Many preachers tell this story with people thinking Ruth was by race a Moabitess which would conflict with God's law. God doesn't make mistakes or violate His law. And I agree with the others about Lot's daughters and Ruth.. which lead us to our Redeemer.. Christ Jesus - Savior of the World.
Hi Bunni,
You are absolutely correct God makes no mistakes nor does He violate His laws, it is us, humanity who makes mistakes, misunderstand and misinterpret His plan and purpose. Christ taught us that God's Law is spiritual not physical.
There is a deeper spiritual message represented by the life and actions of Ruth than traditions, bloodlines and national identity.
Are there any scriptural witnesses to show us Ruth was an Israelite? The scripture appears to be clear here but perhaps I have missed something. Ruth 1 1Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4And they took them wives of
the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and
the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
22So Naomi returned, and
Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
Ruth 2 1And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.
2And
Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
21And
Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.
Ruth 4 5Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of
Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.
10Moreover
Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
I am familiar with certain Christians who made the claim that Ruth was not a Moabite, doing linguistic somersaults of supposition because of Jewish challenges to the genealogy of Jesus and the point of the Jews was that He could not be the true Messiah because Ruth (Moabite) was in His bloodline. (Matt 1)
Peace,
Joe