The Saving Grace of a Family Tree

Always fascinated by the stories and characters from the Old Testament, I had a sudden realization the other day, a "ha!" moment, if you will. I was captivated by the story of Ruth, that noble daughter in-law whose devotion, respect and love has been studied and shared, especially among Christian women. Everyone can relate to a facet of Ruth- from foreigners, to widows, to women with strong ties to their families, from the hopeless and the poor, to those at a crossroads and pivotal turning points in their lives. But my fascination wasn't about Ruth's devotion, her acceptance of her mother in-law's religion and God. It was the prelude to her story, the story of Boaz and his own mother that interested me anew.

I had never consciously put the two together. Bo's mom was Rahab, the harlot who hid the Hebrew spies. There's no mention of this in the book of Ruth. Prior to Ruth receiving Yahweh as her God, Rahab had done so. She was another foreigner, an outcast, from a people who had also rejected God and worshipped idols. I can imagine little Bo sitting on Rahab's lap, tenderly twisting a lock of her hair around his chubby fingers, as she told him (again at his request) the adventurous story of how she, along with the rest of the family, had escaped annihilation. The scarlet cord that was hung from the window was now humbly displayed above the door - a sign of deliverance and mercy, a sign of salvation. (This is my own imagination depicting this moment, but it could very well have happened in a similar manner.) She taught her son that though a sinner, an outcast and pariah, she was granted salvation, a gift for which she would be eternally grateful. She recounted how she heard that blast from the ram's horn, signifying a new chapter in her life would begin, and how the walls of the city fell down. But she and her father's household were spared. She taught her young son that it doesn't matter what your past is made of, how many blemishes you have on your record, when God offers salvation, you begin afresh.

And so Bo became Boaz, a responsible adult with a kind heart and a special softness for a young foreign woman in need of redemption. It's no wonder that he fought for Ruth. Well, he didn't really fight, but he did go to the elders at the gate of the city and state Ruth and Naomi's case. In faith, he followed the rules of tradition and offered the inheritance to Naomi's closest kin. Now Boaz took a risk by taking Ruth as his wife. Their first son together would perpetuate Ruth's dead husband's name through his inheritance. But it's Boaz's name that shows up in the lineage of Jesus, not Ruth’s first husband, and thus Boaz's faithfulness was rewarded. Boaz, his mom Rahab, and his wife Ruth - their stories about love, devotion, hope and faith- are eternally engraved in the lineage of Jesus Christ, the one true Redeemer.

I can't help but think that indeed it was a mother's story and love, and her devotion to God that allowed Boaz, without hesitation, to accept God's leading when Ruth came into his life. Before Ruth was born, God was preparing the heart of a man that would accept her for who she was, and redeem Ruth from her sad circumstances. How utterly beautiful! What wonderful hope the lives of these women, and this man that connects them, gives us. What a magnificent and faithful God we serve!

The experiences we encounter as we walk through life, when God is at the forefront of our decisions, have a ripple effect that surpasses flesh and bone. These experiences prepare our hearts for the unthinkable: the beauty of God's will.