One year while reading the Bible through, I paused at Ruth and offered up a prayer. Lord, please show me something new about the book of Ruth. I had spent two years in a Bible study about that very small book. While reading it, He began to show me a picture of Ruth as the Gentiles and Naomia as the Jews. Naomi was no longer living in Israel; she had been forced to move to Moab because of a famine. For many reasons, the Jewish nation today has been scattered all over the world. They no longer live in the land promised to them, Israel.
Circumstances had become bitter for poor Naomi, who asked people to call her Mara, meaning bitter. Her husband and sons had died and she had no income. The only thing that remained was her inheritance in Israel. She was forced to return to her homeland.
Bitter circumstances have forced many Jews to return to their homeland, Israel. Zionists had anticipated the need for Jews to have their homeland back and had already begun buying it back, piece by piece. After the persecution of World War II, the nation of Israel was established for the Jews. Ironically, the dead sea scrolls were found around the same time Israel was established as a country in 1948. Within the dead sea scrolls were prophetic words in Isaiah that became fulfilled through the estabishment of Israel. Ironic to me, too, was when I discovered that Abraham was born in 1948, according to the Jewish calendar. Abraham was given the land of Israel and was told it would be an inheritance for his people.
Naomi had two daughter-in-laws, Ruth and Orpah. Both said they would travel with Naomi. But when Naomi discouraged them both, Orpah turned away; she represents those who stand by and do not help their fellow Jews. Ruth accompanied her, not wanting anything to happen to this mother-in-law whom she loved. Ruth had fallen in love with the God of Naomi, just as many in the Christian Church have also fallen in love with the God of the Jews. Ruth foreshadows the Gentiles, who helped to bring Jews back to their homeland.
Ruth gleaned the fields so Naomi could have food to eat. Gentiles have contributed to the Jews so they can become re-established. Boaz, the kinsman redeemer, blessed Ruth for helping Naomi. He protected her and rewarded her for what she had done. Our Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus Christ, blesses us when we help the Jews. The Bible says we are blessed when we pray for Jerusalem.
Because of the Jewish people, we have learned about God. They gave us the Holy Bible. We also learned about the Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus Christ, through His disciples, the Jews. Naomi told Ruth to lay down her life at the feet of the kinsman redeermer, Boaz. The Bible tells us to lay down our life at the feet of Jesus Christ, declaring Him Lord over our lives. Like Boaz, He is so happy when we lay down our lives for Him. We are all precious in His sight. But there is another who is our nearer kinsman redeemer, satan. His power has officially been taken from him by Jesus Christ, but he still operates today. When we tell Jesus we want Him to be our Redeemer, He removes the access satan has to our lives. We become free of the bondage of sin. He marries us and calls us His Bride.
Boaz and Ruth had a child together. They gave the inheritance to Naomi, so she could be cared for in her old age. Through the love of Jesus and the Christian Church, the Jews can be brought into their full inheritance. The eternal reward comes through adopting the son, Jesus Christ.
My children watched the animated version of the story of Ruth this morning. As I watched it with them, I saw once again what a beautiful picture the story is of who we are through Jesus Christ. It makes me feel a kindred spirit towards the Jews, who have blessed our lives richly, through the Holy Bible and the birth of Jesus Christ.
God bless Jerusalem! May we be a people who always help to protect and preserve this homeland for the Jewish people. May no weapon formed against Jerusalem and Israel prosper! May their boundaries be protected and their borders be made secure. In Jesus' name, Amen. | 
