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God's Words For US
by Cecelia Lester
I like the Biblical character Ruth.
She gave up living in her native land to accompany her mother-in-law Naomi through the wilderness back to Bethlehem. It could have been very dangerous for travelers, let alone women, who went into the wilderness Enroute to distant places.
Ruth chose to adopt Naomi’s faith in one God. She treated Naomi as well as any daughter would her mother.
When they arrived in Bethlehem, she chose to stay with Naomi and work in order for them to have food.
Boaz owned the fields where Ruth gleaned grain for Naomi and herself. Boaz not doubt heard who this woman was and left orders for the men to leave grain at the edges of the fields for her to find.
When Naomi heard from Ruth that she had gleaned from a field owned by a man named Boaz. She told Ruth that he was a relative of theirs.
Naomi knew Boaz had not yet taken a wife.
She guided Ruth through the process of letting Boaz know that she was amenable to marriage to him.
Boaz knew the Law and had to tell Ruth that there was another man closer in relationship to her. The Law said that the closest living male relative was responsible for the welfare of a widow.
The very next day, Boaz went to the city gate and spoke to the man with whom he had to deal. There was some land that Elimelech owned that would be part of Ruth’s bridal price.
In other words, whoever bought the land also received Ruth as his wife, to perpetuate Elimelech’s lineage. The other man didn’t want to mess up his own inheritance. He gave up his ‘right’ under the Law and let the ‘kinsman-redeemer’ status go to Boaz.
The Lord blessed Ruth and Boaz’s union. She gave birth to a son, Obed. Obed became the father of Jesse. Jesse became the father of David.
I love this story because I see God’s hand in each segment.
· Ruth could have said she would go back to her parents’ home. Orpah did- with Naomi’s blessing.
· When they got to Bethlehem, Ruth could have said she was going back to her parent’s home in Moab.
· She could have gone off and left Naomi to fend for herself.
· She could have balked at the idea of a marriage to Boaz, an older man.
· When Obed was born, everyone knew that he was the next generation of Elimelech’s line.
· The women of Bethlehem said a blessing over Obed. Part of it said,” May he become famous throughout Israel.” 1
1. Ruth 4:14
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Cecelia Lester has been serious about her writing for over two decades..
She composes Christian essays and posts them to her blog quietspirit-followingmyking.blogspot.com/
She has served in a faith-based organization, Grace In Action by writing two newsletters and searching for possible grants.
In July 2017, she published her first book, 'Times of Trouble Bring Rays of Joy.'
She and her husband of 54 years live in central Indiana. They have one grown son.
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