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Video
Introduction
This morning we continue our series “Unwrapped”.
We’re wrapping Jesus’ family history as it is given to us by one of his best friends, Matthew.
Matthew begins his story of the life of Jesus with Jesus’ family tree.
And in that family tree we find those who are unlikely, undeserving, unworthy, and unexpected.
His family tree is full of the notorious.
The outrageous.
The scandalous.
Sinners like you and like me.
Along the way in the family tree, Matthew takes note of five women, women who have been touched by scandal and shame.
Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Jesus’ mother Mary all share similar scars of shame and notoriety.
One note this morning about Jesus’ family tree, and the stories we have been telling.
If you haven’t noticed already about the way we are reading these stories from what we call The Old Testament, the parts of our Bibles that are before Jesus, we read these stories as
real events.
These are real events.
They really happened.
These are not fictitious.
But we also read them as
anticipating Jesus.
All of these stories are telling us something about Jesus, who He is, and what He has done for His people.
So today, as we are reading the story of Ruth, Naomi, and Obed, we read their stories as real events, but as also telling us something about Jesus and the redemption of people.
These are shadows of what is to come in Jesus, even though Jesus lived hundreds of years later.
The story of Ruth
The story of Ruth is a fascinating story.
Through marriage, Ruth is pulled into the world of a family in the tribe of Judah and connected to Tamar and Rahab.
Ruth is not a Jew.
She is a Gentile.
A Moabite.
Moabites were not only enemies of Israel, they happened to be distant relatives as a nation.
And their origin story is one of drunkenness, rebellion and incest through Abraham’s nephew Lot.
Sordid.
Notorious.
Through Ruth, Lot and his shameful behavior become part of the family line of Jesus.
Ruth is totally unexpected.
Ruth, the Gentile, embraces the God of Israel and His Promises.
Her husband and his extended family had moved to the land of Moab because Moab had food.
Israel had drought.
He marries Ruth, but then he unexpectedly dies, leaving her with no husband and no child.
Her mother-in-law’s name is Naomi, and she is also a widow.
After a few years, Naomi hears that there is food in Israel again and the two widows end up in a little town called Bethlehem.
Because they have no husbands, they have no land, and they have no heirs.
Both Naomi and Ruth are completely dependent on the generosity of others to get by.
Ruth meets a very kind man of considerable means whose name is Boaz.
Boaz is rich and he is single.
And most likely he’s also old enough to be Ruth’s dad.
Naomi also tells Ruth that Boaz is a relative.
Ruth asks Boaz to marry her.
And through a series of events, Boaz redeems Ruth, he purchases Ruth to be his bride.
This isn’t necessarily the stuff of romance and Hallmark.
But Boaz, as Ruth’s redeemer, becomes an unlikely participant in an unexpected story.
Obed the Christmas Child
You see, the problem all along with Ruth and Naomi is that there is no heir.
There is no one to carry on the family name.
Naomi and Ruth are childless, one of the most depressing things that could happen to a woman living in that culture.
No heir meant no participation in the Promised Land and its Promises.
Yet Ruth holds to the Promise.
Boaz isn’t just a redeemer.
Boaz is an heir himself.
And in the course of time, Ruth gives birth to a son.
There will be an heir for both Ruth and Naomi.
That heir’s name is Obed.
Obed is the miracle son.
Totally unexpected.
Totally unlikely.
Never in a million years does a Jewish man of great wealth marry a Gentile widow.
Obed is the heir of destiny.
Listen to what the town is saying and most likely singing about Obed:
Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you without a family redeemer today.
May his name become well known in Israel.
He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age.
Indeed, your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.”
Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a mother to him.
The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi.
(Ruth 4:14-16)
They are singing Obed’s song.
What a moment for Naomi.
Just a year ago, she was bitter.
She was without hope.
And now?
Through Boaz and Ruth Naomi has a son.
Naomi has a destiny.
Naomi has a place in the inheritance and the Promises.
All through Obed.
Obed is the promise child, the one providing hope and rest and peace to Naomi and Ruth.
Note what the song says here:
Obed will renew your life and sustain you.
Obed will renew your life and sustain you.
Who is this child?
The women know.
They know the Promises.
They know the story.
They’ve already song the song of Tamar.
They know the Promise of a King is coming through Judah and his son Perez through Tamar.
They’ve just witnessed a Redeemer’s purchase of an unlikely bride whose faith is remarkable.
Ruth herself clinging to the Promises.
And now Ruth’s child sits on Naomi’s lap as the child in a line of kings.
The child sitting on the lap of Naomi as they sing…
A Son has been born to Naomi.
An infant on a mother’s lap as the chorus sings in the little town of Bethlehem, home to Naomi and Ruth… oh who does that sound like?
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