Some thoughts from the book of Ruth. Just as Ruth was a Gentile outside of the covenant of the promise so were we. As it says in Ephesians 2:12 – at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
Yet Ruth was included in Israel and we even see her in Jesus family tree at the beginning of Matthew. As Boaz figuratively spread his garment over her, so Jesus by his blood brings us to himself.
Just as Ruth put her faith in Yahweh, the God of Israel and lived a humble and sacrificial life as a result; we also must put our faith in God and in Jesus – who died our death. Eph. 2:8.. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith...”
Boaz who showed such grace and love to a widow and an outcast points us to Jesus who is the Great Redeemer. He paid the bride price not with money but by shedding his own blood. Jew and Gentile find forgiveness in Him and are reconciled to God.
Eph. 2:14-18 “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”
