The Story of RuthSample

The story of Ruth foreshadows God’s plan to redeem mankind through Jesus, both implicitly (through the role of the kinsman-redeemer) and explicitly (through Ruth’s genealogy leading to King David and ultimately to Jesus). Ruth’s story happened 1,000 years before Jesus was born, reminding us that God is in control of history, down to the smallest details of our lives. It also reminds us that God can use anyone, even an immigrant widow, in his plan to redeem the world.

This is also the story of King David’s great-grandparents, and it shows us what kind of legacy David (and eventually Jesus) was born from. This story would have felt extra significant to the ancient Israelites because they revered David as Israel’s greatest king.

Today you will read all four chapters of Ruth so that you can see the whole picture before we dive in and study each chapter more in-depth. As you read, make note of anything that surprises or confuses you. Ask yourself where you see God’s grace in the story.