Lesson Three • Redemption of the Family
Devotion #5: He Will Not Rest
John Stone
“For the man will not rest until he has settled it today.” Ruth 3:18 (NASB)
As I read the story of Ruth I cannot help but be amazed by the profound depth of God’s mercy and kindness as He redeems sinners. The book of Ruth is not just a story of redemption, but it is an incredible foreshadowing of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Many of the details that paint the desperate picture of this family, both physical and spiritual, can be overlooked as we optimistically gravitate to the love story. We can miss the powerful hand of God moving through these broken situations as He sees His eternal purposes realized.
The story begins with a severe famine in Israel. This is not an uncommon occurrence in the rebellious history of God’s people. The Lord uses it repeatedly throughout the Old Testament narrative to remind the Israelites of their sinfulness and to turn their hearts back to Himself (1 Kings 8:35-40). In this instance, the leader of the family, Elimelech, does not turn toward God but instead leads his wife and sons away to Moab, an avowed enemy and oppressor of Israel whose people are steeped in idol worship including the sacrifice of their children to a false god. Against the commandment of the Lord, Elimelech assimilates his family into this evil culture and his two sons marry women of Moab, one of them Ruth. After ten years, the three men have died, leaving the widows to fend for themselves, but also, providentially, freeing them to escape to Israel.
God had been preparing Ruth’s heart through the teaching of Naomi and, when the moment came to make a decision to stay in Moab or pursue an unknown life in Israel, she was already convinced. We know the rest of the story. Ruth stays faithful and finds favor with Boaz who redeems and marries her thereby preserving the family bloodline through which King David and eventually, the King of kings, Jesus Christ, would come.
The story of Ruth is the story of us all. The Bible says we were enemies of God, desperately lost in our sin (Romans 5:8); foreigners in a land that sacrifices its children on the altar of self. However, God did not rest. He made a way for you and me to be saved through the blood of Jesus Christ and welcomed us into His family (Colossians 1:13-23). That is an incredible story of redemption! Today, stop and consider your former life before God rescued you. Thank Him for His mercy and love and then go out and share that love with others.