God's People Do Not Mar His Heritage

The Book of Ruth contains many precious images of our Savior and His redemption of His people. Boaz is a type of Christ, and Ruth a type of the Church.

Ruth came from a corrupt and polluted people. Israel had many bad run-ins with Moab; indeed, Moabites were barred from the highest echelons of Israeli society and government. Moabite women, particularly, had wrought folly in Israel and seduced many men into fornication and idolatry.

So it is amazing that Ruth would leave her own country of Moab and go to Israel with Naomi; but she would follow the God of Israel and remain faithful to her mother-in-law, even though it meant she would probably die a widow in poverty.

But Boaz took notice of her, and when the time came, was willing to redeem her property and take her as his wife.

His brother, however, was not willing to take Ruth to wife, for as he put it, such would mar his heritage.

Humanly speaking, he might have seemed right at the time. As it turned out, though, he is unknown and his heritage has failed. But Boaz's heritage, which was in jeopardy of being marred by his marriage of Ruth, turned out to be the glorious heritage of King David and of the promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus.

How wonderful that God did not reject us because we might mar His heritage! There was much in us that would mar any heritage, but God has perfected us by the blood of His own Son.

He has taken everything in us that would mar His heritage and placed it all on Jesus at Calvary!

Now, instead of marring His heritage, we are adornments to it! He has made us shining trophies of His grace toward us!

Indeed, God has taken us into His family as sons!