Every Woman Series (Part Four) Ruth; “It ain’t over until God says it’s over!”

From the desk of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D. Everyone likes intrigue and romance, which is a part of Ruth’s story. However Ruth’s story is so much more than a great romance! It describes the providential care of God. The providential care of God is the idea that God is actively guiding and caring for His creations, and that He is always concerned for them and their purposes. It is the idea that God is aware of what is happening in people’s lives, and that He works to steer and motivate people to make decisions. Famine has arrived and a Jewish man named Elimelech moved his wife, Naomi, and two sons to Moab to better their chances of survival. The Moabites were long-time enemies and oppressors of Israel and cursed by God. Probably not the kind of place you want to raise your family! Yet, it’s here through God’s providence that He chose to put together the story of a young Moabite girl with the story of His Son. Elimelech’s two sons married Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah, but in the space of ten years, Elimelech died and then both his sons. One loss would be crushing but all three together must have been unbearable. Naomi, Orpah and Ruth – all childless, all widows left alone in a strange land. Three shattered hearts left utterly bleak and dismal by life. The pain and loss touched every part of their lives, their hopes, their dreams. To be widowed and childless in their world meant vulnerability and poverty. But Ruth’s story reminds us, it ain’t over until God says it's over! Orpah returns to her parents, but Ruth determines to stay with Naomi as they journey to Bethlehem. This story of love and devotion tells of Ruth’s eventual marriage to a wealthy man named Boaz, by whom she bears a son, Obed, who becomes the grandfather of David and the ancestor of Jesus. Faith and obedience brings Ruth into the privileged lineage of Christ. A major theme of Ruth is that of the kinsman-redeemer. Boaz, a relative of Naomi on her husband’s side, acted upon his duty as outlined in the Mosaic Law to redeem an impoverished relative from his or her circumstances (Leviticus 25:47-49). This scenario is repeated by Jesus, who redeems us, the spiritually impoverished, from the slavery of sin. Our heavenly Father sent His own Son to the cross so that we might become children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ. By being our Redeemer, Jesus makes us His kinsmen. The practical application: It ain’t over until God says it’s over! The providence of our great God is clearly seen in the story of Ruth. God guided her every step of the way to become His child and fulfill His plan for her to become an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5). But what at first blush looks like a story of blissful romance points us to the greatest love story ever. It’s the greatest Redemption story ever. Ruth is each of us — walking out the curse of this world, unable to rescue ourselves and desperate for love. But we have a Redeemer who stepped in to rescue and restore us. All along God has declared Himself our Redeemer. We were once outsiders, alienated from God with no hope like Ruth; yet God redeemed us and brought us into His family. Be encouraged!