The book of Ruth is a story about the second chance.
Naomi and her husband and two sons moved to Moab during a famine in Israel. After her husband died, her two sons married. After her sons died, Naomi decided to return home to Bethlehem with her two daughters-in-law. Naomi’s two daughters-in-law made different choices. Orpah kissed her mother in-law and went back to her people and gods, but Ruth clung to her and followed her and the true God. Ruth left her homeland, her family, and her false gods to follow Naomi and the true God Yahweh, come what may, no matter the cost. No turning back!
When things get tough, do we kiss and run, or cling to God and never let go? Follow Jesus, not to get stuff or blessings, but because He is worthy.
Naomi’s life had started with blessing and promise; but life happened. When Naomi (meaning pleasant) returned to Bethlehem, the people did not even recognize her; she looked anything but pleasant. Naomi was empty, and blamed God for the calamity in her life, even to the point of changing her name! She said, “Call me Mara” (which means God has made my life bitter). She was shattered, broken, and bitter. She had hit rock bottom, lost her identity.
We can get bitter or better through our trials. We can walk away from God or cling tighter to Him, trusting that none of our suffering will be wasted. His promise is that He will never leave us or forsake us. He will be with us in the deepest darkest valley.
You don’t try Christianity; you experience Jesus. He is where hope is found.
God was working behind the scenes for Naomi and Ruth—in their suffering, for their ultimate good, and for His glory. Boaz was a kinsman redeemer for Ruth. A kinsman redeemer is a blood relative who helps a weaker relative in need or danger. The kinsman avenges, delivers, rescues, and redeems. The kinsman redeemer laws were designed to protect vulnerable family members and their inheritance, primarily in three main areas: property redemption, redemption from slavery, and redemption in marriage.
Jesus is our kinsman redeemer. We, like Ruth and Naomi, are desperate, lost, broken, and separated from God because of our sin. We need another to step in, but not just anyone. It must be one who is perfect, who is without sin, and willing to pay the price. There is only one such Person, only one Way!
Acts 4:12: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (John 14:6).
When Ruth married Boaz, everything changed—for Ruth and for Naomi. Ruth now had a husband to provide all her needs and protect her, and Naomi had plenty of reason to rejoice. A son, Obed, was born to Ruth to carry on Naomi’s family line. Obed was the grandfather of David, and David was the forefather of Jesus, our Kinsman Redeemer!
A redeemed life is a changed life! People in the town praised God for providing a Redeemer for Naomi, and God turned Naomi’s ashes into beauty. He is a God that makes all things new, a God of the second chance.
Old Testament believers looked forward to the Messiah; we look backward. All are saved the same way—through repentance and faith in our Redeemer—Jesus. He became like us to become our kinsman. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). “In him we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7).