Amongst the books of the Bible, there are some which give believers cause to wonder why God included them in scripture. These books don't seem to contain the great truths contained in other parts of the Bible. At times, they can even seem as if they can impede our understanding of God's plans, purposes, and instructions for us.

The first such book that we encounter in the Bible is the book of Ruth. This book tells us the story of an impoverished Moabite widow, who comes to Israel with her mother-in-law, and ends up married. While the book has historical significance, in that she became the great-grandmother of King David, that alone doesn't seem like enough reason to include Ruth's story in scripture. Of all David's ancestors, why is the life of this Moabite woman important enough to occupy the space between Judges, and First Samuel?

We must always realize that God doesn't make mistakes, and as Paul told timothy, everything He included in scripture has a purpose. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim 3:16). Therefore, it is important that we know and understand what happened in Ruth's life.

All scripture can be understood in more than one way. While I am totally in agreement that the Bible should be taken literally, I also realize that what happened in the natural is also symbolic and serves to teach us a lesson in the spiritual.

We must always remember that everything that happens in the natural, also happens in the spiritual. When God moves in our lives, whether it is an act of provision, a healing, an emotional healing, or bringing us to a new level in our walk with Him, it always happens in the spirit first. Afterwards, it becomes manifested in the natural realm.

Theologians tell us that the important point in the book of Ruth is the term "kinsman redeemer." This refers to a family member who takes it upon himself to "redeem" (buy back) the land of a relative, or the relative's life (if they had sold themselves into slavery). Jesus took the place as our kinsman redeemer and bought us back from our sin.

In this scriptural parallel of our relationship with the Lord, Boaz takes on the character of Christ, our redeemer. He does everything for Ruth unselfishly, without any thought of receiving for himself. However, he receives the one thing he wants more than anything, relationship. Ruth takes on the character of the seeking believer, finding salvation and security in her relationship with Christ. Naomi, takes on the character of the Holy Spirit, offering comfort and guidance to the believer (even though Naomi's sadness and bitterness are not characteristics of the Holy Spirit).

While I am totally in agreement with this interpretation of the book of Ruth, I think that those same theologians have overlooked an important point, that is, Ruth's part in the work of redemption. Basically, without Ruth's willingness and obedience, Boaz couldn't have helped her. Ruth made some very important decisions, and acted in some very important ways which brought about her "redemption."

The story of Ruth opens by giving us a little background information on Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. Naomi and her husband, Elimelech, had come to Moab during a famine in the time of the judges. Ruth came into the picture by marrying one of Elimelech and Naomi's two sons.

On first glance, it seems a little strange to find an Israelite, from the tribe of Benjamin, living in Moab. God had specifically told the people of Israel to separate themselves from other tribes and peoples. But, we must remember what was going on in Israel during the time of the judges. Throughout the 350 years of the judges' ruling over Israel there was a constant recurring theme. The people of Israel would serve God for a while, then turn their back on Him. When they did that, He would allow oppression by one of the people groups living around them, to cause them to return to seeking Him, instead of serving false gods. In response to their repentance, God would raise up a judge to set them free.

In such a situation, with the people constantly straying away from serving God, it isn't so surprising to find an Israelite making the decision to live in a pagan land. His commitment to God probably wasn't all that it should have been, and with the drought, it would be much more comfortable than staying in Israel.

While the Moabites weren't Israelites, they weren't quite as bad as some of the other people groups around them. In fact, they were considered distant relatives of the Israelites, being descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew. Because of this, the restrictions against marrying foreigners didn't apply to them.

Unfortunately for Ruth, her marrying an Israelite didn't work out too well. Her husband, and her brother-in-law, and her father-in-law all died, leaving Ruth a widow, along with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law (Ruth 1:3-5).

Since Naomi (Ruth's mother-in-law) no longer had anything to keep her in Moab, she decided to return home to Israel. She suggested to her two daughters-in-law that they return home to their parents (a normal occurrence when a man would die in that time period). Oprah agreed and left to go back to her parents, but Ruth "clung to" Naomi and wouldn't leave her (Ruth 1:8-14). Even though Naomi tried to convince her, Ruth refused to leave, saying:

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. ¹⁷ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Ruth 1:16-17

This is the first conversion to Jehova God (or we could say to Jesus Christ, since He and God the Father are one) recorded in scripture. Although Rahab, the prostitute, helped the spies that Joshua sent out, and was saved from destruction, scripture never mentions her accepting Jehovah as her God (Joshua 2:1-15). Likewise, the Gibeonites, who tricked Joshua into making a covenant with them, received salvation from death (Joshua 9:3-15), but never accepted Jehovah. But Ruth, in her speech to Naomi, clearly converts from the pagan religion of the Moabites, to faith in Jehovah as her God.

This was a major decision for Ruth. Not only would she be ostracized by her own people, even her own family, but she was leaving the place where she had grown up to serve God in a distant land that she knew very little of. Obviously, she had seen something in the life of Naomi to give her a desire to serve Naomi's God.

Ruth's conversion couldn't have been because of material blessings. She had watched Naomi lose everything she had. It could not have been because of a promise that receiving Him would make her happy and everything would be all right. Again, looking at Naomi's life, all she could see was sadness and bitterness. But, even with all the problems and anguish, there was something in Naomi's life that showed Ruth who the true God was.

Problems are a part of life. The only people who don't have any problems are either too young to know what problems are, or have already died. But, for you and I, problems are a part of everyday life.

How we react to our problems greatly affects our testimony for the Lord. If we react like the world does, we don't give any glory to the Lord. However, if we rise above our problems, and let God work through them, we can show the world who our God is. This is one of the things the world is looking for in us, a demonstration of our God. They want help in their problems, and if they don't see that we have the Lord's help in ours, they don't see any reason to accept our God.

Chapter one of the book of Ruth ends with Ruth and Naomi having returned to Bethlehem. Everyone was excited because of their return, but their problems still existed.

The second chapter starts out by introducing Boaz, a relative of Naomi. He is an important character in this story, because he is the kinsman-redeemer. This is the character that represents the work of Jesus Christ, as our redeemer.

Since Ruth and Naomi arrive in Bethlehem impoverished, they have to look for something to eat. Fortunately, God had made provision for them, and all poor people, in the law. He commanded Israel:

When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands. ²⁰ When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. ²¹ When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

Deut 24:19-21

Knowing of this, Ruth went and searched out a field where they were harvesting. She went behind the harvesters, where they had already completed their work, and picked up what was left over, "gleaning" from the harvest. Coincidentally, she happened to pick out the field of Boaz to work in. Of course, that probably wasn't a coincidence, but the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Ruth 2:3).

While the first chapter of this book deals with salvation, by showing us Ruth's conversion, the second chapter deals with learning to receive from God. This is the second step in the life of a believer; the step learning to live by faith.

Unfortunately, many believers never take this step. They think that their salvation is enough. Or, they think they are living by faith because they invoke God's name to sanction their own actions. That isn't faith either. True faith is a confidence that God will move on our behalf, for our benefit, no matter what happens. True faith is willing to die waiting, because it is so sure that God will come through, and that a true believer can't die (just go on to heaven).

Faith always requires action. It isn't enough to just say that you have faith, you must do something to show your faith. A farmer may have faith that his land will produce a crop, but he must sew the seed as a step of faith.

Ruth started out by putting action to her faith. She went to seek where she could gather food to meet her, and her mother-in-law's needs. I don't know if she prayed before going out, or not, but it seems to me that she probably did, and her mother-in-law prayed for her as she was working.

When Boaz arrived to check on the workers, he saw Ruth working in the field, and asked his foreman about her. He responded with a highly favorable report. "And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house" (Ruth 2:7). Let me stop right here and mention a couple of things.

First of all, Ruth demonstrated her faithfulness in her work. Many people, even though they show up for work, don't got at it with all their heart and ability. If a believer is working in a place, and doesn't "do everything as unto the Lord" (Col 3:23) they destroy their testimony in that place. Believers should stand out in the workplace as the best, hardest working, most faithful workers there are. Why? To show the faithfulness of our God.

As a part of this we see that Ruth didn't find excuses to take breaks. Although she had been working for many hours, she only took one break. Even though nobody was paying her, and as far as she knew nobody was watching her, she made good use of her time working, instead of looking for excuses to get out of her work.

Secondly, we see that Ruth was already gaining a good reputation. Even though she was a Moabitess, which means that the Israelites would normally look down on her, the foreman speaks highly of her. That wasn't a normal situation. Obviously, she had gained the foreman's praise for her actions and attitude.

There is an old saying, which many people take as if it is scripture, even though it isn't, which goes: "God helps those who help themselves." While I am sure that many people misuse this saying, specifically to imply that they have to do it for themselves, instead of waiting on God, I also know from experience that God does in fact move more when we've done everything we can do to prepare for His moving.

This goes back to the part of putting action to our faith. I remember when we started out in the ministry. The man who was our pastor at the time said, "I think you'll do well in the ministry. Do you know why?"

I answered, "I hope it's because we're called and anointed by God."

He said, "No, although I'm sure that you are. You'll do well because you and your wife are both workers. You won't just sit on your backside waiting for God to move (and complaining when He doesn't). You'll get out there and do the Lord's work."

While I was not impressed with his statement at the time, I have found it to be true. While we need to be called and anointed, we also need to do what God tells us to do. We have to put action to our faith, in order that the anointing can work through our actions. We need to reach the limit of our ability, so that the ability of God can manifest through us.

Because Ruth put action to her faith, Boaz (representing the Lord) put multiplication to her action.

Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens: ⁹ Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.

Ruth 2:8-9

The first multiplication we see here is that Boaz gave her permission to continue working in his fields. This may not seem like much, but I'm sure that there were other land owners who would try and chase off someone who was gleaning in their fields. Many people would want their workers to go back and pick up that which was left the first time over. Others would probably charge her a "percentage" to glean in the field (even though it was contrary to God's commandment).

The second multiplication we see here is that of protection. Ruth was in a very vulnerable position. As a poor, young woman, without family, she would be an easy target for men who would seek her out for sexual favors. Yet Boaz, told her to stay in his fields, and commanded his workers to not molest her.

When we walk in the place where God wants us, we walk in His protection. I remember many times during the years that we were traveling in the motorhome, when God had us in places which were dangerous. Yet, because we were in His will, we were under His protection.

The third multiplication we see is that Boaz gave her permission to drink of the water that his workers had drawn from the well. She didn't have to draw her own water, he would provide for her, even though he didn't have any responsibility to do so.

Symbolically, water represents the Word of God, the Bible. When we are in the center of God's will, in the place He has prepared for us, He will teach us from His Word. It is almost as if we don't have to go seeking it, He brings understanding and revelation to us. I'm not saying that people in the center of God's will don't need to study, they do. What I'm saying is that they will glean more from their studies than those who are walking in their own will. Since they are in the place where God wants them, they will encounter lessons and revelations that He has prepared for them.

Going on a little farther, we see more multiplication in action:

And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. ¹⁵ And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: ¹⁶ And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.

Ruth 2:14-16

When it was time to eat, Boaz offered her to eat with his workers, again without being required by the law to do so.

We must understand that our God is a generous God. He isn't stingy; nor is He trying to find ways to avoid blessing us. Instead, He is actively seeking out ways to bless us, just as Boaz did with Ruth. When God meets our needs, He doesn't give us just enough to get by, He gives us in abundance. He wants to be sure we have enough to cover the whole need, and make sure that the need isn't going to be repeated.

But, the final multiplication is the best. Look at the part that I highlighted in bold in the verses above. Boaz didn't just allow her to glean in his fields; he didn't just give her food and water; he made sure that there was something for her to pick up. He commanded his workers to pull out a part of what they had harvested, and leave it for her to pick up!

I've seen this happen so many times in my own life. As I set out to do what God commanded me to do, I'd find His provision waiting for me along the way. Had I stood still and waited for the provision to show up, I'd never see it. But, since I was taking action, taking that step of faith, I'd find where God had stored up provision for me, and commanded his angels, and his people, to put it there in my path, where I could easily pick it up.

People ask us all the time why God moves in such miraculous ways for us. The only answer I can give them is that we've put ourselves in God's hands to such an extent that if He doesn't move, nothing happens. We don't have a plan "B" waiting. We don't go out and try and do it ourselves, we expect God to move.

These two things go hand in hand. We need to put ourselves in God's hands, and we need to take the step of faith. A step of faith isn't trying to do it on our own, it's just doing what we can, or starting what we can. Then, as we believe God, He moves in and takes over, bringing about the miraculous.

God doesn't move for many people, because they never put their lives in His hands. They look at God like their celestial vending machine. Put in a little offering, say a little prayer, and God has to give you what you've asked for. But, God doesn't work that way.

Because of Boaz's generosity, Ruth was able in one day to glean enough to provide for her and her mother-in-law's needs for several days. It is obvious that she gleaned more than was the norm by her mother-in-law's reaction. "where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee" (Ruth 2:19). But, Ruth didn't stop there. She returned every day to continue working, and continue receiving the blessing.

Up to this point, Ruth's relationship with Boaz is at a distance. Yes, they had talked, yes they knew each other. But, there was no intimacy, or familiarity in their relationship. All Ruth was receiving was provision. Granted, that has value, but there is more. She was receiving from God's hand, but not from the intimate relationship with Him.

Our relationship with the Lord should pass through various stages as we grown in knowledge of Him. They are:

1. Salvation

2. Learning to live in His protection and provision by faith

3. Developing intimacy with Him

4. Fruit of that intimacy

The four chapters of Ruth follow these four steps. We've already seen salvation in the first chapter, and her receiving of protection and provision in the second. Let's go on to chapter three, and see her develop an intimate relationship with Boaz.

Before we do, I think it's important to point out that Ruth had a reputation as a righteous woman. Boaz himself said, "for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman" (Ruth 3:11). We need to understand this, because some of the things she does in this chapter do not seem appropriate in our cultural context. But, they were correct in the culture of her day.

The chapter starts out with Naomi's preoccupation for Ruth, and some guidance she gives.

Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? ² And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. ³ Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. ⁴ And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.

Ruth 3:1-4

Now you know why I started out this chapter by saying that Ruth was a virtuous woman. Those few verses sound more like a formula for a seduction than the actions of a righteous, or virtuous woman. However, in the cultural context of the day, what Naomi counseled, and Ruth did, was nothing more than a ceremonial request for marriage.

When Boaz awoke, in the middle of the night, he was surprised to find a woman laying at his feet. Instead of trying to take advantage of her, Boaz responded as the gentlemen that he had already shown himself to be and committed to her to do all that she desired.

I like the symbolism of how Ruth responded to Boaz, she said: "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer" (Ruth 3:10 NIV). In this one line, I see a combination of a request for protection, a submissiveness, and a humility that is extraordinary. Spreading one's garment over another is symbolic of extending your protection over them. But, she didn't ask Boaz to spread his garment over her, just a corner. So, while she was asking for protection, and acceptance, she wasn't asking to change his whole life. She was willing to accept whatever he offered, knowing that she would have to submit to him totally in exchange for whatever that offer was.

Ruth wasn't trying to "make a deal" with Boaz. She didn't say, "I'll give myself to you, if you'll do this for me." She just offered herself to him, trusting that everything was in God's hands, and He would take care of her.

When we go to the Lord, it doesn't work to try and "make a deal" with Him. I'm sure you've heard of people who have tried to do that. They're in a bind, so they say, "God, if you'll get me out of this, I'll go to church." Let me tell you something, God never "makes a deal." He has already provided the only deal there is, salvation. All we have to do is be willing to accept all He did for us, and give all we are to Him; not 70 percent, not even 99 percent… all. He's an "all, or nothing" type of God.

There's always a risk in putting your life in the hands of others. Ruth was willing to take that risk. But, for us, the risk really doesn't exist, because God has already promised what He would do for us, and He doesn't lie (Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18).

Boaz didn't waste any time in complying with Ruth's request. The first thing he did, even before going to "redeem her" was give her provision. It says in verse 15 that he filled her shawl with grain, before she left in the morning.

Notice that Boaz provided for Ruth before redeeming her. This too is symbolic of Jesus. Today, we receive from the Lord because of His shed blood for us. But, in the gospels, we see Jesus providing for many, through healings, miracles, and multiplication of food, even before He went to the cross. The work of redemption actually started at the moment that Jesus was conceived, not just when He went to the cross.

When Jesus went to the cross as our redeemer, He paid the price for everything we needed. The Greek word that is used in the New Testament for salvation is "sozo." Sozo doesn't just mean salvation from our sins, it means salvation from whatever we need to be saved from: poverty, sickness, oppression, attacks, depression, and our sins as well. Our redemption is complete. The blood of Jesus paid for everything we need.

So, because of Ruth's willingness to put herself in God's hands, she moves from being an impoverished widow, to the wife of a wealthy man. She moved from death to life. She moved from salvation, to faith, to intimacy.

Intimacy brings forth fruit. The first fruit it brings forth is a change in the person's heart. Both physically, and spiritually, we can see that intimacy between two people changes who they are, and makes them more like each other. Look at any couple that has a truly close, intimate relationship and you will see that they become more and more alike in their attitudes, beliefs, and desires.

In addition to the internal fruit that is brought forth in the heart, there is an external fruit that comes form intimacy. In Ruth's case, she gave birth to a son, named Obed. This man Obed, became the grandfather of King David. But, what about intimacy with the Lord, does that bring forth fruit as well?

Galatians, chapter five talks about the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, it says:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³ Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Gal 5:22-23

This fruit is the change in heart that comes from intimacy with the Lord. Although we should all have this fruit manifested in us, not all of us do. Those that most commonly do however, are either intercessors, or true worshippers. These two categories of people strive to spend time in the presence of the Lord. They strive for intimacy with the Lord. Because of that, the fruit of the Spirit manifests in them; a result of the time they spend basking in His presence.

That's the internal fruit, but what about the external fruit? We don't give physical birth to physical babies from intimacy with the Lord. But, we do give birth to spiritual babies. These babies are works and ministries for the Lord.

True ministry grows out of intimacy with God. Psalm 100 says:

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalm 100:4

I struggled with understanding the last part of that verse for a long time. Normally, we are all striving to receive blessings from the Lord, but this phrase clearly says that we are to bless the Lord, or at least to bless His name.

But, how can we, as mere humans bless the Lord? What do we have that He needs, or wants? What can we do that is a blessing to Him?

If we look at the context of that phrase, we see that this psalm is an exhortation to praise and worship God, our Father. So obviously, praise and worship are part of the way in which we bless the Lord. But, is that all? No! That praise and worship produce a result; the result of intimacy.

Intimacy with the Lord, in and of itself is a worthy goal. But, that's not the ultimate goal of our praise and worship. The intimacy that comes out of our praise and worship should bring forth some sort of external fruit.

In biblical times, a woman who didn't have children was considered to be cursed. It was also understood that she was not being a blessing to her husband. This lack of blessing came from a lack of intimacy, or from "God's hand closing up her womb." True intimacy in a marriage was expected to bring forth fruit, the fruit of children.

Just like a woman becomes pregnant from her intimacy with her husband, we should become spiritually pregnant from our intimacy with the Lord. Pregnant with vision; pregnant with desire to serve Him; pregnant with something that the Lord desires to manifest through our lives.

This spiritual pregnancy will ultimately give birth to something. We, as the bride of Christ, become the ones who give birth to God's will here on earth.

It all starts with a simple step. The same step that Ruth took. The step of putting our lives in God's hands. This isn't the same as being saved. There are many who have received Jesus as Savior, but not as Lord. There are even many in the ministry who have decided to serve Him, but haven't put their lives in His hands. They are missing out on the true blessings that God desires to give them.

What about you? Have you put your life in His hands, or are you just serving Him? Are you allowing Him to mold you into what He needs you to be, or are you trying to tell Him what you are? Have you moved from salvation, to faith, to intimacy? Have you spent enough time in His presence to become spiritually pregnant with something that He desires to birth through you? Are you being the bride of Christ, or are you just dating Him?

Be a Ruth. Throw your life into the ocean of His love and grace. Put your life in His hands, and watch what He can do with it. Become spiritually pregnant. Be the bride of Christ.