God Who Restores Our Inheritance(Ruth 4:13–17)
God Who Restores Our Inheritance(Ruth 4:13–17) 8/9/ 2026
Ruth chapter 4 is the conclusion of the Book of Ruth. The central message is that two women, Naomi and Ruth, who had fallen into miserable circumstances and seemed destined to live hopeless lives because one person had missed the covenant and made a wrong choice, had their destiny completely changed through someone whom God had prepared. All their suffering and curses were turned into blessings and an eternal inheritance. What is God trying to tell us through the Book of Ruth? It is the gospel, the mystery of only Christ, and the blessing that we who have become God’s people through the gospel are called to recover.
The picture of people falling into curse and a predetermined destiny because of one person’s failure to keep the covenant and wrong choice reminds us of whom? Because of Adam’s failure to keep the covenant and his wrong choice, all humanity fell into sin, curse, and death (Romans 5:12). Then Christ, the Son who came as the Mediator of the New Covenant, humbled Himself and came to restore everything that humanity had lost. This is called atonement and salvation. There is an important term throughout the Book of Ruth that we must hold onto. “To redeem the inheritance” and “the redeemer of the inheritance.” The Hebrew word translated “redeem” carries the meaning of to redeem or ransom, and to restore.
This is exactly what Boaz did for these two women. The key point is not simply that Boaz showed kindness and love to a poor, unfortunate woman named Ruth and married her. This is not merely a beautiful story about one person’s good deed. Rather, it reveals the tremendous blessing of God’s salvation—the way God saves people who are trapped in curse, destiny, and the power of darkness because of one person, Adam. Furthermore, it foreshadows the restoration, through Christ, of the magnificent blessing that Adam originally possessed. What blessings did Adam originally have? He was created in the image of God. He was the central figure in the Garden of Eden and the one given authority to rule over all creation.
We were all originally meant to live in that blessing, but we lost it (the curse of original sin).
Therefore, the two women in Ruth represent us—the believers who are saved through Christ, have everything restored, and are called to save the world. Only Christ can do this, and only we who are in Christ can participate in it. This is the blessing represented by this year’s World Remnant Conference theme, “The Spiritual Emperor Who Saved the Emperor.” Therefore, through the Book of Ruth, we see three things God has prepared, and we must restore them.
- God prepared Boaz to rescue these two women from their miserable destiny
This is why many theologians regard Boaz as “a model of Christ” and a “foreshadowing of Christ”.
1) Although Boaz lacked nothing, he extended a hand of unlimited mercy to women trapped in miserable circumstances (love of hesed). What is faith? It is holding onto and looking toward that hand of love and mercy. What is worship? It is the time when we enjoy Him as though we were kissing that hand of love and mercy (proskyneō). Christ, whose power is far greater than Boaz’s, used His power for people living miserable lives (Philippians 2:8 the Incarnation and the humiliation of Christ).
2) Boaz paid the price to recover the inheritance that had been lost for these women (He paid on their behalf, a ransom or redemption)
① In the Old Testament, the Israelites were not permitted to sell their land. Because the land had been given by God and represented the eternal inheritance He would give His people. But Elimelech, a man from the tribe of Judah, abandoned this covenant land and went to Moab, which represented the world. To recover this land, Boaz sought out the closest relative who had the right to redeem it. Because no one else was able to do it, Boaz stepped forward.
② Hebrews 9:15 explains that Christ died to redeem us and enable us to receive the promised eternal inheritance. He restored us to our identity as God’s children and people who have recovered the covenant (John 1:12). In Christ, He restored our right to enjoy every spiritual blessing belonging to heaven (Ephesians 1:3–5). We have become heirs of the blessings of heaven together with Christ (Romans 8:17). We are to know and actually enjoy those eternal blessings while living on earth. This is the blessing of the throne (the bartizan of the throne, the journey of the throne, and the guidepost of the throne).
3) What Boaz did went beyond that. He accepted Ruth, who was lowly, ashamed, and weak, as his bride.
① What does this symbolize? It symbolizes the blessing that in the new heaven and new earth, Christ will receive us as holy and honored brides. This is the conclusion of the Book of Revelation. Even as we pass through many trials, He enables us to keep our faith to the end and transforms us into holy brides clothed in fine, bright linen (Revelation 19:8). They become the central figures of the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1–2).
② In that new heaven and new earth, there will be no more darkness, and the saints, as the bride of Christ, will reign over all creation (Revelation 22:5). This is because Satan, who brought Adam down and continues to work to destroy God’s people, will ultimately be imprisoned in eternal hell (Revelation 20:14).
- What was the first blessing Naomi enjoyed after restoring the blessing of the covenant and salvation? Although she had failed and experienced shame, she returned to the covenant land of Judah and rerstorerd two important blessings.
1) Although Naomi herself had experienced unimaginable pain, she had something else. Naomi had the covenant given by God and the answer from God. This was what mattered. That is why she returned to the land of Judah. Even when she was in Moab, where she experienced great pain, and later when she returned to her homeland, she accurately gave Ruth the answer and guided her. This is the model of an evangelist. Evangelism means seeing the pain of others and the pain of the field through our own experiences of suffering, walking alongside them, and giving them the answer of Christ and the covenant.
2) Through Ruth, whom Naomi guided and established, she received a son, and he became God’s comfort and reward to Naomi.
① The people recognized this blessing and said, “He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age” (14) They also said that this child would restore her life and provide for her in her old age, and that Ruth, who loved her, was more valuable to her than seven sons.
② This was not simply a child obtained through physical bloodline. He was a spiritual child received within the covenant. Through him, the kingdom of David would be established. Ultimately, Naomi did not merely save one household or one family line. She became a woman who would enjoy eternal glory in Christ.This is the reward and crown that evangelists who proclaim the gospel will receive (2 Timothy 4:8).
- The blessing Ruth enjoyed through Boaz and Naomi was the blessing of a disciple. In one word, it was the blessing of discipleship.
1) The child born through Ruth was Obed, who became the grandfather of David (Ruth 4:17). Through David’s descendants, Christ would come, and Ruth would be recorded as one of the women in the genealogy of Christ in Matthew 1. She became part of the spiritual royal family. How could Ruth, a Gentile woman whose life was filled with pain, enter into such blessing? This is the blessing of the gospel (Romans 1:16–17).
2) What was the beginning of this blessing? It was pain and suffering. But God transformed all of it into a foundation for blessing.
① In the midst of her suffering, Ruth chose the covenant and followed her mother-in-law Naomi, who held onto that covenant, staking her life. This is the life of a disciple who is in Christ. She denied herself and took up her cross (Matthew 16:24).
② At every decisive moment, Ruth received Naomi’s guidance, whom God used, and through that guidance the 300% blessing was established. This is the blessing of a life in which we meditate on God’s Word, follow His Word, and receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 1:3).
Conclusion – Do you have pain from your past? Are you in despair right now? Can you not see your future? Hold onto the covenant of Christ alone. Now, hold onto the blessings that Christ promises us from the throne. We are royal priests and spiritual emperors called to save this generation.
8.9.26 God Who Restores Our Inheritance