From Hurt to Hope #4
‘God’s Plan’

Ruth 4. This chapter concludes this beautiful love story with a surprise ending. Boaz and Ruth married and had a son. His name was Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Background: Land was important to Israel. In Leviticus 25, we learn that any land sold would go back to the original family during the Year of Jubilee. It could be redeemed or bought back before that by the previous owner or by a kinsman-redeemer (a near relative).
In Deuteronomy 25:5 the kinsman-redeemer must also marry the widow when the owner is deceased and their first son would carry on the family name. This is what Boaz did for Naomi & Ruth because of his great love for Ruth.

Ruth 4:13-17  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 woman living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
We learn three important things from the book of Ruth:

Point 1: God loves you with an unconditional love. Who would have thought that Ruth, who was a Moabite would become a part of the lineage of the Messiah? With God, all things are possible.
Point 2: God has a plan for you. God had a plan for Ruth and God has a plan for each of us.
Point 3: Set your eyes on God. Be careful of worldly distractions that would blind you to God’s purpose and plan for your life.