A Devotion on Ruth 3
The devotion reflects on Ruth 3, emphasizing God’s redeeming grace as exemplified through Ruth and Boaz’s relationship. It illustrates how Boaz, as a kinsman-redeemer, demonstrates Christ-like qualities, accepting Ruth despite societal barriers. This narrative highlights that God’s grace transcends boundaries, inviting all into His family through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and love.
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the wonderful love shown in the story of Ruth and Boaz. Open our hearts and minds to Your Word today. Help us recognize and appreciate the beauty of Your grace, the faithfulness of Your divine plan, and the truth that Jesus is our Redeemer and Saviour. May Your Holy Spirit help us deepen our understanding and relationship with You, revealing the lessons from this timeless story. Help us to internalize these truths so that we can reflect Your love and grace in our own lives. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Ruth 3:1–3 (NIV)
“One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, ‘My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for. Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.’”
Context and Setting:
Ruth 3 took place in ancient Israel, during the time of the Judges. Ruth, a Moabite widow, had shown extraordinary loyalty to her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi. The cultural backdrop involved the practice of Levirate marriage, a provision found in Leviticus 25:25 and Deuteronomy 25:5-10. This law allowed a close relative (a kinsman-redeemer) to marry a widow to preserve the family name and inheritance.
Naomi recognized that Boaz was one such relative, a man who could legally and lovingly redeem their family line. She sent Ruth to the threshing floor in a bold but respectful act of seeking redemption.
Devotion
In this meaningful moment, Naomi told Ruth to approach Boaz, not in a seductive manner, but as a woman ready for marriage according to God’s covenant law. Ruth listened intently, placing her trust in Naomi and ultimately resting in God’s providence.
This narrative transcends mere romance. It is a powerful illustration of grace. Boaz showed Christ-like qualities through his compassion and desire to redeem Ruth, despite social and ethnic barriers. As a Moabite, an outsider from a nation historically at odds with Israel (Deuteronomy 23:3), Ruth could have easily been rejected. Yet Boaz not only accepted her but also redeemed her.
This was the remarkable grace of God: Ruth’s name is included in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). Her presence in this lineage shows that God’s redemption transcends bloodlines, nationality, and personal merit, and is based on grace and covenant love.
Boaz was a type of Christ. He was under no obligation to redeem Ruth, but he made that choice at a profound personal cost,
Similarly, Jesus is our Kinsmen redeemer. He died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin to purchase eternal life for us. He rescued us from sin, invited us into His family, and secured our inheritance. At one time, we were like Ruth, strangers in a foreign land. Now, through Christ, we are brought close into the family og God.
Story Illustration:
Joy is a strong woman who bravely decided to move to a new country, leaving behind everything she knew and loved in search of a better life. She encountered many challenges in her transition, struggling to find acceptance, secure a job, and create stability in her new environment. A kind local family supported her, helping her adjust to her new surroundings and become part of the community. Their warmth and openness remind me of Boaz’s kindness to Ruth and the unconditional love Christ offers us all.
Contemporary Application:
Do you ever feel like an outsider, someone who is unworthy of receiving God’s love and grace? Ruth certainly felt that way at times. However, her story serves as a powerful reminder that God’s grace transcends all boundaries and limitations that we might perceive. God often doesn’t choose the most qualified people; instead, He qualifies those He chooses. Christ, our Redeemer, showed ultimate love by taking our place and restoring our dignity and identity. Like Ruth, we should approach Christ cleansed by His grace, dressed in His righteousness, and with firm trust in His redeeming love. Therefore, let your identity be molded by who you are in Christ rather than by where you came from. In Jesus, you are transformed from being an outsider into a beloved member of His family.
Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being our true Kinsman-Redeemer, the one who steps into our lives with compassion and purpose. Thank you for healing our wounds and welcoming us into Your loving family. We thank You for Your amazing grace that overlooks our past mistakes and gives us a hopeful and transformative future. Help us live daily in Your unwavering love and joy from our redemption, so we can reflect Your light to those around us. In Your holy and powerful name, Amen.
