How does the narrative of Ruth, a Moabite woman, challenge and broaden the prevailing understanding of covenant membership and God's redemptive plan in the Old Testament?

A It reinforces the strict ethnic boundaries of Israel, demonstrating that only those born within the lineage of Abraham can be part of God's chosen people. B It highlights the importance of maintaining cultural purity by avoiding intermarriage with foreign women. C It demonstrates God's inclusive grace and the possibility for individuals from other nations, through faith and loyalty, to be incorporated into the covenant community and become part of the lineage of the Messiah. D It serves primarily as a romantic love story with little theological significance beyond the personal relationship between Ruth and Boaz.