Grace Without Limits - The Story of Ruth

The story of Lot and his daughters is one that feels uncomfortable to talk about, but it’s also an important part of God’s redemptive plan. After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his two daughters fled to a cave, thinking they were the only ones left alive on the earth. Fearing that their family line would end, Lot’s daughters made a desperate and sinful choice to get their father drunk and sleep with him. This led to the birth of Moab (the son of Lot’s elder daughter) and Ben-Ammi (the son of his younger daughter), the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites. It's a deeply unsettling part of the Bible, but it’s also where God's story of grace begins.

Even though the origin of Moab and the Moabites came from a broken and sinful situation, God didn't discard them. Despite this messy start, the Moabites would become a distinct people. Over time, the Moabites had both conflict and moments of peace with the people of Israel. And one of the most remarkable parts of the story is that God used Moab, despite its troubled beginning, to bring about something incredible. Out of the Moabite people came Ruth, a woman whose faithfulness would eventually lead to the birth of King David, and later, Jesus.

Ruth’s story is one of incredible faith and loyalty. Ruth, a Moabite widow, could have stayed in her homeland when her husband died. She could have gone back to her family, but she chose to stay with Naomi, her Israelite mother-in-law, and follow her to Bethlehem. Ruth made a remarkable decision: she left her past behind and chose to follow Naomi’s God. Ruth said to Naomi, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” This wasn’t just about loyalty to Naomi—it was a decision to step into a completely new life, trusting in the God of Israel.

By choosing to follow Naomi and embrace her faith, Ruth’s life became part of God’s bigger story of redemption. Ruth married Boaz, a relative of Naomi, and they had a son named Obed. Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David, the king of Israel. And from David’s line came Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Here’s where God’s grace shows up in a way we might not expect: Ruth, a woman from a foreign and often hostile nation, was brought into the family line of David and eventually into the line of Jesus. Ruth’s inclusion in the genealogy of Jesus, found in Matthew 1:5, is a powerful reminder that God's mercy is for all people—no matter where you come from, what your past is, or what you've done.

Ruth’s story demonstrates how God's grace is not limited by ethnicity, nationality, or past mistakes. Ruth, despite being a Moabite, was brought into God’s plan of redemption. And God didn’t just redeem Ruth; He used her to redeem the whole world through Jesus. This is a powerful reminder that God can use anyone, no matter their background or history, to carry out His purposes.

Through Ruth, God shows us that faithfulness is what matters, not where you come from. Ruth didn’t have to be an Israelite to be part of God’s plan. All she needed was to follow God. Moab, from a sinful and complicated start, became part of the redemptive story that would bring Jesus to the world.

This story tells us that God’s grace knows no bounds. No one is beyond God’s reach, and God can redeem anyone, no matter their past. If Ruth, a Moabite woman, could be part of the line of Jesus, then we can be assured that God's mercy is for all people.

Through Ruth’s faithfulness and God’s unmerited grace, we see a beautiful truth: no matter where we come from, no matter how messy our stories are, God can use us for His purpose. Grace Without Limits is a truth that echoes throughout the story of Ruth—and it’s a truth that echoes for all of us today.

 

 
I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Anna M. C. Hazen  2025

The image is AI generated on chatgpt.