And Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. (Matthew 1:5b-6a)
The third woman named in Matthew’s account of Jesus’ genealogy is Ruth from the country of Moab. The Moabites were descendents of Lot by an incestuous union between Lot and his oldest daughter. (Genesis 19:30-38) The Moabites had been enemies of Israel, often oppressing them and even capturing territory east of the Jordan River to Jericho before Ehud, the judge of Israel at that time, delivered Israel. (Judges 3:12-30)
The story of Ruth takes place during the time of the judges when a man from Bethlehem named Elimelech took his wife Naomi and his sons Mahlon and Chileon into Moab to sojourn during a time of famine in Israel . While in Moab both Mahlon and Chileon took Moabite wives, Orpah and Ruth.
During the course of time, Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chileon died and Naomi decided to return to her homeland. Both Orpah and Ruth initially accompanied to accompany her, but Naomi pleaded with them to return to their people. Scripture tells us Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
Once again, Naomi urged Ruth to return to her country. And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. (Ruth 1:15-16)
After returning to Israel, Ruth worked in the fields, gleaning after the reapers in order that she and Naomi might have food to eat. It was in the fields where she met Boaz, a relative of Elimelech, whom she eventually married and bore to him a son named Obed. Obed fathered Jesse and Jesse fathered David, the king of Israel.
Ruth was devoted to Naomi and she also acknowledged the God of Israel. She refused to turn back to her homeland and her family and to worship their gods. Although Ruth was not an Israelite, like Rahab before her, she found faith in the One True God. God rewarded her faith in that she became an ancestor of David and of the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Linking with Winsome Wednesday and Sister to Sister.
