Two Women of Faith - The Sovereignty of God - Joanie Buchanan

The book of Ruth is named after one of its main characters, a young woman of Moab, the great-grandmother of David and an ancestress of Jesus (4:21-22; Matthew 1:1, 5). The only other Biblical book bearing the name of a woman is Esther.

The story is set in the time of the judges, a time characterized in the book of Judges as a period of religious and moral degeneracy, national disunity and frequent foreign oppression. The book of Ruth reflects a time of peace between Israel and Moab (Jdg. 3:12-30).

Naomi has been compared to a female Job. She lost everything: home, husband, and sons—and even more than Job did—her livelihood. She joined the position of Israel’s deprived members: the poor and the widowed. She cried out in her grief and God had already been working behind the scenes. The book reveals the magnitude of God’s grace—He accepted Ruth into His chosen people and honored her with a role in continuing the family line into which His appointed king, David, and later His Son, Jesus, would be born.

The Book of Ruth (her name means friendship) is very special to me. Each time I teach this book I learn something new. This book is not just about Ruth, Naomi and Boaz. It is also a beautiful picture of our Kinsmen-Redeemer Jesus Christ. If Boaz is a picture of Jesus Christ and Ruth is a picture of His gentile bride then we should look at what in Ruth pleases Boaz so much that he would call her a ‘woman of excellence’? Isn’t that the way Jesus would like to see us!

Ruth was a dedicated and committed young woman. She was willing to leave Moab and her family to follow the true God.
 
Was it by chance that Ruth followed Naomi to Bethlem "the house of bread" and then ended up working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech (Ruth’s Father-in-law) (Ruth 2:3)? Absolutely not. God was at work divinely preparing for Ruth’s and Naomi’s provisions and well-being for the present and for their future.  
 
The story points forward to David. David points forward to Jesus. And Jesus points forward to the resurrection of our mortal bodies Romans 8:23 when "death will be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."   
 
Let us not forget that God is at work, divinely orchestrating events to bring about His purpose for our lives. If you have studied this book you can see this plan of God unfold and it gives us great faith and encouragement that God watches over us ever when we make mistakes.  He is there.
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You can visit Joanie's website at JoanieBuchanan.org
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We just finished a study on the Book of Ruth you can listen to them on our Real Talk website on the Media Page or you can find them on Spreaker. 
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You can also read Cindy Hyde's blog about a moabite woman finding favor with God and how you can find that same favor for you life.
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Real Talk with Joanie and Cindy is an encouraging, inspirational, and motivational faith-based podcast with co-hosts Joanie Buchanan and Cindy Hyde. You can listen to their podcasts and read their blogs at Real Talk with Joanie and Cindy. Joanie and Cindy are both Christian authors, motivational speakers, ministers, radio personalities, counselors, and coaches who share their love for God and His Word with practical applications that help bring hope and healing to their listeners. They are listener supported. If their ministry has touched your life please help them carry the Gospel around the world by donating today. Paypal.me/healingcenter Your donations are tax deductible through The East Texas Healing Center.