Ruth 4:13-17
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and 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 kinsman-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, laid him in her lap 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.

Ruth, though she was a gentile, she decided to throw away her ancestral family and relationships so that she would be faithful to the God of Israel and her late husband’s family. God blessed her and made her to be a part of the geneology of Jesus. There are many characters we come across in this chapter, from whom we can learn many things.

Elimelech, Mahlon, Kilion (Ruth1:1-5) : When there was a famine in God’s land, Elimelech ran away to a greener pasture with his wife and children - couldn’t wait for God to act. They settled there, sons got married, yet unfortunately all the men died. Do we run away too, when we see greener pastures other than discipleship?

Naomi : She lost her basic needs as a woman - love and security. When their life turned out to be bitter, she told her daughter-in-laws to return to their fathers’ house, he herself was intenting to do that. Her faith in God was stable.

Orpah : Both the girls had the same choice to make. Yet when it comes to the matter of a safe future, Orpah turned away. When future chances looks grim, what kind choices would we make?

Ruth : She got familiar with the God of her husband’s family, whom she knew nothing about. She decided to be faithful to Him. Throughout the book we see her as a sincere person, who would discuss everything with her mother-in-law and faithfully obey all her instructions. Do you think are these the qualities a disciple of Jesus should acquire?

When she chose to be what is right and do what is right, God did what is right with her too. God chose her to be a great great grand mother of our Savior.

First kinsman redeemer : What did he lost when he said no to redeem Ruth and her husband’s name, because he thought it would not be profitable for him? He was taken away from the geneology of Jesus. Bible does not even mention his name.

Do we escape or turn down our spiritual responsibilities when there is no one to acknowledge and appreciate?

Boaz : From where he got such a sense of responsibility? (See Matthew 1:5) Surely from his parents. It was not an honorable thing in the society for Salmon to marry Rahab. But when he chose to do what is right, his son also decided to choose what is right.

When it came to the matter of choosing for the sake of God’s kingdom, Salmon & Rahab and Boaz & Ruth chose to do what is honorable before God and God in turn made their lives beautiful. Let us remember that we are also chosen to be part of the geneology of a generation which belong to God and his Kindom.

Prayer idea

Thank God for the great qualities of the disciples we know. Share to them also.