Encore Post: In ancient times, a widow was on her own. She had no means of supporting herself or her family. If she was fortunate enough to have adult sons, they would care for her. If she did not, she was completely at the mercy of her relatives. Most ancient societies put great importance on descendants to inherit the family name and fortunes. To be a widow without sons meant the family line would die with her.
God’s laws for Israel provided for that. It required a man’s brother to marry his widow. The children born of that marriage would be the deceased legal heirs and inherit all his property. This duty was a disadvantage to the brother. If he declined to perform it, the nearest relative would take his place.
Naomi and Ruth were in an especially tough spot. They were both widowed and Ruth childless. They lived in a foreign land where no family lived to help them. Ruth so loved and honored her mother-in-law that she would not hear of abandoning her. In addition, she believed in the God of Israel. So they returned to Naomi’s home — Bethlehem.
God had also not forsaken the two women. He protected them and led them home, where Naomi’s relatives looked after them. She helped Ruth understand the culture of Israel, which helped them to find food to eat in gleaning in the fields of Boaz, the relative of Naomi’s husband. Even though Ruth was a gentile, Bethlehem received her as a member of his family. Boaz shows the true, selfless character of a redeemer — one who would establish a line for his relative by marrying Ruth and having a child with her, buying back all the property of Naomi and Ruth’s husbands and preserving it for their descendents.
But, as usual, God had bigger plans for his daughters. It was through their descendents that his Son would be born. The son of Ruth and Boaz was Obed, father of Jesse, father of King David. Through them, the redeemer of all would be born. When Matthew selected generations to mention in the genealogy of Jesus, he did not fail to mention Ruth, one of very few women on the list. God had redeemed her and through her has redeemed the whole world.
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Pastor Emeritus
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Thank you so much for this ! I am beyond bless to have read this. God bless you always Professor Smith!