IRRESISTIBLE WOMAN

1. Irresistible woman

a) Ruth can be considered an irresistible woman, especially with all her qualities as a woman. Only 4 chapters. A book in between Judges and 1 Samuel.

b) It is a story of God's grace in the midst of difficult circumstances.

i) This was the time when judges rule Israel, a period of disobedience, idolatry and violence. Elimelech, a man from Bethlehem, left Israel because of famine. He travelled to the land of Moab with his wife, Naomi and 2 sons, Mahlon and Chilion.

ii) Elimelech died, leaving Naomi and 2 sons.

iii) Mahlon married Ruth, a Moabitess and Chilion married Oprah.

iv) Mahlon and Chilion died, leaving Naomi and their wives.

v) Naomi decided to go back to Israel as she heard that the Lord had blessed his people with good crops.

vi) After they had begun their homeward journey, Naomi changed her mind and said to her 2 daughters-in-law, "Why don't you return to your parents' home instead of coming with me?" Both of her daughters-in-law did not want to go back.

vii) After much persuasion, Oprah agreed to return home but Ruth persisted to follow Naomi and said, "Don't make me leave you, for I want to go wherever you go, and to live wherever you live; your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God; I want to die where you die, and be buried there. May the Lord do terrible things to me if I allow anything but death to separate us."

viii) Naomi accepted her and both came to Bethlehem. This was the beginning of the barley harvest.

c) One day, Ruth said to Naomi, "Perhaps I can go out into the fields of some kind man to glean the free grain behind his reapers" and Naomi agreed.

i) 9“When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:9-10 NIV)

ii) 19When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 24:19 NIV)

d) It happened that the field where she found belonged to Boaz, a relative to Naomi's husband. Boaz, a descendant of Rahab (a former prostitute in Jericho) was an in-law to Naomi and was a wealthy man.

e) Boaz showed favour to Ruth and invited her to continue to glean grain in his fields and not to go to other fields. Ruth was thankful and inquired that she was a foreigner. Boaz replied that he knew it and also all about her love and kindness she had shown to her mother-in-law since the death of her husband and how she left her father and mother in her own land and had come to live amongst strangers. Boaz was good to Ruth even though she was not one of his workers.

f) The story ended Boaz marrying Ruth and they had a son called Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse and grandfather of King David.

2. Prophetic picture

a) Ruth, a picture of the "Church''.

i) A poor widow (lost her husband, Mahlon).

ii) Very hardworking.

iii) Not afraid of pains.

iv) Loving and kind to her mother-in-law, Naomi.

v) Willing to leave her parent and follow her mother-in-law to a strange land.

vi) Faithful.

vii) Brave.

b) Naomi, a picture of the Holy Spirit.

i) Allowed her daughters-in-law to return home (act of own will).

ii) Accepted Ruth when she made up her mind to follow her.

iii) Guided Ruth how to live in this strange land.

iv) Knew all about Boaz.

v) A key player in find a husband for Ruth.

vi) Kind.

vii) Trustworthy.

viii) Filled with moral integrity.

c) Boaz, a picture of Jesus Christ.

i) Showed compassion to Ruth, a stranger.

ii) Knew all about Ruth's love and kindness to her mother-in-law, Naomi.

iii) Careful to do what was right in the sight of community.

iv) A man of his word.

v) Sensitive to those in need, caring for his workers.

vi) A keen sense of responsibility and having integrity.

vii) Successful and shrewd business man.

3. Prayer focus

a) Pray that we will be faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ like Ruth to Naomi in the story.