The Book of Ruth: A Beautiful Illustration of God’s Nature and His Sovereignty

The book of Ruth is a short but powerful story of love, loyalty, and redemption. It tells the story of a Moabite woman named Ruth, who left her homeland and followed her mother-in-law Naomi to Bethlehem, where she met and married Boaz, a relative of Naomi. Through this story, we can learn a lot about God’s nature and how He works in the lives of His people. In this article, we will explore some of the attributes and characteristics of God that are revealed in the book of Ruth.

1. God is sovereign. God is in control of everything that happens in the world, and He has a plan for His people. In the book of Ruth, we see how God orchestrated the events that led to Ruth and Boaz’s marriage, which was part of His bigger plan to bring forth the Messiah, Jesus Christ, from their lineage (Ruth 4:13-22; Matthew 1:5-6). God also used the famine, the death of Naomi’s husband and sons, and the law of the kinsman-redeemer to accomplish His purposes (Ruth 1:1-5; 2:20; 3:9-13; 4:1-12).
2. God is faithful. God keeps His promises and does not forsake His people. In the book of Ruth, we see how God fulfilled His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to bless them and make them a great nation (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:5; 26:3-4; 28:13-14). God also showed His faithfulness to Naomi and Ruth, who experienced His provision, protection, and grace in their lives (Ruth 2:12; 4:14-15).
3. God is gracious. God is compassionate and generous, and He gives good gifts to His people. In the book of Ruth, we see how God showed His grace to Ruth, who was a foreigner and an outsider, by allowing her to glean in Boaz’s field, by giving her favor in Boaz’s eyes, and by making her part of His covenant people (Ruth 2:2-3, 10-13; 4:9-10). God also showed His grace to Boaz, who was a righteous and generous man, by giving him a wife and a son, and by making him part of the lineage of the Messiah (Ruth 4:13-17).
4. God is loving. God is kind and benevolent, and He cares for His people. In the book of Ruth, we see how God demonstrated His love to Naomi and Ruth, who were widows and in need of a redeemer, by sending Boaz, who was a kinsman-redeemer, to redeem them and restore their lives (Ruth 3:1-18; 4:1-12). God also demonstrated His love to Boaz, who was a faithful and loyal man, by sending Ruth, who was a virtuous and loyal woman, to be his wife and companion (Ruth 3:10-11; 4:13).

These are just some of the attributes and characteristics of God that we can discover in the book of Ruth. As we read and study this book, we can learn more about God’s nature and how He relates to His people. We can also be inspired by the examples of Ruth and Boaz, who showed faith, loyalty, kindness, and generosity in their lives. May we also seek to follow God and His ways, and experience His blessings in our lives.