Ruth 1-4

The account of Ruth the Moabite and her faithfulness to her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi is a story that demonstrates a virtuous woman whose hand of blessing God was surely on. When sent away by Naomi, Ruth stayed and committed herself to not only her mother-in-law but to YAHWEH in similar words to how God committed himself to the people of Israel to Moses.

Ruth 1:16 (NKJV) "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."

Exodus 6:7 (NKJV) "I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians."

Ruth choosing YAHWEH over the Moabite gods is significant because Ruth is taking on an entirely new identity as an Israelite which is made official through Boaz' redemption at the end of the book. There is something truly beautiful in the lineage of Jesus, especially foreshadowed in Ruth with the righteousness of Boaz and the faithfulness and loyalty of Ruth to her Judean mother-in-law. God redeemed me, a Gentile, through his son Jesus who lived a perfect life and died in my place so that I might be restored in relationship with God the Father. Redemption is as amazing as adoption. God cares most about family, we see this consistently throughout scripture and I am thankful to be part of God's family through the blessing of Abraham because of the work Jesus did on the cross. 

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