Jesus In Ruth: Conquering Sexual Sin
Jesus is revealed in the Book of Ruth as the kinsman redeemer. In simple terms this means a person is redeemed or vindicated by somebody who is a relative
As Christians, God doesn’t hire us to work for him. He adopts us into his family and fathers us like a loving & protective father should.
Ruth 1:1-2 In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. 2 The man's name was Elimelech, his wife's name Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. NIV
We meet Ruth in Moab. She is not a descendent of Abraham. Rather she is a descendent of Abraham’s nephew, Lot. Moab was born from sexual sin as Lot and his two daughters left Sodom and Gomorrah going into the hills. His daughters, concerned they would never marry or bare children, got their father drunk and had sex with him. Two sons resulted and their names were Moab and Ammon. Ruth was a descendant of Moab.
Interestingly Moab is the place where Naomi lost her husband and both sons. Sexual sin is a terrible place where husbands, fathers and sons are lost. Ultimately God would redeem the situation including Ruth in the lineage of the Messiah. Ruth was redeemed by Boaz and through them would come King David.
Going Deeper
After Elimelech, Mahlon and Killion all died Naomi tried to leave Ruth and Orphah there so she could return to Bethlehem hoping for mercy.
Ruth 1:14-16 At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth clung to her. 15 "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her." 16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. NIV
Orpah didn’t stay with Naomi but Ruth clung to her! Some people only stay with you as long as it benefits them to be with you. Other people understand you are part of their life assignment and remain with you through all of the adversity! Ruth clung to Naomi and they hoped together for a better future.
Don’t stop serving in seasons of sadness. Ps 126:5 “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.” Mary Anne Radmacher said, “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I'll try again tomorrow."
Ruth 1:20-21 "Don't call me Naomi, " she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. 21 I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." NIV
Naomi’s pain was legitimate. However, even if the pain is legitimate that doesn’t mean you have to allow it to hold you hostage for the rest of your life. Life is not about what happens to you. Life is about what happens in you when things happen to you.
When we focus on the pain we’re prone to miss the point.
There is still a lot of life to live! Let it go and live again! God’s promise for your life is bigger than the pain you may be facing right now. Sometimes your best ministry is on the other side of your worst tragedy.
GP4RL: Every day turn the page. Journal dates at the top of your Bible as you read it through.