Ruth 4:1-22

1. I have been living in Canada since 2009. I came to Canada to learn English because I wanted to prepare for missionary work. After two years of studying, I started my Master's degree in Toronto. When my wife and I first arrived in Calgary, everything was okay because Alberta gave health cards to international students. The Alberta Health System helped us pay for medical care, so we could have our daughter born there without problems. But things became difficult when we moved to Toronto. Ontario didn't give health insurance to international students, so we couldn't get help from the Ontario Health system except my daughter. Because of this problem, I couldn't go to the hospital for four years, even when I felt something was wrong with my eyes. When we moved to Saskatchewan, I learned that I had glaucoma in 2017. Life was hard for us as foreigners until 2019. Sometimes people treated me badly because of my English and how I looked. But I didn't worry about it because this happens when we live in a different country. These problems couldn't change who I am in Christ or stop me from working for God.

2. We can find a story about a weak and foreign woman who was saved by God and became part of His plan to save people. Through Ruth's story, we can learn about how God works to save people.

Ruth 4:9–11 NASB 2020

Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. Furthermore, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be eliminated from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.” And all the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.

Ruth 4:12–14 NASB 2020

Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the descendants whom the Lord will give you by this young woman.” So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.

Ruth 4:15–17 NASB 2020

May he also be to you one who restores life and sustains your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. And the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.

Ruth 4:18–22 NASB 2020

Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, and Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, and Nahshon fathered Salmon, and Salmon fathered Boaz, and Boaz fathered Obed, and Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

3. This is a summary of the Book of Ruth. The Book of Ruth tells the story of three important people: Naomi, a woman whose husband died and who lived in Bethlehem; Ruth, her daughter-in-law from the country of Moab; and Boaz, a rich farmer from Bethlehem. This story happened during the time of the Judges, which was a dark and difficult period in Israel's history. Even though it is a short book, it shows us how God uses regular people who are faithful to Him to carry out His plan to save people. Ruth was a foreign woman whose husband had died, but she showed amazing loyalty to her mother-in-law Naomi. Because of her faithfulness, she became part of the family line that led to King David and later to Jesus Christ. The story shows us how God can take sad situations and turn them into something good when people trust Him and do what is right. Ruth's story also teaches us that God's plan to save people includes everyone, not just people from one country or group. 

4. Throughout history, many cultures around the world created special traditions to keep their families and tribes going. Korean society during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) had interesting ways to make sure families continued when they had no children. If a family didn't have a son to carry on the family name, they would adopt a boy from their relatives or clan members. This was very important in Korean culture because families needed sons to continue their bloodline. This idea is similar to how the Israeli Goel system used special marriages to keep family lines alive.

5. Sometimes in the past, when a husband died without having children, his family would quietly encourage his wife to marry another man, even someone from outside the family, just to make sure the family line continued. This shows how important it was to have children to carry on the family name, which is similar in spirit to the special marriages we see in the Bible. The Roman Empire also had ways to keep their ruling families strong. Rich Roman families often adopted children to be their heirs, and this was a normal part of their society. Romans would adopt not just their nephews or relatives, but sometimes even people who weren't related to them at all if they thought these people would be good successors. This system was very important for keeping the empire stable, especially since even the famous Emperor Augustus became part of the Caesar family through adoption. 

6. There is a redeeming system in the ancient Israel. The Goel (Hebrew word meaning "redeemer" or "kinsman-redeemer") was one of the most important family traditions in ancient Israel. The Goel was the closest male relative who had special duties to help and protect family members who were in trouble.

7. The Goel had four main jobs. First, he bought back family property that relatives had to sell because they were poor, keeping the land in the family. Second, he could buy back family members who had to sell themselves as slaves to pay their debts. Third, he served as the "avenger of blood" - seeking justice when a family member was murdered, though this was carefully controlled by law with special cities of refuge for accidental killings. Fourth, he could marry his relative's widow to have children and continue the family name, as shown in the beautiful story of Ruth and Boaz.

8. This system helped keep families strong and made sure no one was left alone without help. It showed how much ancient Israelites valued taking care of each other. The Goel tradition also points to God as the ultimate redeemer who saves His people, and Christians see Jesus Christ as the perfect kinsman-redeemer who saves all people from sin. The Goel system was not just about following rules - it was about love, loyalty, and making sure everyone in the family was protected and cared for. 

Leviticus 25:47–49 NLT

“Suppose a foreigner or temporary resident becomes rich while living among you. If any of your fellow Israelites fall into poverty and are forced to sell themselves to such a foreigner or to a member of his family, they still retain the right to be bought back, even after they have been purchased. They may be bought back by a brother, an uncle, or a cousin. In fact, anyone from the extended family may buy them back. They may also redeem themselves if they have prospered.

9. Leviticus 25:48-49 shows us the order of family members who could be a Goel: first the brother, then the uncle, then the uncle's son, and finally any other close family member. But when we read Ruth's story, something seems unusual about this tradition. Normally, Israelite families did not want their children to marry foreigners, especially people from Moab. Israelite parents usually wanted their children to marry other Israelites to keep their religion and culture pure. The law warned that foreign wives might lead Israelite men away from God.

Deuteronomy 7:3–4 NIV

Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you.

10. The Law of Moses, in Deuteronomy 7:3-4, told the Israelites not to marry people from other nations because it could lead them to worship false gods. But Boaz married Ruth, a woman from Moab, and God used their marriage to carry out His plan to save people. This makes us ask: Did Boaz and God break the Law? Did God go against His promises? Through this story, we can see God's plan is bigger than just one nation. Ruth's story shows that anyone who truly believes in God can be part of His family. By making Ruth the great-grandmother of King David and part of Jesus' family line, God showed that His salvation is for the whole world, not just Israel. Boaz and God did not break the Law—they showed its true meaning: faith in God is what matters most.

Ruth 1:1–2 ESV

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.

Ruth 1:5 ESV

and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

Ruth 1:11 ESV

But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?

Ruth 1:16–18 ESV

But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

11. Even though Ruth was from Moab, she chose to follow Naomi and Naomi’s God. Ruth used God’s personal name, YHWH (LORD), in her promise, which shows that she already believed in Jehovah, likely because of Naomi’s influence. Ruth’s decision to leave her old gods and follow the God of Israel was an act of faith and trust. Her story teaches us how God works to save people. He does this through His promises and plans, but He also allows people to respond to His salvation. Ruth showed her response by staying loyal to Naomi and trusting in God with her faith. Now, we can see Boaz’s react. 

Ruth 2:11–13 NASB 2020

Boaz replied to her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. May the Lord reward your work, and may your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Then she said, “I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not like one of your female servants.”

Ruth 3:10–13 NASB 2020

Then he said, “May you be blessed of the Lord, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first, by not going after young men, whether poor or rich. So now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you say, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence. But now, although it is true that I am a redeemer, yet there is also a redeemer more closely related than I. Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the Lord lives. Lie down until morning.”

12. When Boaz learned about Ruth’s and Naomi’s difficult situation, he did not ignore it. Instead, he showed kindness and gentleness. Boaz wanted to help them because they were vulnerable and needed support to survive. He made sure Ruth could work safely in his fields and provided her with protection and food. Boaz treated Ruth with respect, even though she was a Moabite, a foreigner. He did not focus on her ethnicity but on her faith, her loyalty to Naomi, and her virtuous character. Eventually, Boaz chose to become their redeemer (Goel), fulfilling his duty with love and care. His actions reflected God’s kindness and showed how faith and loyalty are more important than background.

Ruth 4:9–10 NASB 2020

Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. Furthermore, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be eliminated from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.”

Ruth 4:11–13 NASB 2020

And all the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem. Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the descendants whom the Lord will give you by this young woman.” So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.

13. The story of Ruth is not just a love story; it is a story about God’s redeeming plan. It teaches us how God works to save people and how we can respond to His saving work. Since I started my ministry at our church in 2023, I noticed many children living near the church. I also learned that our church had stopped hosting Vacation Bible School (VBS) at some point. I felt that God was calling me to respond to His saving plan for these children. So, I began discussing the idea of restarting VBS with the church elders. Now, three years later, we are about to begin our third VBS since 2023, starting this Tuesday.

14. Since I moved to Saskatchewan in 2015, I noticed that there are many First Nations people living here. I also realized that many of them do not know the gospel well for various reasons. I could not ignore this, so I started getting involved in outreach to the First Nations. This year, Calgary Korean Church will visit the Key First Nation, and our church will join them starting on August 5. None of this was my own idea. When God revealed His plan and heart, I simply responded to Him. I was able to do this because of the support from the churches in Pelly and Yorkton. When Pelly Church and our church accepted me as a pastor, they did not focus on my appearance or my status as a foreigner. Instead, like Boaz and Ruth, they all wanted to respond to God’s call and His invitation.

15. The story of Ruth and Boaz is not merely about obeying God's Law; it is about responding to God's invitation. God's salvation is not achieved by simply following the law but by living a life that reflects His ways. It is faith expressed through love. Just as love cannot be demonstrated by words alone, our love for God cannot be shown through words only. When we live according to God's Word, we truly express our love for Him. Therefore, let us continue to respond to God's Word and His invitation, just as Ruth and Boaz did. Do not hesitate to love your neighbors with God's love. Show yourselves as true disciples of Christ. Through our lives, God will be glorified. Let us strive to be like Ruth and Boaz this week as we serve the children participating in VBS and Day Camp.

Podcast: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/e7390c39-1d8f-499f-b826-8a26a5eb8061/audio

Quiz: Short-Answer Questions

Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

• What challenges did Frankie face as an international student in Canada, particularly regarding health insurance?

• How does the story of Ruth, as summarized in the source, exemplify God's broader plan of salvation?

• Explain the primary purpose of the Goel system in ancient Israel.

• In what ways did Korean and Roman societies demonstrate similar cultural values regarding family lineage as seen in the Goel system?

• What unusual aspect of the Ruth story challenges the typical Israelite law regarding intermarriage?

• How did Ruth demonstrate her faith and loyalty to Naomi and Naomi's God?

• Describe Boaz's initial response to Ruth's situation and how he treated her.

• Beyond being a love story, what is the central theological theme of the Book of Ruth according to the source?

• How has Frankie applied the lessons from the Book of Ruth to his current ministry initiatives?

• What is the ultimate message regarding God's salvation and our response, as highlighted by the author?

Answer Key

• Frankie experienced difficulties with health insurance in Ontario, unlike Alberta, which covered international students. This led him to be unable to seek medical care for four years, during which time he developed glaucoma.

• The story of Ruth illustrates God's plan of salvation by showing how He uses faithful, ordinary people, even foreigners, to advance His purposes. Ruth, a Moabitess, became part of the lineage of King David and ultimately Jesus Christ, demonstrating God's inclusive salvation.

• The Goel system in ancient Israel designated the closest male relative as a "redeemer" with duties to protect family members in distress. These duties included buying back lost property or enslaved relatives and continuing a deceased relative's family line through marriage.

• Korean society during the Joseon Dynasty would adopt sons from relatives to continue family names if there were no children, similar to the Israeli Goel system. The Roman Empire also adopted heirs, even non-relatives, to maintain ruling family stability, reflecting a shared value on lineage continuation.

• The unusual aspect is Boaz, an Israelite, marrying Ruth, a Moabitess, despite the Law of Moses warning against intermarriage with foreign nations. The source explains that God used this marriage to show His plan is bigger than one nation and that faith in God is paramount.

• Ruth demonstrated her faith and loyalty by refusing to leave Naomi, declaring "Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." She also used God's personal name, YHWH, in her promise, indicating her trust and belief in the God of Israel.

• Boaz responded to Ruth's and Naomi's difficult situation with kindness and gentleness, ensuring Ruth's safety and providing her with food and protection in his fields. He treated her with respect, focusing on her faith and virtuous character rather than her foreign background.

• The central theological theme of the Book of Ruth, according to the source, is God’s redeeming plan. It teaches how God works to save people and how individuals can respond to His saving work through faith, loyalty, and virtuous actions.

• Frankie has applied these lessons by restarting Vacation Bible School (VBS) for children near his church and engaging in outreach to First Nations people in Saskatchewan. He views these actions as responding to God's revealed plan and heart, much like Ruth and Boaz responded to God's invitation.

• The ultimate message is that God's salvation is achieved not merely by following the law, but by living a life that reflects His ways and expresses faith through love. It is about responding to God's invitation and demonstrating true discipleship by loving one's neighbours.