This month our Sunday school lessons are from the book of Ruth. It is a familiar story. Elimelech and Naomi left their home in Bethlehem with their two sons because there was a famine and moved to Moab where conditions were better. During the ten years the family lived in Moab, the sons married Moabite girls named Orpha and Ruth. Both sons and their father died, leaving three widows. Naomi decided to go back home to Bethlehem. She urged her daughters-in-law to go back to their families and marry again among their people.
Orpha accepted Naomi's advice, walked away and was never heard of again. But Ruth was committed to staying with Naomi. Although spoken from one woman to another, we used Ruth's words for our wedding text. "And Ruth said [to Naomi], Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."
Ruth went to Bethlehem with Naomi where she had friends and relatives. Ruth worked hard to provide food for Naomi. In the process she met a wealthy land owner named Boaz who was a relative of Naomi's deceased husband. Before long, Boaz and Ruth were married and had a son named Obed.
One of the questions that was asked in our class last Sunday was when this story took place. No one had an answer.
Follow the clues.
1. In Joshua 2, Rahab hid some spies who scoped out the land before the Israelites crossed the Jordan River. In exchange for her help, the spies promised to spare her life when the Israelites conquered Jericho. They kept their promise, and Joshua 6 tells us Rahab lived in Israel "to this day" (the rest of her life).
2. The genealogy in Matthew 1 tells us Rahab married Salmon and had a son Boaz. Recognize that name?
3. Joshua died at the age of 110. He led Israel approximately 50 years. Rahab survived the fall of Jericho and obviously gave birth to Boaz before fifty years had passed. Therefore, Boaz was born during Joshua's lifetime.
4. The book of Judges covers a period of about 350 years from the death of Joshua to Saul, the first king. Boaz was a wealthy distinguished gentleman and considerably older than Ruth when they married. However, the events in the book of Ruth can be placed early in the 350 years of the judges.
Some important truths are hidden in the story of Ruth. The genealogy of Matthew 1 traces many generations of fathers and sons. Two women, Rahab and Ruth, are mentioned. Both were gentiles who embraced the God of Israel and were accepted by Him. God chose to bring the Messiah into the world through the Jewish people, but His plan of salvation always was intended to be for all people. Gentiles were included in the plan from the beginning and two gentile women played a part in bringing the Messiah into the world.
Boaz and Ruth had a son Obed. He had a son Jesse who had a son David that became a great king of Israel. God promised David he would always have a descendant to sit on the throne. This was fulfilled in Jesus who was born in David's hometown of Bethlehem and is now king of kings in an eternal kingdom.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever" (Isaiah 9:6-7).
