Redeemed: When God Writes Your Love Story

The day had finally arrived. All the work and waiting is done. All the obstacles have been overcome, and now we celebrate. This is the day that Boaz and Ruth marry. Redemption has come for Ruth and Naomi and joy has replaced sorry.

The story of Ruth opens with darkness, loss and despair, but even at the lowest point there was a glimmer of hope. Ruth desire to pursue Naomi’s God, the God of Israel, and to serve Naomi brought hope in the midst of loss.

We have learned from Ruth’s story that life is hard and things don’t work out the way we expected. We learn that character and godliness is displayed brightly through suffering. We see that when life seems out of control, God is working in the background for those who are faithful to Him.

Ruth was faithful. She was willing to wait on God and trust Him for all her needs. She was willing to risk everything for a greater hope. And God rewarded her.

Boaz was brought up in Bethlehem. He knew what the social and religious expectations of the day were and he faithfully walked in them. He managed what God had given him and his lands produced bountiful harvests that allowed him to employ many and care for the poor. Yet he had no wife.

He did everything he was supposed to do. He could have allowed his lack of relationship to disrupt his joy and bring anger and bitterness against God, but he didn’t. He faithfully served God and his community. Even as he began to age, he still kept a humble and compassionate attitude.

That’s when he saw her, Ruth the Moabitess. It was love at first sight, but he knew little about her. After observing her character and her faith, he desired her to be his wife. In a very untraditional way, to his joy and excitement, she proposed to him. Only one problem, there was a redeemer closer then him.

Boaz knew his responsibility and duty as a man of God was to confront the relative. He risked his relationship to honor God, and God honored him! The relative refused and allowed Boaz to take Ruth as his wife.

What joy this day brings! When all the questions and uncertainties begin to dissipate in the joy of seeing God’s faithfulness to His children. They celebrated, the loved and they married.

God’s redeeming love brought Boaz and Ruth together and He granted them a son, Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, who had 8 sons, the youngest was a shepherd boy named David. This was King David, the great great grandfather of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Boaz and Ruth could never have imagined that their life circumstances would bring them together and that through their line the Messiah would come. We can never know what our faithfulness to God will bring about. What we do know is that God is working behind the scenes to create a story that is beautiful and for our good.

Our job is to trust God, to be faithful to Him, to honor His commands and wait patiently on Him. That we obey Him in our singleness, in our dating relationships and in our marriages. Don’t think for a minute that if you disobey God before marriage, that you will suddenly obey God in marriage. Every day you are establishing a pattern for your life. Be like Ruth and Boaz, choose faithful obedience, find your satisfaction in God and watch as He begins to work the impossible in your life.