Most people see the book of Ruth as a love story, a breath of fresh air after learning how Israel “did whatever he pleased” while the Judges ruled. But Ruth is much more than a nice, heart-warming story. As with everything we read in the Old Testament, it all points ahead to our Savior, Jesus, who will come from the same, messy family that Naomi, Orpah and Ruth have. This is a narrative which helps define the Messianic line from Judah to David. It all starts and ends in Bethlehem, a little town on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where a woman is noticed and redeemed, and a Savior of the nations will be born.


