March 5 - Ruth 1-4
Don't you feel lifted up after reading the book of Ruth? It is a wonderful love story full of commitment and restoration, but mainly it is the account of how the lives of two widows are radically changed by their close relative, Boaz. There is no doubt that God wants us to be filled with hope as we read this part of His word.
The two widows, Naomi and Ruth, lost their husbands, and therefore, they had a very limited future, because ladies were not in the position to earn money in those days. With a touching statement of commitment Ruth declares her devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi as they decide to return to Naomi's hometown of Bethlehem from Ruth's country of Moab. Once there Ruth goes to glean in the fields during the barley harvest. This was a form of welfare for the poor. In this case God leads her to the field of her close relative, Boaz, and he shows favor upon her from the start. Then, after Naomi explains what to do, Boaz decides to exercise his responsibility to carry on the family name of his close relative by taking Ruth as his wife. In the end Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David, and Naomi goes from being bitter from the deaths in her life to being the nurse of her grandson, Obed.
All of this is possible because of God's law about the close relative or kinsman redeemer being able to take up the family name in the event of the death of a relative, and the fact that Boaz was willing to fill this role for Ruth. This was God's way of foreshadowing the work of Christ. He is our kinsman redeemer. Since He became a man, He is related to us. Since He is God, He has the ability to redeem us through His death. Since he is Love, He wanted to give Himself for all of us so that we could have eternal hope through forgiveness of sin and salvation. The message is clear. Jesus is there to put any life back together, if you will turn to Him. He is willing and able to restore you and cause you to have real life. The fact that Ruth was a foreigner underlines the fact that this salvation is for anyone who will come to Him as Ruth came to Boaz in humble submission and faith.
I pray that this redemption has come to your life and that today you are experiencing the abundant life through a close personal relationship with Jesus. If not, I urge you to surrender to Him as your only source of hope and life. He loves you, and He is willing to save you, but you must take the first step of faith. Then, He will do all of the work of redemption just like Boaz did in this story.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 1-3.
The two widows, Naomi and Ruth, lost their husbands, and therefore, they had a very limited future, because ladies were not in the position to earn money in those days. With a touching statement of commitment Ruth declares her devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi as they decide to return to Naomi's hometown of Bethlehem from Ruth's country of Moab. Once there Ruth goes to glean in the fields during the barley harvest. This was a form of welfare for the poor. In this case God leads her to the field of her close relative, Boaz, and he shows favor upon her from the start. Then, after Naomi explains what to do, Boaz decides to exercise his responsibility to carry on the family name of his close relative by taking Ruth as his wife. In the end Ruth becomes the great-grandmother of King David, and Naomi goes from being bitter from the deaths in her life to being the nurse of her grandson, Obed.
All of this is possible because of God's law about the close relative or kinsman redeemer being able to take up the family name in the event of the death of a relative, and the fact that Boaz was willing to fill this role for Ruth. This was God's way of foreshadowing the work of Christ. He is our kinsman redeemer. Since He became a man, He is related to us. Since He is God, He has the ability to redeem us through His death. Since he is Love, He wanted to give Himself for all of us so that we could have eternal hope through forgiveness of sin and salvation. The message is clear. Jesus is there to put any life back together, if you will turn to Him. He is willing and able to restore you and cause you to have real life. The fact that Ruth was a foreigner underlines the fact that this salvation is for anyone who will come to Him as Ruth came to Boaz in humble submission and faith.
I pray that this redemption has come to your life and that today you are experiencing the abundant life through a close personal relationship with Jesus. If not, I urge you to surrender to Him as your only source of hope and life. He loves you, and He is willing to save you, but you must take the first step of faith. Then, He will do all of the work of redemption just like Boaz did in this story.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Samuel 1-3.