God Can Use Anyone

The Book of Ruth is one of only two books in the Bible named for women (the other is Esther). Also, when you read through Jesus' genealogy, you will find Ruth mentioned along with four other women (Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba, and Mary are the others). Women were not usually mentioned in the genealogies at that time. But this only shows how God does the unexpected and chooses the unlikely to fulfill His plans.

So, why is Ruth mentioned in Jesus' genealogy? After all, Ruth is a Moabite. Now, a Moabite is a descendant of Moab. When Lot and his family escaped the destruction of Sodom, Lot's wife turned to look back and was turned into a pillar of salt. After the destruction, there were no men around, so Lot's daughters devised a scheme. They each got their father drunk and 'lay with him.' The resulting pregnancies and births of sons resulted in Moab and Benammi. The Moabites and the Ammonites respectively. These two groups of people, the result of incest were cursed by God.

Which brings back to Ruth. Ruth is the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Naomi is becomes a widow. The Naomi's two sons die. This leaves Ruth and Orpah also widows. Orpah moves on to look for a husband while Ruth stays with Naomi saying, 'Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'

Ruth eventually meets and marries Boaz. They have a son named Obed. Obed then becomes the father of Jesse, who is the father of David.

In Ruth we find that we can trust God to provide what we need, when we need it. In Ruth we find that God can use anyone - no matter who they are or their situation.