The Book of Ruth – Yoel Halevi
But Ruth said:
“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried.
YHVH do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”
Join us for this year’s Tanakh Tour of Israel!
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Loving this!!!! I agree whole-heartedly that Ruth’s declaration of faith was much more than just ‘observing Torah.’ She came to live amongst the people. But also definitely much less of a process than conversion is today. Very interesting. Love listening to the two of you again! Thank you.
This was very wonderful, I’ve heard so much from others on how they are not excepted and how hurt they are because of this rejection. May those who oppress wake up and have open arms to those who want to be part of the Nation of Israel. good to hear from both of you on this one. thanks gentleman.
The Story of Ruth
But Ruth said:
“Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. Yahovah do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”
Here Ruth clearly declared Her change from a Gentile to a Believer in Yahovah and Her wish to keep His ways and laws…. and from here we find RUTH in the lineage of Yahushua, in other words part of Yahovah’s family………………no more a gentile.
For some time now, I have been looking at the subject of the fullness of the Gentiles, and how that really relates to those that are truly seeking their place with Yahushua. But what is the fullness of the Gentiles? To start with I had to bring out what the word Gentile means and that isn’t what Father wants of us, because a Gentile is one without law………….or lawless, and that is quite the opposite to what being a follower of Yahushua is. Paul was sent out to convert the Gentile nations which was to bring them Home to the Father’s house, which clearly meant was they were saved they were no longer gentiles. The Jews used it in the sense you had to Jewish otherwise you were a gentile, and the Christian churches teach even today the same. For the Jews saw the law as central to their belief whereas the church teaches that Grace has replaced the law, but I do have to add here in case I get misunderstood, Father’s Grace goes hand in hand with His commandments, His Law.
Law without Grace is not relationship, and Grace without Law in an irresponsible relationship.
Some time back the Holy Spirit spoke into my heart, and bought to mind the story of Ruth, and how this story is a picture of the church today, and how it relates to His people.
As the story goes, Ruth went into Boaz’s field to glean barley with her mother in-law, as this was the custom in the day for the poor to eat. They were permitted to glean what the harvesters dropped or missed, particularly the corners of the fields. This was part of the Law God gave Israel, Let me call this Grace. Whilst Ruth was gleaning, Boaz the owner of the field was attracted to her, and he made sure there was plenty left for Ruth to glean. And so the story goes on to where Boaz redeemed her mother in law’s land and married Ruth. A great Bible story and one that mirrors our redemption by Yahushua, as Boaz is a shadow picture of Yahushua giving us His GRACE.
But today I believe the Holy Spirit was telling me that this is also a picture of the church today. The church is only gleaning on the edges and even though Our Father is blessing some by leaving a bit more, they are still only gleaning. That’s not Father’s plan for His people, He wants us to get to know and become part of Boaz’s (His) family (Boaz being a type of Yahushua). And Just as Boaz redeemed the land and took Ruth in to be his wife, that is exactly what Yahushua wants to do for us, but too many are still out on the edges gleaning the field, and holding their relationship at arm’s length away. They are taught that the story of Ruth is a salvation mirror, and left it at that. This is not just a Bible story this is a real message to ABBA’s people. Too many people are stuck in religion, particularly religion that separates them from the customs and real meaning of the Bible to many are still Gentiles.
So what is stopping us from going into to the Land and being given our inheritance, and consummating our relationship with Yahushua? To truly become His bride to join His family we must not just accept His offer of Grace, but also take on the customs of His Family, His Standards (His Commandments) and gives ourselves entirely over to Him, that is what a Bride does. And that brings me back to what I have been writing about for a long time now, the coming together, in One Accord, the Fullness of our identity. We are told we are to be the Bride of Yahushua and that means we are to submit as a bride should, and take on the customs of the Groom’s family. So what are the customs of the Groom? They are His Father’s house standards. Being the Bride of Yahushua is the fullness of the Gentiles, it is when the gentile is no longer a gentile but a true son or daughter of the Father, through marriage and live by the Father’s law.
I cannot put too fine a point on what I want to say. This is grace in its fullness. Our God, The Mighty One who created all things is calling His people to be ready; He is even giving us the instructions as to how to be ready. The Question is do you want to just glean at the edges for the rest of your life, or are you ready to join with the King of Kings and be His bride.
This is something I discovered that I feel adds so much to the Story of Ruth. When the bible says Boaz put his skirt over Ruth that word skirt is bad translation, I think. The word actually should be, “He put the corner of his shawl over her”. Or the Tzitzits the tassels of his shawl, and this could be translated as “He put his WINGS over her”. To explain what I mean by HIS WINGS, the shawl or rug that Boaz would have worn was a Tallit or a prayer shawl and on the edge of it were tassels called, Tzitzits the Hebrew translation for these are “Wings”. Picture Boaz as a type of Yahushua and then think what it means to have His wings over you. A true sign that Yahushua is THE GROOM for us.
Psa 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide in the shade of the Almighty.
Psa 91:2 I will say to YAHWEH: My Refuge and my Fortress, my Elohim; I will trust in Him.
Psa 91:3 For He delivers you from the fowlers snare, from destruction’s plague.
Psa 91:4 With His feathers He will cover you, and under His wings you shall seek refuge; His truth is a shield and buckler.
We are indeed living in incredible times; Our Wonderful God is showing us great things in these times.
I am convinced Yahovah is preparing His people for the days ahead, He is going to make His Son’s bride the most beautiful and worthy bride any King could hope for.
Many of us are being challenged these days by the things we desperately need to get by with, these may start in small ways, But He is bringing us into the centre of His barley field, to go further than gleaning. He is asking us to put ALL our needs in His hands, because there is soon coming a day when we will have no choice.
Coming into the fullness of our relationship goes further than that, because Yahushua being our Groom wants to touch us and talk to us also, marriage is a relationship, and marriage relationships go much deeper than superficial communication (that is religion). Our ABBA chose marriage for us because it is the most intimate relationship any two people can have.
As I saw in the book of Ruth we can just glean around the edges and live on what we hope we can pick up, or we can come in and join the King our Yahushua and take in the harvest. But joining the King means laying down at His feet and asking Him to reveal Himself to us (Ruth uncovered Boaz feet an act of submission and saying I am yours) and then He will cover you with His WINGS. That is an awesome reality, it gives me goose bumps just to think about it, to think the Great God who created everything has given you and me an invitation not just to glean around His fields, but to actually come in and be part of His abundance, part of Him as His Bride, to uncover His feet is an intimate act between a married couple, and that is what Yahushua wants with you and I..
The Bottom line of this Story about Ruth is she was a Gentile until she met Boaz.
awesome teaching. So beautiful. Thankyou !
Micahel, love what you wrote. Can you email a copy to me? bchemp2000@yahoo.ca
So wonderful to hear you guys teaching together again. The synergy between you two is inspiring. I always am left wanting to hear more of our wonderful Creator’s word from you. Thanks, Jim
I too have always felt in my heart that Ruth was uncovering his feet and laying her head by his feet as a beautiful way of submission. I think of this with Yeshua, as laying myself at His feet as submission. This whole book to me is about redemption, submission, acceptance and the beauty of being grafted in.