Journey Through Judges and RuthSample

Intro

Nicole introduces this lesson on Ruth, another unlikely selection but this time faithful hero who will bring a child into Bethlehem whose seed will be the king of Israel.

Moabites in the Bible Story

The Moabites were a people with a ton of “baggage.” From their incestuous roots to their ban from YHWH’s assembly, they’re not winning any awards for integrity. That’s why Ruth, a Moabite, was an unlikely heroine and an unlikely example of virtue.

Proceed to read through these verses to gain more background about Ruth’s unique people group.

Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father. The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab; he is the ancestor of the Moabites to this day.

Genesis 19:36-37 (NRSV)

While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. Thus Israel yoked itself to the Baal of Peor, and the Lord’s anger was kindled against Israel.

Numbers 25:1 (NRSV)

No Ammonite or Moabite shall be admitted to the assembly of the Lord. Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the Lord, because they did not meet you with food and water on your journey out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam son of Beor, from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.

Deuteronomy 23:3a (NRSV)

Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time. He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is on the Euphrates, in the land of Amaw, to summon him, saying, “A people has come out of Egypt; they have spread over the face of the earth, and they have settled next to me. Come now, curse this people for me, since they are stronger than I; perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land.”

Numbers 22:4-6 (NRSV)

I see him, but not now;

I behold him, but not near—

a star shall come out of Jacob,

and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;

it shall crush the borderlands of Moab ...

Numbers 24:17 (NRSV)

Two Levels of the Storyline

Ruth the Moabite

Ruth is called “the Moabite.” The text points out several times that she is not only a foreigner, but a Moabite. But by the end, she has been grafted into Israel and is no longer distinguished by her heritage. Her heritage is now as an Israelite, demonstrated by the genealogy at the end of the book. Not only would she bear children who would be fully grafted-in Israelites, her descendants would include King David, as well as a far greater king still.