Boaz Marries Ruth

Remember, Boaz had to ask someone else first if they wanted to marry Ruth and help Naomi. So Boaz went to the city gate where important meetings happened.

The other man came by. Boaz said, 'Hey! Come sit down. I need to talk to you.' He also asked ten important leaders to sit and listen.

Boaz said, 'Naomi is selling some land that belonged to her husband. You're part of the family. Do you want to buy it?'

'Sure!' the man said. That sounded good to him.

But then Boaz said, 'If you buy the land, you also have to marry Ruth and take care of her and Naomi.'

The man thought about it. 'Oh... no, I can't do that. You do it instead.' And he gave Boaz his sandal to show everyone that Boaz could have the land instead. (That was a funny custom they had!)

Boaz stood up and told everyone, 'Today I'm buying the land! And I'm marrying Ruth! Everyone here is my witness!'

All the people cheered! 'Congratulations! May God bless you with lots of children! May you become famous!'

So Boaz married Ruth! They were so happy! And God blessed them with a baby boy named Obed.

The ladies in town came to Naomi. 'Isn't God wonderful? You have a grandson! Ruth loves you so much—she's better than seven sons!'

Naomi held baby Obed in her arms. She smiled and smiled. She wasn't sad anymore! She wasn't empty anymore!

Baby Obed grew up. He had a son named Jesse. And Jesse had a son named David—who became the greatest king of Israel!

And many, many years later, Jesus was born from this same family! Ruth, Boaz, Naomi, and little Obed were part of Jesus' family tree!

God took care of Ruth when she was kind and loyal. God took care of Naomi when she felt all alone. And God used them to bring the greatest King of all—Jesus—into the world!

God always has a plan, even when we can't see it!