The story of Ruth is one of love, redemption, and divine providence. A Moabite woman, Ruth found herself grafted into the covenant community of Israel through faith and devotion. This beautiful narrative serves as a foreshadowing of what God would later do through Jesus Christ—bringing Gentiles into His family through the gospel. The connection between Ruth and the Church is striking, and Paul’s words in Romans 11:17-20 about Gentiles being grafted into God’s people further illuminate this spiritual truth.
Ruth: A Picture of the Church
Ruth’s journey begins with tragedy. After the death of her husband, she chooses to leave Moab and follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Bethlehem. Her famous declaration—
“Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16)—
signifies a turning point in her life. This is more than loyalty to Naomi; it is a personal decision to embrace the God of Israel.
Similarly, the Church is made up of people from all nations who have turned from their old ways and embraced Jesus Christ as Lord. Like Ruth, believers were once outsiders, separated from the covenants of promise (Ephesians 2:12), but through faith, they are now counted among God’s people.
Boaz: A Type of Christ, the Kinsman-Redeemer
Boaz, a wealthy and noble Israelite, serves as Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer, a role that required him to redeem her by marrying her and restoring her late husband’s lineage. In this, we see a clear picture of Jesus Christ.
- Boaz showed grace to Ruth, though she was a foreigner
➝ Jesus extended salvation to the Gentiles, though they were once strangers to God’s covenant. - Boaz paid the price to redeem Ruth
➝ Jesus paid the ultimate price—His own blood—to redeem the Church. - Boaz took Ruth as his bride, bringing her into Israel’s lineage
➝ Jesus takes the Church as His bride, uniting believers with God’s eternal family.
This redemption story culminates in Ruth becoming an ancestor of King David and ultimately, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:5-6).
The Church: Grafted into the Olive Tree
Paul describes in Romans 11:17-20 how Gentiles, like wild olive branches, have been grafted into the cultivated olive tree of Israel. This means that those who were once outsiders have now become heirs of God’s promises.
“If some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches.” (Romans 11:17-18)
This passage teaches that salvation is by faith, not by ethnic heritage. Just as Ruth’s faith made her a part of Israel, faith in Christ makes believers part of God’s people, regardless of their background.
A Call to Gratitude and Humility
Both Ruth’s story and Paul’s teaching remind us of God’s incredible grace. The Church must never forget its humble beginnings. We were once strangers, yet God brought us near through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:13). Just as Ruth clung to Naomi and embraced her new identity, so must believers hold fast to Christ, our true Redeemer.
May we live in gratitude, knowing that we, like Ruth, have been brought into God’s family not by merit, but by His boundless love.
