08/07/2026 – “The Mystery of the Second Scroll”
“It was a warm and windy afternoon. We were sitting outside on the ground. The teacher was reading from a small scroll.
“This is one of the hamish megillot, the five scrolls. Each one is rad publicly during the year. And this, the second scroll, is the Book of Ruth.”
“What’s it about?”
“It’s the story of the love between a Jew and a Gentile. But behind the story is a prophetic revelation that involves the entire world, the mystery of Israel, the church and the age itself.”
“The Book of Ruth begins with a Jewish woman named Naomi. She will represent the nation of Israel. Naomi is married to a man named Elimelech. Elimelech means My God is King. So Israel is joined in a covenant of marriage to God, her King. In the course of the story Naomi finds herself with no husband and living in exile from her homeland, a stranger in a foreign land, an existence of pain and sorrow. So too the Jewish people, for the last two thousand years, have found themselves living in exile from their homeland, strangers in foreign lands, in an existence of pain and sorrow. But in the days of Naomi’s exile, a Gentile woman named Ruth becomes, through Naomi, part of the nation of Israel and is brought to the knowledge of God. So in the days of Israel’s exile in the nations, those who are not of Israel, Gentiles, are, through the Jewish people, brought to the God of Israel and are spiritually joined to His nation.”
“The church, ” I said, “those who are born again. They are Ruth.”
“Ruth becomes Naomi’s adopted daughter.”
“So those of the new covenant are the adopted children of Israel. Israel is their mother. And the church is Israel’s daughter.”
“So those of the new covenant are the adopted children of Israel. Israel is their mother. And the church is Israel’s daughter.”
“At the end of the story Ruth bears a child who becomes the blessing of Naomi’s life. So through Naomi came Ruth’s redemption, and through Ruth comes Naomi’s blessing.”
“So it is through the Jewish people,” I said, “that blessing has come to the Gentiles… and it will be through the Gentiles that blessings will come to Israel.” “Yes,” said the teacher. “And those who are blessed with salvation are blessed through Israel and to Israel they are joined. They are Ruth, and Israel is their Naomi. And only when Ruth blesses Naomi and Naomi blesses Ruth will the circle and the story be complete.”
The Mission: Be a Ruth today. Pray for and bless your Naomi. Pray and bless Israel and the Jewish people. Help bring their story to completion.
Ruth 1: 16-17; 4: 13-17; Isaiah 40: 1-2; Romans 11:11; 15: 26-27
The Bethlehem Allegory
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Soli Deo Gloria!