Redemption story

If you have been attending Christ Community Church, you know that we’ve been in the Book of Ruth. Ruth is a beautiful story of how God can redeem even the most dismal circumstances to bring about redemption in His time.

 

If you’re not a part of our church family, let me give you a quick summary of the Book of Ruth. Ruth occurs at the time of the Judges, where there was no king and everyone did as they saw fit (Judges 21:25). The Book of Ruth introduces us to a family—Elimelech and Naomi, along with their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion.

 

Ruth begins revealing that there is a famine in Bethlehem. This famine causes Elimelech and his family to flee Bethlehem for Moab. Now let me stop right there. Bethlehem is in Israel, God’s promised land. And we don’t know why there is a famine. Perhaps It’s divine judgment, since the people of Israel had begun to live their own way. Or maybe the famine was simply a result of normal weather patterns. We don’t really know. But what we do know is that they left the safety and security of God’s promise and sought out safety and security outside God’s promise.

 

Okay, so we have to ask a question. Have you ever experienced a famine in your life? Not necessarily because of a lack of rain or food, but maybe a time in your life where you felt alone, discouraged, even depressed? A time when you were worried, anxious, or afraid about an upcoming situation? Did you felt you had to figure life out on your own? It’s very easy in these times of famine to live in fear.

 

It was fear that caused Elimelech and Naomi to take matters into her own hands, rather than trust God. They lived in Moab for about 10 years and while there Elimelech, Mahlon, and Kilion died. That left Naomi Ruth and Orpah—Mahlon and Kilion’s wives alone. Naomi heard that God was providing for the people of Bethlehem again, so she and Ruth trekked the 50 miles back to Bethlehem, and God worked so that Ruth would be in Boaz’s field.

 

Here’s the thing. The author of the book of Ruth uses a literary device to make us think that ending up in Boaz’s field was just coincidence. Was it coincidence. No. Now, are there coincidences in this life? I don’t know for sure. But what I do know for sure is that God is completely sovereign. God absolutely works behind the scenes of our circumstances to work for our good, if we love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We may not always like what is happening, or what God brings into our life. But God’s Word reminds us that we can rejoice in our sufferings (Romans 5:3-5) and count our trials as pure joy, so that we ultimately lack nothing (James 1:2-4).

 

Please let me ask you a question. Think about the things you are hoping and praying for in your life. Do you see how these things are bringing about the redemption story God is writing? We know the answer should be “yes”. But what do you do when you don’t see it in the moment?

 

That’s where Ruth is. She has chosen to trust God. She has put her faith in Him. She has left the cultural and religious ways of her people, the Moabites. She is now seeking to honor God in her life, but she still doesn’t know how God is going to work.

 

Maybe you are new in your faith. I am so glad for you! But trusting God can be really hard. And waiting on God may be the hardest thing you ever have to do. But in the middle of your waiting, God is writing. Even if you don’t like the chapter that you are in, or you don’t like the plotline, God is still writing. And the good news is that the end of your story is redemption! But what do you do while you are in the middle? What do you do when you don’t know what the end is going to look like? Keep following Jesus.

 

Back to the Book or Ruth. The Bible describes Boaz as a man of character and a kinsman-redeemer. Without going into a lot of detail, a kinsman-redeemer was a person, usually a relative, who was commanded by the law to redeem a widow. It was a legal way to keep property and family lines intact, due to short life expectancy and high infant mortality. Boaz was of the clan of a Elimelech, so he could be a kinsman- redeemer. Ruth in a way, proposed to Boaz, and they married, thereby redeeming her.

 

At the end of the Book, God allows Ruth become pregnant, and they give birth to a son named, Obed. What is so incredible about this is that Obed was actually Naomi’s kinsman-redeemer! Not for legal reasons set up in the law, but through the relationship of a grandmother and a grandson.

 

I am not a grandfather. At least not yet. And there was a time not long ago that I wasn’t really looking forward to being a grandpa. But it’s slowly growing on me. Maybe it’s because I have a daughter in a relationship headed towards marriage. And I am so excited for them and I’m looking forward to being “Papi”. Maybe you are a grandparent, and you’ve experienced the joy of grandkids. They do keep you young!

 

When Naomi lost her husband and sons, she became bitter. She said that she was full, but then she became empty because of her loss. When the Lord provided a grandson for her, the women around her blessed her and said, this child will renew you. The truth is, God often brings good things and good people into our life to restore what is lost and broken, to redeem what is empty and unfulfilled. This is how God redeems His people.

 

Maybe you are feeling bitter. The truth is, the things of this life and the circumstances which we have no control over, can make us bitter or better. So, what is it going to be in your life? We need to answer this question. Because ultimately, the book of Ruth ends up the ultimate Redemption Story. Ruth becomes the great grandmother of King David. And if you fast forward to the New Testament, Matthew includes the same lineage as Ruth but continues it past King David to Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:3-6, 16).

 

Here’s the bottom line. Jesus is our Redemption Story. He is our promised Messiah. And just as God redeemed His people and provided a king, God redeems His people by providing The King. No matter what you are going through, Jesus is your Redeemer, and He wants to redeem every broken part of your life. Now is the time to turn your life over to Him completely. We would love to walk with you through your redemption story and help you see God’s hand in your life.