If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. There are many but I will only go over 6 of them. So the Book of Ruth would roughly equate to the Book of Friendship in Hebrew. Application: God had a wonderful plan for Ruth. All these little details in the story, gives us a glimpse of Boazs character and influence. Even though Ruth wasn't a Jew and was a Moabite, God didn't allow those titles to change His love for Ruth. Later we see him ensuring that they have food to eat during their lunch break and he sits and eats with then. For Ruth and Naomi, they needed sovereignty and in essence a fresh start. It really is that simple! She doesnt come from a famous family. At the time this story is unfolding, Israel had strayed from Gods will. Their choices do not mean that one is better than the other. The story is told in the Book of Ruth, part of the biblical canon called Ketuvim, or Writings. Lesson 5 - Willing to Take Advice from Elders. The love story of Ruth and Boaz can be found in the book of Ruth. Examining the second chapter of Ruth. Be sure to check out The Story of Naomi in the Bible and lessons you can learn. Ruths story is one that exemplifies the reality that so many of us are thrown at every day death, love, heartache, falling into love and even compassion for others that share love. He was wealthy. Nothing is going in her favor, but shes brave, and her faith never wavers. The book of Ruth offers an entirely different perspective on this often maligned relationship. You never know whos watching you and has the power to fulfill Gods plans and blessings. He made a decision that God didnt approve. Its OK if you have some work to do in preparation for the man God has for you. Often, we think of the Book of Ruth as "outdated" or "too old," yet there are important lessons we can learn. Their sons marry Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Boaz described Ruth as a woman of noble character. Ruth laid aside her pain, left her home and family, and turned her face to the future with hope as she journeyed to a new place with her mother-in-law. Everyone can find something relatable in Ruths love story. : , , God has a Redeemer for our lives, too, and His name is Jesus. All rights reserved. In a place where many would have thought shed be ostracized, she found love with a man named Boaz. . The book of Ruth is a fascinating tale of romance, intrigue, loss, disobedience, and ultimately of faith. And Ruth, without being asked by Naomi, saw the value and took advantage of the opportunity. Looking at the bigger picture of the Book of Ruth its evident now to see how the famine, Naomis relocation to Moab, the return to Bethlehem, Boazs blood line, and several other events had a hand in the overall plan for Ruths life. by I Gordon. Naomi told the women, Go back home. 5) God has a Redeemer in place who can rescue us from the devastation of our own sin. In the Hebrew Bible, Ruth stands with the Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther; together they make up the Megillot, five scrolls that are read at prescribed times on Jewish religious festivals. For example, both belong to the same sex but from different . Many interpreters read Ruth as a happy-ending romance featuring Ruth, the beautiful young Moabite widow who captivated the heart of the older wealthy landowner Boaz. I. Dont over spiritualize your relationship. On the other hand, Ruths husband had died leaving her without children and she was still young. Naomi already felt that God had dealt very bitterly with her, yet she continued to hope. As the kindness of Boaz increased, Ruth was invited by Boaz to eat at the table he prepared for his workers. Its evident that Naomi understands that God wants her to continue her relationship with Ruth and she expresses these feelings with thanks and recognition. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); God can be found in silence. Even though it may not make complete sense during the time its taking place, its important to recognize how God has and continues to change your life on a daily basis with His actions. At the very beginning of the book of Ruth, shes living in Moab, her home nation. a. The law is also very useful, because it shows us our defections and stains. You see, we are all desolate as a result of our sinful natures. There are three lessons that can be learned from Ruth and Naomi's relationship that are reflected in this verse. We can learn a lot from the relationship of Ruth and Naomi, and loyalty is among the lessons. He had not done what he was supposed to do. Thankfully, she had Naomi to help. Relationships today are the exact same! Her best days were not behind. The Book of Ruth is a fantastic example that exemplifies the rollercoaster ride that love can take us on. He was a wealthy landowner and he earned his keep with his own sweat. That journey to Israel must have been frightening. There are many things married and single people can learn about in the Book of Ruth. Naomi and her husband decided to move away from Judah to Moab because of a terrible famine that was hurting their family. The book of Ruth shines like a beautiful diamond against this bleak background. The reality that Ruth experiences is relatable to couples in love today. ISBN-13: . Ruth abandoned his family and journey with Naomi back home . 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. It seems that Naomi's entire life crumbles in those years. Moab was a place that most Israelites didnt like. Don't miss the rest of our series on loving your in-laws! 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. Naomi's husband died, and her sons married Moabite women. If not, you should probably get one. She was so thankful, especially considering her status of widow which made her automatically become a part of the lowest class in society, right there with beggars, orphans and people with disabilities. Blessing. They confess their undying devotion and love for each other and in a fairytale theyd live happily ever after. The LORD bless you, my daughter, he replied. Some conversations require perfect timing because of the issue that needs to be discussed. Even though it may not make complete sense during the time its taking place, its important to recognize how God has and continues to change your life on a daily basis with His actions. Quite often foreigners are not treated well, not even today. God heard her cries and helped her feel complete again. The story of Ruth is set during the time of the judges. Whether youre going through a break-up or divorce, there is a reason for all of the pain. Your email address will not be published. To become a star is the beginning of the end, I have to convince other Democrats and Republicans, What is the recipe for successful achievement, In commendably seeking to protect freedom. 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. She is known for her faithfulness, loyalty, virtue, and love. They choose to stay together and forge a union. Thanks for sharing some of it. If we were to explore them all, this post would never end. Owning a field was not easy then. . When life brings devastation, its not easy to hope. 1. Their story is found in the Book of Ruth and it not only inspires hope for many, but includes 3 life lessons that can bring us opportunities, help us achieve our goals and live a stable life. Ruth reminds us that no matter what lies in our past, and no matter how difficult our circumstances may be, a little bit of faith makes a huge difference. Ruths faith was rewarded with a wonderful husband. Like Ruth, we also need to work to be women and men of integrity. . But it could also mean a term of endearment. Although she was married before, Naomi seemed not to realize that Boaz had taken to her. Love works in mysterious ways. Lets look at a few strengths and weaknesses of Ruth in the Bible. We cannot say for sure how old either of them were but there was a notable age difference. This was a sign of her level of gratitude. Through love we learn how to deal with people and how we can become better people within our individual relationships and as an entire society. : .. Naomi was essentially empty and devastated after she lost her husband and sons. These previews of Christ are a bit of a foreshadowing that falls across Old Testament pages, fully coming to reality in the New Testament with the birth of Jesus. Ruth was "of the women of Moab" but was genetically linked to Israel through Lot, the nephew of Abraham ( Ruth 1:4; Genesis 11:31; 19:37 ). Look out for a man who is willing to wait for you without pressure. On top of that, she was a widow, she was childless, and she lived with her mother-in-law. In this video, I share 6 practical lessons to learn from the book of Ruth, especially as it relates to Christian relationship. We all must understand the importance of being thankful and recognizing others that make a difference within our life especially within our relationships. More often than not, youll find that love mirrors our reality in many cases within biblical stories. But that was only until Boaz told him he would also have to marry Ruth as well. Tamar resorted to trickery to bear a son. The first lesson from the Book of Ruth is that there is always hope. Stressful. In the midst of any circumstances you face, in whatever relationships, we can trust God to bring good out of it. It is this famine that forces Elimelech to take his wife Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Chillion, to leave Bethlehem and live in Moab, a pagan community. She admitted that she felt that God had dealt with her bitterly. Ruth 2:4 The Right Relationship Between Masters and Servants; Ruth 2:5-7 Attention to the Stranger at the Gate; Ruth 2:5-7 Introduction to a Future Wife; There will be days where you completely mess things up and there will be other days when you succeed in every aspect. Sermon series: Building Lasting Relationships - Ruth. He asked them to allow some to fall purposely for her. It was all manual labor. Sometimes were afraid that sharing our questions and doubts and disappointments will turn other people away from God, when actually, sharing about our relationship with God openly can bring more intimacy to our relationships and help draw other people to their own faith. Samson's relationship with Delilah is a far cry from Ruth's relationship with Boaz. God doesnt not discriminate and wants His people to have the same viewpoints and understanding. 1. She lived a simple live in obscurity. There was another kinsman who had more right than Boaz to claim Ruth. 2: Ruth wins Boaz's admiration and protection. Rahab, the prostitute who escaped Jericho was Boazs mother. The story of Naomi in the Bible and lessons we can learn, The story of Rebekah in the Bible meaning, characteristics and lessons learned . Just ensure that like Ruth, you are showing up in faith and doing your work with excellence. Painful. She was allowed to take from the gathered ones also. We all must understand the importance of being thankful and recognizing others that make a difference within our life especially within our relationships. Bethlehem was where Jehovah was worshipped but Moab was a place where heathen, false gods were worshipped. . In that society, kinsmen had a duty to make sure that if a relative of theirs died without children, that relatives name would live on. Ruth is an interesting Biblical story because it contains no miracles or prophecies. The Living Church of God bases its beliefs on the Holy Bible, the inspired Word of God. She had married the son of an Israelite family while they were living in Moab, but at some point her father-in-law, her husband, and her husband's only brother died. 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. The characteristics of Ruth in the Bible also include her being a hard worker, and someone who takes care of those around her. Gentleman: if you want a relationship with a woman that glorifies God, read this. Its a popular saying: Im waiting for my Boaz. Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links which wont change your price. As you watch Ruth going to field to work daily and keep her integrity even Im poverty, does that describe you? Naomi was from Bethlehem and moved to Moab with her husband Elimelek and two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. Despite the pain, Naomi chooses to stand by her daughter-in-laws side and continue their relationship. Couples must balance each other and have a forgiving heart. It was an enemy nation, and Israelites tended to look down on the Moabites. Naomi was essentially empty and devastated after she lost her husband and sons. Ruth was willing to go harvest in the fields daily. We know that the other kinsman did not want to marry Ruth because he didnt want to divide his inheritance even further among his existing children. Instead, he waited for her to choose him. The story of Ruth and Naomi is one of the best-loved stories in the Bible. He immediately takes to her and starts to protect her. The characteristics of Ruth in the Bible makes for an exciting study! After they had lived there about . The odds of being taken into marriage were low because she was a stranger among the Hebrews. There are only two books of the Bible named after women: Esther and Ruth. Ruths story is one that exemplifies the reality that so many of us are thrown at every day death, love, heartache, falling into love and even compassion for others that share love. She declared that she was going with Naomi to Bethlehem, left her country and her family behind, and refused to let her past hold her back. Her name might have formed the core of the qualities she possessed. v 2 - Moab: located east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. Grief and sorrow do not trump love. Books to Keep You Company When Youre Walking Through Suffering, When All You Want for Christmas is a Baby, When Everything in the World Seems Wrong, Its Worth Keeping House, why God never calls us from something without calling us to something, When Christmas Leaves You Feeling Lost and Disappointed. I hear people say, Gods got Made with by India A place where world feel the words. Looking at the bigger picture of the Book of Ruth its evident now to see how the famine, Naomis relocation to Moab, the return to Bethlehem, Boazs blood line, and several other events had a hand in the overall plan for Ruths life. Ruth followed Naomi into the unknown. Ruth Chapter 4: Fruits of Freedom. No matter what, they see it all and because they are there each day its easy to get lost in that safety net. Elimelech had intended to go back home. The Book of Ruth provides many relationship lessons that perpetuate the meaning of true love. There is no clear answer to this question in Scripture. She was letting him know she was ready for the next stage. The love of a man and the love of a woman should always be considered as an equally powerful element. A man named Elimelech, from Bethlehem-Judah, left his hometown when a famine struck. He dies in Moab. This was the first romantic move he made. When were in a relationship, its relatively easy to subconsciously take advantage of your partner because they are with you each day. God bless! Naomi is the one who sets the tone for her relationship with daughter-in-law Ruth. The opportunity was there for her to glean. There was no king in Israel and leadership was dependent on the judges that God selected. Boaz didnt seem to have this concern. In case you have been frustrated and despondent with finding your Boaz, know that God is interested in giving you the companionship you desire. Everyone makes mistakes and no one should judge the other for their past actions as a man or woman. They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough. Both Naomi and Ruth experienced a great amount of grief, however both prevail Naomi loses her husband two sons. Later tragically, Naomis husband and two sons died. 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