Israel is in chaos, and so is Naomi’s family, and seemingly God’s redemptive plan! Through a confusing set of crises, Naomi’s family dies, including Ruth’s husband, and they’re left in deep need. Ironically, they were in this situation trying to fulfill a need, only to have it stripped further away. We too can end up in this type of situation for one of two reasons. At times, we’re trying to fulfill felt needs over trusting God, specifically in provision and in relationships. This is what happened with Naomi. At other times we’re stuck in an unfortunate struggle, having to ask ourselves, “Do I trust God, or the situation before me?” Ruth is introduced here as the hero that will bring order to the chaos in everyone’s life. In this, she models Christ, the true rock in the midst of stormy seas.

Everyone is dead, Ruth is “free” from her covenant, and yet she chooses to go back to Israel, a land she’s never known, with a woman who is so hostile she’s renamed herself “bitter!” Ruth is wildly loyal, because of her clear belief in the One True God, but also because of her commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi. She’s faithful in her widowhood… in her singleness. We too can choose to let other people or situations dictate our responses and reactions (like Naomi did), or we could choose to remain faithful to our God, and faithful to His people, despite the situations at hand.

Ruth meets Boaz, and the love story begins. Boaz is a wildly faithful single man, and Ruth is a wildly faithful single woman. Neither of them settled, both of them reconciled their singleness to honor God, the best they could in their seasons. How can we make the most of our seasons? Whether single, dating, married, rich, poor… there’s a right way to honor God.

The story takes an awkward turn, as Naomi suggests Ruth does something that may be a little… ungodly? Explicit? Aggressive? Whatever happened, we see clearly the godliness of both Ruth and Boaz. Neither taking advantage of each other, but both honoring each other, and handling the situation at hand appropriately. We too will be put in tough situations, relationally, and in our seasons of life, where choosing sin may seem like the easier things to do. It may even seem unnecessary to follow God. However, God will honor our faithfulness, and we’ll be able to move more freely, with a clear conscious, when we follow Him instead of other voices (culture, “friends,” self) in our life.

In this sermon we see that all relational situations and felt needs are restored under the sovereign hand of God. Boaz & Ruth are married, Naomi has her child, and a place back in society, and even Israel is entering into a time where they will have a Prophet, and soon to be King over them. Restoration has fully taken place, because of Ruth’s trust, and God’s sovereign hand.

Ruth was an ancestor of Jesus, though a “Gentile” Moabite. In fact, Jesus’ lineage is an interesting one. Several women are named, as well as several gentiles, and people in less than moral situations. Jesus literally entered into the mess of humanity through a messy, broken line, with people we may have never expected. Like our friend, Ruth. This should cause us to worship God! He will enter into with the least, lost, and lonely. With the broken, and downcast. He will come to, and through the Gentiles, the women, the left-out in society. Jesus is accessible to all, and wants to bring His light, and His love to everyone, and this is proven by something as small as his genealogy, and coming into the world.