The author of Ruth concludes the story with a negotiation for the land and Ruth with the other kinsman-redeemer. He initially wants the land, but since he does not want Ruth and the responsibility that comes with her, he forgoes the land and allows Boaz to redeem both. The deal is done and the elders present offer the final blessing-prayer of the book and once again God answers before the book is complete. Several important lessons come to use from the book of Ruth:

1. Ruth is really about the vacuum of kingly leadership being filled in the face of aimless and misguided living by the people Israel. The promised King-Messiah would also come through this line. In Ruth, we have the beginning of the royal-messianica line attached to real people.  Though promised to the line of Judah in Genesis 49, here it is narrowed to a family, to parents and grandparents.

2. The loving-loyalty and kindness demonstrated throughout reminds us of the love and kindness we are to demonstrate as followers of Jesus. The love and kindness we see in Ruth is the love and kindness of God toward his people and we ought to emulate, follow him.

3. Clearly, God is at work and in control of the daily, mundane realities of life.  Trust Him, because certainly he can be trusted! God will accomplish his purposes.

The book of Ruth recounts the faithfulness of God in a time of incredible unfaithfulness to God. The people of God were defined by their sinfulness in the concluding statement of the book of Judges, In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did whatever seemed right to him. It is during this time, that the lives of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz are lived out. Despite the wickedness of the day, God is faithful and still at work to fulfill his promises to his people.  God uses a foreign woman, a depressed and bitter widow and an average man to add names to the promise of a coming Messiah, a redeemer. Both Matthew and Luke reference Boaz and Ruth in the genealogical line of Jesus. In our darkest hour, we can still trust that our great and gracious God is at work and he will absolutely accomplish his purpose and fulfill his word to his people. 

Graceway Church of Michiana exists in South Bend, IN for the purpose of Exalting our great God and Savior, Edifying and Encouraging believers and Engaging our Community. 

Graceway Church is committed to being a God Exalting, Christ Centered, Spirit Motivated, Word Focused local body of Believers!