman was held in the presence of Ruth, Naomi and elders in the community. Its heart-wrenching to lose a child. Things will go faster and will be much better. God be thanked for your love to me. Love was different for all of the women involved Ruth, Orpah and Naomi. Remember to thank and recognize your partner each day. And again, after the night at the threshing floor, he gave barley to take home. Ruth was willing to go harvest in the fields daily. The two women shared great sorrow, but they also shared great affection for one another. 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