Many focus on Ruth in this beautiful story of redemption but I want to focus on Naomi and how God wrapped her in loving arms of provision and took care of her through His promises and divine mercy. 

At the beginning of this story we see a defeated Naomi who has lost what she was counting on for joy. With the death of her husband and two sons, she doesn’t see any hope for her future.  No children, no grandchildren, no one to carry on her family heritage or provide for her.  She basically tells Ruth that she is throwing away her life if she journeys with her back to the land of Judah. 

“But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands?”  Ruth‬ ‭1:11‬ ‭

She was looking so deep into the well of self pity and despair that she thought God had abandoned her and turned his back on her.

“…the Lord’s hand has turned against me!””  Ruth‬ ‭1:13‬

“”Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”” Ruth‬ ‭1:20-21‬. [Naomi means “pleasantness”]

It may indeed, in that dark moment in time have looked like Naomi’s future would hold only sadness and sorrow. But, God had other plans and God was surely looking after Naomi and Ruth. God would redeem the circumstances of Naomi’s life …in fact, He already had a redeemer in place.

“Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.”  Ruth‬ ‭2:1‬ 

This kinsman redeemer did not just follow the Law in providing the minimums for Naomi that were his obligation to her but he embodied the heart of the law and extended genuine love and compassion to Naomi and also to Ruth because he admired and honored her love and sacrifices for Naomi. 

“May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.””  Ruth‬ ‭2:12‬ 

He made sure Ruth had extra and also protection and In providing for Ruth, Naomi’s provision was always his concern as well.  “and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’ ””  Ruth‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭

This story that starts out so sad and hopeless has such a beautiful transformation. Boaz becomes the kinsman redeemer who changes the outcome from tragedy to blessing. God blessed Ruth with the provision of a loving, kindhearted, reputable husband but he blessed Naomi as well..it is her joy and happiness that is emphasized in the union of Ruth and Boaz. “The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. The women living there said, “Naomi has a son!” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.”  Ruth‬ ‭4:14-17‬

God cared about Naomi and had not abandoned her in her time of sorrow and heartache. He cares about us the same and promises to give our sorrow purpose and to redeem our lives for His glory. Just as Boaz redeemed Naomi and Ruth from their physical destitution, Jesus redeems us from our spiritual destitution and offers us hope and an eternal future. 

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.”  Psalms‬ ‭30:11-12‬ ‭

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalms‬ ‭43:5‬ ‭

““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””  John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭

“and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”  Isaiah‬ ‭35:10‬ ‭

“‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  Revelation‬ ‭21:4‬ ‭

Reflection: 

1. When life is full of sorrow and loss do you feel as Naomi did, that God is against you?
2. Do you believe that God can transform your sorrow into joy?
3. Do you know Christ as your Redeemer?  This is a great resource for more info on What is a Kinsman Redeemer.

https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/quest-bible/0238/07/16?interface=print

 Ruth's story can be found in the book named after her. I hope you'll take the time to read the entire four chapters this week and be blessed!

Hi Girls!

When I began contemplating what lesson I should write on from Naomi and Ruth's story, the Lord reminded me of Ruth's words that He used to teach me a very important lesson, and He wants me to share it with you today.

Thirty years ago, on my 15th wedding anniversary I was quite taken by the fact that we had been very happily married fifteen years already! People don't usually do anything special for just fifteen years, but I thought it was worth celebrating and I found this special poem on marriage written by a wife to her husband that I especially loved, and had it matted and framed to give to John on our anniversary. On the back of the frame I hand wrote the words from Ruth, 

Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to parts us!” (Ruth 1:16-17)

Only John and I could see these words on the back of the frame, but they truly meant more to both of us than the poem, and we hung the frame in our bedroom. 

Fast-forward seven years...

John had been asked by the owner of the company he worked for to move the company to a more central location of the country. We had no idea at the time where that would be, but John agreed to take on this monumental task. 

Monumental is the largest word I could come up with from my vocabulary, but trust me when I say it doesn't begin to describe all that we were facing at the time. The children were graduating from high school and college and transitioning to their next chapters and so were we. For the first time in my life the stress was so severe that it began to have an impact on my health.

Each week John and I would end our work week by going out to have a quiet dinner together to talk over all the events going on in our lives. By then John had narrowed it down to three major cities to move the company to and I clearly had my heart set on one in particular and John knew it! 

One night he sat me down at our weekly dinner out and broke the news that we would not be moving there because they weren't able to find a building large enough to meet their needs, though he had tried his very best. To which I instantly replied, 

"That's it! I'm not going." 

(Did I ever tell you that I have this tendency to be a brat at times?) I didn't stomp my foot, for after all I was already sitting down, but I did give John a look that completely knocked all the wind out of his sails. 

The look on his face at that moment still haunts me today. He was so crushed. He knew the stress had become almost debilitating and he hated that he was the cause. We had always been best buddies and what he most needed at the moment was my understanding and support. 

We both decided at that moment to change the subject, and neither of us brought the subject up again for the rest of the evening. 

That night, at exactly 2am, The Lord woke me up. 

He and I had already made an agreement long ago that if He ever had anything He needed to tell me, but I hadn't been listening during the day while I was awake, He was free to wake me in the middle of the night and have my complete attention then. And I can highly recommend you make the same agreement with Him as well, for it's been some of our most precious moments together. 

I quickly rose, grabbed my Bible, and went out to our favorite spot in the living room and The Lord got straight to the point with a question. "Did you mean those words you committed to John back on your 15th anniversary?" 

I knew exactly what words He was talking about, but I needed to turn to Ruth 1: 16-17 to refresh my mind to exactly what they said, 

Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.  Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to parts us!” (Ruth 1:16-17)

Hmm...

Lessons I've learned from Ruth's words and story: 

- Doing What is Right often Requires Sacrifices.

It was a sacrifice for Ruth to refuse to return to her family. Her commitment to go on with Naomi was a beautiful, selfless act. 

- Our Faith Must Rest in God Alone and Not in Others.

I believe Ruth could go with Naomi not because of her faith in Naomi to provide for her, for Naomi admitted she had nothing to offer her. Ruth clearly trusted the one thing Naomi had left and might have forgotten; she belonged to God. 

- Make a Commitment/Covenant and Make it Stick!

God takes our commitments/ promises/ covenants (whichever you wish to call it) very seriously. He has never gone back on His word and expects us not to either. However, if you can recall a commitment you once made and failed to keep, confess it and seek His mercy and grace to right it. 

- God uses Our Commitments to Build our Character and Our Story.

Ruth went above and beyond her calling in the way she honored and respected Naomi, and in doing so became known in the city as a “virtuous woman.”  Everything that she did showed her character, and because of that character, she was honored by God. 

- God Honors our Commitments/Covenants

Ruth did what she did with God's help, and so can we. He promises us that the power we need to do far more than we can even dream of rest within us. (Ephesians 3:20-21) BUT, He will not only provide the abilities to keep our commitments He will use them to write our story for future generations. 

There's so much more I could add and I hope you'll add your own thoughts on Ruth as well, but I do want to leave you with this:

When John woke that next morning I wrapped my arms around him, looked into his eyes and shared that I had been reminded the night before of the commitment I made not only when we married, but again on our 15th wedding anniversary and that from that moment on, no matter how hard it could become, he had my full support and help because I trusted God to bless our days ahead. 

And He has!

Blessings, 

sue

Ruth shows us that following God in perfectly surrendered faith is the path of truest joy, peace, and eternal life. She forsake all she knew to follow the unknown, leading her to God; the loving, mighty, Redeemer of her life. And under the refuge of His wings, Ruth found protection, provision, and unequaled blessings! 

Ruth - Finding Refuge Under The Wings of God

The famine had taken many lives, and was growing more severe. And with the death of her husband, things for Ruth were going from bad to worse. All of the men in the family had passed, including her own husband, leaving only Ruth, her mother-in-law Naomi, and her sister-in-law, Orpah.

There was no way the three women could make it alone. And so Naomi said to her daughter-in-law’s, “Go, return each of you to her mother’s house.” For as heartbroken as she was to send them away, Naomi knew there was no future for them if they stayed. And so with much weeping and sorrow, begrudgingly, Orpah left. But when it came time for Ruth to go, she couldn’t. Overcome by emotion, she ran to Naomi. Falling on her knees, Ruth clung tightly to Naomi’s waist, and refused to let go. Looking up at her mother-in-law, Ruth pledged, “Where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God.” Naomi could feel the determination in Ruth’s words, and the pure love reflected in her eyes. And so she let Ruth stay.

Remaining in Moab wasn’t an option, for surely they would starve. But Naomi, who was from Bethlehem, had heard news that the Lord had remembered His people and blessed them with grain. So the two woman made preparations to go back, packing provisions and a few personal items. Ruth wasn’t sure where this journey would lead, but she trusted her mother-in-law. For Naomi was a woman who suffered great loss. Yet her faith in her God was still strong. A woman who so trusted in His provision, she was willing, in complete surrender, to travel over 60 miles to seek refuge under His wings. And even though Ruth did not know this God of Israel, out of her love for Naomi, she too would surrender.

The two arrived at Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. Hungry and without money, Naomi sent Ruth to a field belonging to a relative named Boaz. There, she faithfully followed behind the reapers, carefully collecting the stalks they left behind. For every bit she got would be baked into bread. It wasn’t much, but at least it meant their stomachs wouldn’t go empty. And it was there in that field where she met Boaz. 

Not recognizing her, Boaz had asked about Ruth, and to whom she was with. And upon hearing her story, learning of her sacrifice, virtue, and loyalty to Naomi, he couldn’t help but be awed. Boaz encouraged Ruth to stay in his field, making provisions for her care and welfare. And after two months of work in the harvest fields, Naomi encouraged Ruth to seek Boaz as her “kinsman redeemer.” (A male relative who, according to various laws of the Pentateuch, had the privilege or responsibility to act on behalf of a relative who was in trouble, danger, or need.)

Through Naomi’s instruction, Ruth’s obedience, and a series of divinely appointed circumstances, joyfully, Boaz and Ruth got married. And together they had a son, Obed, who was the grandfather of David, the forefather of Jesus.

The story of Ruth is one of surrender, devotion, faith, and deliverance. She chose to follow her mother-in-law Naomi, and in doing so chose to follow the Lord God. And the overwhelming compassion, grace, love, and redemption she found in Him, is there waiting for us. For He is our kinsman Redeemer, joyfully eager to provide us with His great protection, provision, and blessings. And under His mighty wings will we find a perfect refuge of His never ending tender care. 

Welcome to Scripture Saturday! 

Our verse for this week is Jeremiah 29:11..."'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

I chose this verse for us to memorize this week because I believe it eloquently gives meaning to  both Ruth and Naomi's lives and faith in God. 

We will read this week that as Naomi and Ruth, in trust, journeyed forth, God continued to work in their lives, and He does in our lives too. We can take comfort in knowing that God promises to be there for us in all our most difficult seasons. He can work through our difficulties to prosper us and give us a hope and future. For in the verses following Jeremiah 29:11, God proclaims that when “you will call on me and come and pray to me,...I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

He is faithful!

Have a blessed week everyone!

Sandra 

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Our reading this week was Judges 3:7- Ruth 4:22.

1. What questions or doubts weigh heavily on your mind? Write them down and lay them before God. Spend some time in silence before God, trusting wisdom and listening to His answer. (Judges 6:15)

2. Life is a journey filled with joys, triumphs, dangers, and tragedies alike. What will you pack and what will you leave behind? What are the essential components of your spiritual, physical, social, and emotional health? List the most important things in your life, and ask God to edit your list and help you re-pack. (Ruth 1:16)

3. What was a time that you were completely desperate and needed help-but had no one to turn to? Perhaps you are in that position now. Only God can turn sorrow to joy, poverty to richness, loneliness to contentment, and despair to worship. (Ruth 3:9)

Saturday, February 24, 2018