Ep. 58 | RUTH | Story of the Gospel | Our Faithfulness Outlives Us

During the time of the Judges, when Israel continued to get entangled with sin and consequences because of it—we encounter the story of Ruth, the Moabitess who turns her heart to worship Yhwh. God blesses Naiomi and Ruth in big ways, but not in all the ways they could see in  their lifetime. How does their story encourage us for our own stories? Listen in and reflect.

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Bible Project Book of Judges and Book of Ruth

 Well Soul Resources

·       Is it okay to question God?

·       S.I.M.P.L.E. Guide to Inductive Bible Study.

·       4 Simple ideas to read Scripture when you don't have time.

·       1 Practice to walk closely with Jesus.

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Transcript

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Welcome to the Well Soul Podcast, where we pause to drink in Scripture, reflect, and pray. I am your host, Seana Scott, and sometimes life leaves our souls feeling parched, so come to the well of living water. That never runs dry.

In today's episode, we will continue the story of the gospel. If it is your first time listening, I encourage you to start at the beginning of the Story of the Gospel podcast episodes. Last week we meditated on God reiterating the importance of following him as the Israelites entered the promised land.

If they followed him, they would be blessed, but if they didn't, they would be cursed. Today we move forward the storyline of the gospel to explore the time of the judges in the land, and we will see that even when Israel is not faithful, God is.

Now, the Book of Judges shows us the Israelites did not do what God told them to do, clear the land of all Canaanite idol worshipers. So, Israel became entangled in all kinds of sin and needed God's deliverance from oppression over and over. 

Now the book of Ruth tells a story from the time of the judges. It's like a close up of one person's family with a purpose to highlight what God wants us to see. 

Elimelech and his wife Naomi left Israel because of a famine. and they go and live in the land of Moab, Israel's enemy, and they allow their sons to marry Moabite women, something the law of God told them not to do.

In time, the husband and their two sons died, and Naomi decided to return to Israel empty. But Ruth, Naomi's daughter-in-law, insisted on returning with Naomi. She said, “Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.” Remember, she is a Moabite from an idol worshipping Israel enemy nation, but her heart shows a change.

She desires to worship Yahweh, and it is through her changed heart that God will change her and Naomi's life. 

Fast forward, they enter the land of Israel and it just so happens that Ruth gleans from the field of a man named Boaz, who, “just so happens” to be in the family line that can redeem the line of Elimelech by providing an heir if he married Ruth.

But Boaz knows of a closer relative who can redeem this Moabite woman, and he goes to the elders of the land to talk to him. This is where we pick up the story today.

As you listen, notice the response of the other man when he hears that Ruth is a Moabite. 

Before I read, take a deep breath and pray for the Holy Spirit to speak to you through this story in God's word,

Come Holy Spirit, come.

Ruth 4:1-17

 Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer[a] he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, “Come over here, my friend, and sit down.” So he went over and sat down.

2 Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, “Sit here,” and they did so. 3 Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. 4 I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you[b] will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.”

“I will redeem it,” he said.

5 Then Boaz said, “On the day you buy the land from Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the[c] dead man’s widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.”

6 At this, the guardian-redeemer said, “Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.”

7 (Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.)

8 So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it yourself.” And he removed his sandal.

9 Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. 10 I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”

11 Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. 12 Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”

Naomi Gains a Son

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 will 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.

What did the Holy Spirit highlight for you as you listened? Dwell with this for a moment.

Ruth, the Moabite immigrant turned her heart to love Yahweh and do what was right—And Boaz who turned his heart to this foreigner to honor God and do what was right—They are in the line of David, the line of the Messiah.

We never know what God will do with our faithfulness, even if we don't see it in our lifetime.

Now take a moment to reflect and pray. Sit silently for 30 seconds, asking God to highlight anything from Scripture today that he wants you to meditate on. Then pray about this, or anything else the Spirit brings to mind. 

Let's pray. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, one and only true God, we worship you. Thank you, Lord, for the story of Ruth and Boaz in the middle of the story of Israel that teaches us to do what is right, honors you. And we can't even fathom what you do with our faithfulness for your glory. Help us, O Lord, to be faithful, no matter what.

In Jesus's name we pray, Amen.

Thank you for joining me today on the WellSoul podcast for our story of the gospel journey. I invite you to the WellSoul community where you will receive refreshment and encouragement directly in your inbox every week. See the link in the show notes to join us. In closing, I remember my late friend, Brian Vasquez, who made this podcast possible.

God bless you, and I pray that you have a well soul.