Ruth, A Type

Just as we saw the prophetic shhhhhhh secret in Joseph’s life, that Gentiles would be included in the family of God, so we see in the Book of Ruth. However, the Book of Ruth not only reveals our inclusion by marriage, but speaks more specifically as a type and shadow of our role -- the characterization of Gentiles in the family of God. Ruth is our archetype of Gentile believers loving, serving and walking in a supportive role as the Jewish people are restored back into the land to their full rightful inheritance. Ruth is the end-time rehearsal script for the Gentile believers.

Remarkably, every Pentecost (Shavuot), the Book of Ruth is read in its entirety in Jewish homes and Synagogues around the world! The Book of Ruth prophetically reveals the inclusion of Gentiles into the Israel of God.

Assuming that you have read the Book of Ruth, most of us are aware of the wonderful story of our Kinsman Redeemer, Boaz. 

Boaz, who is the type for our Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus, who redeems and restores both Ruth and Naomi's inheritance. As Christians, we claim that fulfillment, however we often stop short of the greater prophetic trajectory. It is the union between Boaz and Ruth which is the final restorative healing in Naomi’s heart in her relationship with God and to the Land of Israel. The point is that we have a very important role to play! In this light, let’s bullet point the book of Ruth in a brief yet fascinating prophetic pictorial map with an “X” that says, “You are here!”  

(Again, TS represents Type and Shadow and PF represents Prophetic Fulfillment.)

TS: Naomi Leaving Israel: The narrative begins with Naomi, her husband and two sons leaving Israel because there was a great famine in the land.

PF: From the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD until the RE-birth of Israel in 1948, the Israelis would experience their second EXILE into the DIASPORA for two thousand years.  This is the prophetic imagery of Naomi’s family leaving Israel for Moab (the world).

TS: Naomi in Moab: While the family was in Moab, Naomi’s two sons married Gentiles wives, Orpah and Ruth. Not long afterwards, Naomi’s husband and sons died. Seemingly, Naomi had lost everything dear to her.  At her most devastating hour, having nothing, she chose to return home.

PF: This is a picture of Israel in the Diaspora for the last two thousand years – and it ‘aint pretty! While they influenced numerous nations, they were repeatedly rejected and scorned by societies – and unfortunately, much of the time by Gentile Christians. God had promised the Jewish people that they would experience a second exile for their unfaithfulness to Him and at its conclusion, His appointed time, He would bring them back into the Land. It is here that we see the devastation of that time climaxing in the holocaust – unimaginable death! It is at this juncture in history that the resolve entered the Jewish people to return to Zion, the Land of Israel, though their inheritance at that time seemed lost.

TS: An Orpah Church and A Ruth Church: Naomi announced to her daughters-in-law that she, though having nothing, was going to return to Israel. With some expressed lament, the daughters-in-law walked her to the edge of town to begin her journey.  Naomi discouraged them from coming with her and noted that it grieved her terribly that the hand of the Lord had gone against her. Orpah kisses her mother-in-law and goes back to her people and her gods! But Ruth clung to Naomi with determination and passionately vowed herself to Naomi and the God of Naomi!

PF: Gentile Christians, who have been grafted into the Israel of God, have married into the family of God through Israel’s Son, Jesus.  However, Gentile Christians in recent history have revealed two very different loyalties to our mother-in-law, Israel. Note, this was not apparent until Naomi’s return. 

The Orpah Church, both past and present, is the Church that does not support Israel, basically saying, “Love ya, butttttt you’re on your own. What do I have to do with you?” As the story reads, she returns to her pagan culture of other gods.  She represents a rapid, swelling movement of a Gentile Church leavened with the pluralities of different faiths – the Bible calls her the Harlot Church.