God's Plan - Lessons from Ruth

The Shadow of Christ in the Old Testament Story of Ruth

It is credited with St. Augustin that ‘In the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and in the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed’.  Ruth's life exemplifies a number of teachings that reveal Christ in the symbolism, the law, and the prophecies of the Old Testament.

Ruth was written about the time of the Judges (they had been in the land about 50 years). It explains the concept of a Kinsman Redeemer.

Revelation 5:1-5 “Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.  I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”  But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it.  And I cried and cried because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it.  

Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals”

God redeems us from condemnation via a mediator, and since only God could redeem us, it became necessary for Him to also become our mediator -- to become that person -- fully a human, yet fully divine.

Revelation 5:6-9 “Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.  He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne.  When He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they sang a new song:

'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed people for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation’.”

The Lamb holds the title deed to the earth and all creatures in it.  We were sold under sin into slavery and lost title to salvation.  But the Lord, our Kinsman Redeemer, was worthy, able and willing to redeem our debt and purchase our salvation and take ownership of us.  By following the procedures written on the back of the scroll -- the title deed to mankind -- and giving Himself for us on our behalf.

Ruth and Naomi

Spiritually, this was not a high point for the children of Israel, and as a result, famines (judgments) resulted. See Leviticus 26:26, Deuteronomy 28:53, Jeremiah 14:16, Ezekiel 4:16, 5:12 - always a sign of God’s wrath against sin.

Naomi's husband Elimelech lost his land back in Israel either by debt or sold it. Therefore, it had to be redeemed by Naomi upon her return through a goel, or family member that is willing to serve as a 'kinsman redeemer'.

Notice they were from Bethlehem-Judah, which means “House of Bread”.  Like the Parable of the Prodigal Son, they leave their home of “bread and praise” to live in a foul foreign land.  Naomi complains that they left their home “full” and will return home empty.  After Elimelech died, his sons fell into apostasy, failing to follow Leverite rules of marriage.

Deuteronomy 7:3-4 “Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, because they will turn your sons away from Me to worship other gods. Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you."

When we go live in a foreign land (far from support of fellow Church members), we are likely to fall into the traps of the world. The result may be apostasy, loss of witness, and ultimately death.

Naomi means “pleasant”

Mara means “bitter”

Ruth means “desirable”

Consider the magnitude of Ruth’s faith.  Her mother-in-law was destitute.   Ruth comes from Moab, an idol worshipping people, and will leave behind all she knows to go live in a land openly hostile to foreigners, especially Moabites.

She makes a seven fold decision that is the very essence of faith (verses 16, 17):

1. I will go, forsaking the comforts of home
2. I will dwell, for the long run
3. I will forsake my people to identify with God’s people
4. I will commit to God, forsaking idols of this present age
5. I will die in the promised land, hoping to be resurrected there
6. I will be buried among your people
7. I make this decision for time and eternity (true repentance)

She accepted the poverty, certainty of being an outcast, and a widow for the rest of her life, but she accepted the God of Naomi.  Her sorrow led to repentance, whereas Orpah’s sorrow did not:

2 Corinthians 7:10 “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to a salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”

Naomi Returns to Israel with Ruth

The barley harvest was typically in early April, near Passover.  Notice the number of "coincidences" that take place that favor Ruth.  You will see this several times as the story unfolds.  Here, Ruth ‘happened’ to come to a field owned by Boaz, and he noticed her immediately.  The name Boaz means “In Him there is strength”.  Boaz himself was of foreign origin; his mother the rather famous Rahab, the Amorite who sheltered the two spies from Joshua.

Notice also  Boaz’ attitude toward his workers, and theirs to him...It is important here to stop and get some background on three laws in operation at this time in Israel.  They are the Law of Gleanings, the Law of Grace and the Law of Goel.  Understanding these three laws help explain the arc of the story of Ruth and how she came to be Boaz' wife.  A protocol had to be followed, and it required a number of 'coincidences' to pull it off.

Law of Gleanings:

Leviticus 19:9-10 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edge of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes.  Leave them for the poor and the foreign resident; I am Yahweh your God”

Deuteronomy 24:19 “When you reap the harvest in your field, and you forget a sheaf in the field, do not go back to get it. It is to be left for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands”

This was a way to take care of the poor, while giving them dignity and work to do to provide for themselves.

Law of Grace:

Grace - to receive what you do not deserve and have not earned

Justice - to receive what you deserve or have earned

Mercy - to not receive what you deserve or have earned

Ruth was a foreigner, not wanted by the Hebrews - an enemy of the nation, and of another race.  Yet, her faith in God is recompensed (rewarded), even though her expectation was to remain an impoverished widow for the rest of her life.

Law of the Kinsman Redeemer:

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 “When brothers live on the same property and one of them dies without a son, the wife of the dead man may not marry a stranger outside the family.  Her brother-in-law is to take her as his wife, have sexual relations with her, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law for her.  The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so his name will not be blotted out from Israel.  

But if the man doesn’t want to marry his sister-in-law, she must go to the elders at the city gate and say, ‘My brother-in-law refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He isn’t willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.’   The elders of his city will summon him and speak with him.  If he persists and says, ‘I don’t want to marry her,’ then his sister-in-law will go up to him in the sight of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face.  Then she will declare, ‘This is what is done to a man who will not build up his brother’s house.’  And his family name in Israel will be called ‘The house of the man whose sandal was removed”

An unusual practice to our modern eyes, but this not only protected widows from poverty and disenfranchisement, but kept the land in the family.  God loaned the land to each family, and didn’t want foreigners or strangers to become landowners.

For this law to be in effect, the widow must make a claim to a kinsman-redeemer. Boaz cannot initiate the claim, but is waiting for Ruth to act. To fulfill the role of kinsman redeemer, Boaz must be a kinsman, be willing, and be able to repurchase the land, for land is for the child to inherit. Since Ruth does not understand the customs, Naomi initiates the process and teaches Ruth how to redeem the land.

Coincidences 

A perceptive reader of the story of Ruth will notice a number of rather "convenient" situations that move the plot of the story along quite nicely.

• The Law of Gleanings was actually enforced by Boaz
• Boaz was only half Jewish, and understood the Law of Grace better than most
• Boaz was wealthy and owned land
• Boaz was related to Naomi
• Ruth "happened" to glean in one of Boaz' fields
• Boaz "happened" to be in the field when Ruth arrived and noticed her
• Boaz "heard" all that Ruth had done for Naomi
• Boaz "happened" to take quite a fancy to Ruth
• Both Ruth and Boaz "happened" to be legally available for marriage
• Boaz' relative did not want to be a kinsman redeemer

And the list probably could be longer with more diligent research.  God is in control, even if He doesn’t speak out loud.  But it was part of His plan, because it affected the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

"Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." - Albert Einstein

Redemption of the Land

God had another coincidence planned for this story.  Naomi was still a widow and as such at great peril of being destitute and homeless.  She had no land and therefore no standing in society.  God is gracious and had made provision for this situation in the Law of the Redemption of the Land.  Land was never permanently sold in Israel, it could only be rented out -- it belonged to the tribe and families that were allotted after the Promised Land was conquered.

Leviticus 25:23-25 “The land is not to be permanently sold because it is Mine, and you are only foreigners and temporary residents on My land.  You are to allow the redemption of any land you occupy.  If your brother becomes destitute and sells part of his property, his nearest relative may come and redeem what his brother has sold.”

In order to redeem the land for Naomi, Ruth follows four steps that resemble what the sinner must do to come before God:

Washing - when we wash in the blood of Jesus we become clean

Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”

Anointing - the act of dedicating to some service or goal, consecrating – when we consecrate our hearts to the Lord, we are sealed by Him.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”

Putting on raiment - when we accept Christ, he becomes our righteousness, we "put on" Christ as raiment as white a snow.

Revelation 19:8 “And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

Make a claim - when we call upon Christ as their redeemer and savior He is sure to answer and make good on His promise.

Romans 10:13 “For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

For his part, Boaz fulfills the type of Christ, who, upon being called by the believer (Ruth), fulfills the role of Kinsman Redeemer and purchases what the believer has lost.  Naomi fulfills the role of Israel, having knowledge of the law and being chosen by God to dwell in the Promised Land.  Ruth is introduced to Boaz by an unnamed servant.  Boaz responds in grace, he is not compelled to redeem her, but he loves her and willingly pays for her redemption.  Grace accomplishes what the law cannot.

Spreading the hem over someone was a sign of acceptance

Verses 3:1-14 is an unusual custom to us, but this was all done in public and was entirely proper.  Many people slept out on the threshing floor during the harvest to protect the grain from animals and robbers.  By asking him to spread his skirt over her, she is symbolically claiming the right of the kinsman-redeemer, and the hem of his garment represents his rank, stature and place in the community.  (Just as we have rank insignia on a pilots sleeve).  That is why David regretted cutting the hem off of Saul’s garment in 1 Samuel 24.  Also the Lord’s hem was sought for healing by the woman with issue (Matthew 14:36).

In verse 3:17 Boaz sent Ruth home with six measures of barley.  This was a signal to Naomi that Boaz would not rest until he had fulfilled all that the Law required.  Six symbolizes incompleteness.  His work was not yet completed. When Ruth had claimed him as her redeemer, she had nothing further to do, it was his to complete the act of redemption.

In verse 4:6, we are introduced to a nameless relative.  He represents the law of Moses.  Like Ruth, the law cannot redeem us, because a Moabitess (foreigner) was considered unclean, could not enter the congregation of the Lord:

Leviticus 22:3 If any man from any of your descendants throughout your generations is in a state of uncleanness yet approaches the holy offerings that the Israelites consecrate to the Lord, that person will be cut off from My presence; I am Yahweh

But we have good news since the law has been fulfilled by Christ:

Romans 3:19-20 “Now we know that whatever the law says speaks to those who are subject to the law, so that every mouth may be shut and the whole world may become subject to God’s judgment.  For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.”

The law was not given to redeem, but to reveal our condition of sin.

Boaz acts on behalf of Ruth in this transaction, and takes the kinsman’s shoe.  Then he redeems the land and takes Ruth as his wife, and bears witness to all.

Christ must fulfill these conditions to redeem us - a “near” kinsman, be willing, and be able to perform the redemption. Christ came and took on flesh and blood to be entirely human, yet entirely divine - our Kinsman-Redeemer.

A Not-so-happy Blessing

In verse 4:12 it "sounds" like a blessing was pronounced on the couple, but that is not quite right:

Ruth 4:12 May your house become like the house of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the Lord will give you by this young woman."

In Genesis 38:6-29, there is a sordid episode where Tamar tricks her father-in-law Judah into sleeping with her, and conceives and gives birth to twins, Pharez and Zarah.  When there is an illegitimate birth, the land and all that would be inherited is banned until the 10th generation!  Why was this comment made?

Actually, it is a prophecy.  10 generations after Pharez, David is born to Jesse.  David is the 10th generation after Judah, who is of the royal line.  Judah’s sin causes his blood line to be disinherited from the royal throne until David is born!

David’s genealogy is also a foreshadowing of blood curse placed on David’s descendant, Jeconiah, who legally through to Joseph, was the father of Jesus.  A virgin birth then, becomes a absolute necessity, in order for Christ to assume His rightful kingship and avoid the blood curse on Jeconiah.  Mary’s genealogy is different than Joseph, descending from Nathan, a brother of Solomon.

Unto Us a Son is Born

In verse 4:17, A son is born to Naomi through Ruth to continue her genealogy.  Remember Naomi represents Israel.  A “son” is born to her through Ruth. She brings Ruth (representing the gentile church) from a foreign land into the Promised Land, where she is redeemed by grace, not by the law, by Naomi’s kinsman, who loved Ruth and took her to be His bride.

Now going back to Revelation 7; no one was worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals.  The scroll represents the title deed to earth and creation.  No one was worthy or able to take it and claim ownership, except the Lamb of God!  Payment had to be made, and it was made in His perfect blood.  So Christ was worthy, willing, and being the Son of Man, a near-kinsman to human-kind, able to redeem us.

Galatians 4:4-7 “When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our[a] hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”  So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.”

This should answer the question about whether you can lose your salvation by accident.  If you disobey your father, or hide from him, does that make you an orphan?  Did the Prodigal Son ever become the Prodigal Orphan?

<<   God's Plan -- Entering the Promised Land

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Scripture citations are from:  Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) © 2009 Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville TN or New King James Version®. (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson