The Story of Ruthናሙና

Today we arrive at the grand finale of Ruth’s story! Ruth and Boaz get married, and Naomi’s joy is restored. This is a big deal considering Naomi had renamed herself Bitterness because her grief felt so overwhelming. It’s clear in the end that Ruth and Boaz were instruments in Naomi’s life to bring her the restoration she longed for, and this story points us to the truth that the path to joy is often riddled with despair.

Loss and hardship will be a part of our lives, but in the end, God intends to redeem us and restore our joy. Baby Obed symbolized hope for Naomi - hope that God still intended to bless her family. Hope that there was a future where Naomi would not feel forgotten. What no one could have guessed was that Obed also embodies the hope for a final redeemer who would bring us final restoration. Another baby would be born in the same town from the same family line 1,000 years later who would change everything. The last verse of Ruth (“and Jesse fathered David”) is dripping with that hidden hope. What a contrast to the last verse of Judges we read at the beginning of this plan! In an age of faithlessness, God remained faithful. He used the simple obedience of his followers (even the obedience of a Gentile) to carry forth his plan to redeem all of creation! And at the very end of all ages, God will use another marriage to restore our joy once and for all. Hallelujah!

Are you on a journey from despair to joy? Where are you placing your hope? How can you remain obedient?

What have you learned from the book of Ruth? What takeaways has God put on your heart?

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