Ruth is the third woman in the genealogy of Christ (we’ll come back to her mother-in-law, Rahab, later.) Here we have a scene in Bethlehem one starry night. Ruth was true in relationship: true to Naomi, who has asked her to take an enormous risk and go to Boaz and ask him to be their “kinsman-redeemer” who would marry her, care for her, and give her a son. She makes a symbolic request, which Boaz understood, when she asks him to “cover her.”
We already know that the genealogy of Christ is full of “outcasts” — He went out to bring them in. And often, when there is preaching on the women in the genealogy of Christ, we are only told this negative side — that they were immoral, or outcasts — yet Christ brought them in.
But there is a tremendously positive side linking Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth — and it can be seen most clearly in Ruth.
Here are some clues to help you answer the above question.
Clue 1: Boaz, like the sons of Judah, was in the position of being a near kinsman of Ruth’s late husband — so he had the power to carry on her (as well as Naomi’s) late husbands name by marrying her and giving her a son. But he had not stepped up to his responsibility yet.
Clue 2: Tamar and Rahab and Ruth all took risks that proved them true in relationships.
Clue 3: Look at the prayer of the elders at the gate in Ruth 4:11-12.
“How does Ruth complete the puzzle of the women in the genealogy of Christ?”
3 comments
I don’t know that I know the answer to the question. But there are a few side notes in my Bible, which I think contain somewhat of the answer. The first side note asks the question: What kind of blessing is this? (4:12), speaking of the blessing of the elders – it says, “First Perez was Boaz’s ancestor, so it would be natural to refer to him in the blessing (v18). Secondly, Tamar’s situation was similar to Ruth’s. She was a widow facing a childless future(Gen. 38:13-30). Judah did not keep his word when he offered his youngest son for Tamar, so she tricked him into having relations with her. Perez, who along with his twin brother was the result of that union, symbolized offspring born into a hopeless situation, much like the difficult circumstances of Naomi and Ruth. The blessing was a request that God bring good out of a bad situation.”
The second side note in my Bible asks the question, “Why choose a Moabitess to be an ancestor of David? (4:22) It comments, “Ruth’s faith in the Lord made it possible for her to be an ancestor of David and, eventually, the Messiah. By choosing a Moabitess, God showed that the new covenant would apply to all people who believed, not just the Hebrews.”
What those two comments make me think of is: first, we were born into a “hopeless situation”! Without Christ, we were dead in our trespasses and sins. But when Christ came – there is no more “hopeless situation” – With Christ, He came to show us there is no more “hopeless situation” when Christ is there. But like Ruth we must cry out for our Kinsmen Redeemer to cover us! And I believe Ruth’s “non Israelite’s status” – shows us that “whosoever will” may come and be redeemed!
Good thoughts, Mary. I think one of the significant links you found was the similarity of Ruth’s situation to Tamar’s. Several other good thoughts too.
In this busiest of times, you are being a ponderer, like the Mary of so long ago.
I think Mary did a great job in seeing the link between Tamar and Ruth. Come with me to the next question!
Another deeper look at the women of the Bible than most books provide is a book by Carolyn Custis Jones entitled “Lost Women of the Bible.” The link that she sees between the five women is that each one took a risk that resulted in the line to Christ being unbroken. How can you see it in:
Tamar (Genesis 38)
Rahab (Joshua 2)
Ruth (Ruth 3)
Bathsheba (1 Kings 1:15-21)*
Mary (Luke 1:38)
*In the genealogy Bathsheba is simply called Uriah’s wife. Tim Keller says that is not a slam at Bathsheba, but at David, since he betrayed his good friend Uriah. He feels the Lord is saying, “Even though there is a King in the genealogy of Christ, it is a King that needed redemption — in other words, Christ’s genealogy continually shows how He brought the outcast in.
But my question for each of the five women above is “How did they each take a risk that preserved the line to Christ?”