Today’s Reading … Judges 13-21 and Ruth 1-4
Ruth is a breath of fresh air in the time of the Judges and the corruption of Israel. Ruth is the great grandmother of David, and her story is about the beginning of the messianic family within the messianic nation into which, over a thousand years later, the Messiah would be born.
3 Key Points to Remember as we read Ruth:
1. Ruth was a Moabitess, who were descendants of Lot and pagans. Ruth, however learned of the one true God and surrendered her life to His will.
2. Boaz was the son of Rahab, the prostitute who helped Joshua’s spies in Jericho, so he was half Canaanite.
3. This story is one of God’s grace. God adopted the Gentiles into Christ’s family by making Christ’s great grandmother a Moabitess and His great grandfather a half-Canaanite.
(“What the Bible is All About)
This book falls under our theme, “Facing Adversity.” Ruth and Naomi certainly approached their circumstances differently! Historically, we celebrate the example of Ruth. Rightly so!! Ruth showed unwavering faith in her newly discovered God to provide for herself and Naomi in their desperate need. Ruth was steadfast, hardworking, loyal and brave. The Lord rewards her courage, faith and obedience with a place in the lineage of Jesus. She overcame her genealogy by claiming her new family in the one true God.
Naomi, on the other hand, initially seems to buckle under her grief. I cannot say that I blame her! She lost everything and everyone that she loved. She turned from faith in God to bitterness in her current situation. But, let’s not write her off just yet. Naomi does eventually turn back to her God and trust Him to provide for her. She sends Ruth to the threshing floor of Boaz and anticipates his kind reception of her daughter-in-law. In the end, she finds hope and joy restored in her life and her relationship with God.
Have you ever been blindsided by the circumstances of life and turned your face from God in frustration? I have. This is what I learned. God was not surprised by my reaction. He did not stop loving me and was strong enough to handle my pain. My heavenly Father gently called my focus back to Him and away form my painful situation. It is there, in His grace that the healing always begins. God loved Naomi through her pain and He will do the same for us. Always. It is never too late to come back. He will always restore our hope when we turn to Him.
Love to you all,
Kinsee
“so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return empty, but accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”(Isaiah 55:11).
