The end of Ruth’s story shows God’s care and faithfulness, and points towards God’s coming redemption through Jesus, who descended from Ruth and Boaz.
Ruth- Ruth 4:13-22
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He wi(( renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
18 This, then, is the family line of Perez:
Perez was the father of Hezron, 19 Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab,
20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,
21 Salmon the father of Boaz, Boaz the father of Obed,
22 Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David.
Ruth’s is a beautiful story. The book of Ruth, in four short chapters, tells a powerful story of loss, grief, loyalty, faithfulness, kindness, redemption and love. Ruth’s story, as we know it, ends here-with the birth of her little boy, Obed. A beautifully happy ending for Ruth and Boaz, and for Naomi, who had tragically lost her husband and both sons, but enjoyed the kindness of God in having a loyal and loving daughter-in-law (“better than seven sons” is high praise!), and now, this little son – giving her a family again. God’s care and kindness towards his people who hurt and grieve, shines, bright and warm, in the ending of this book. As God treats the women in this little family, so does he treat us – with kindness, care and costly redemption.
But why does such a stunning story, with such a powerful and positive ending, finish with a genealogy? It can be tempting to ignore, or skim over, it! But these family histories are more significant than they might first appear. This genealogy starts with Perez – a son of Judah, and follows down to Boaz and Obed, Ruth’s husband and son. Then, only two generations later, we discover that from this little family comes David – the king of Israel, and the king after God’s own heart. The king who would point to the infinitely greater King to come, who would bring redemption for his people, in David’s own line: King Jesus.
The story of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, and their little son, Obed, encourages us in many ways as we read of God’s redemption, care and faithfulness towards his people in their ordinary lives. And yet, we are also powerfully pointed over the horizon of their lives towards the little boy still to come. It reminds us that God remains faithful to his promises to send a Messiah, a Saviour of his people. Jesus, descended from Obed, is the hope of ordinary people like us, despite the brokenness of our lives and reminds us, through the cross, that God has not left us without a redeemer.
Head: Meditate today on the wonder of being redeemed, bought back at a great price, by Jesus Christ, God’s promised one. Read/memorise Ephesians 1:7.
Heart: How can God’s unerring and unchanging faithfulness, shown in Jesus, calm and still your heart today, through its joys, sorrows and anxieties?
Hands: Naomi’s friends actively praised God, reminding her of his goodness to her (verse 14). How can you remind your brothers and sisters of God’s goodness today, stirring one another up to praise, worship and gratitude in Christ?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, how great is your faithfulness! Thank you for your faithfulness to your promises throughout history, and for sending Jesus to redeem and save me through the cross, and to make me your child. By your Spirit, lift my eyes to Jesus today; to trust your timing and purposes, and to praise you with a(( my heart today. Amen.
A song to listen to: See the Man https://open.spotify.com/track/4tgRkPJmVlB00YmJjyPRIT
Bloss Wilson
This Grow Daily was originally posted as part of the God With Us – Matthew series. During the School Holidays we take the opportunity to look back at the Grow Dailys over the years.
