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Ruth Chapter Four (ESV)

14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17 And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

18 Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, 19 Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, 20 Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.

 

REFLECTION:

1. Ruth, the Moabite, had married an Israelite living in her homeland. When he died, Ruth walked away from her Moabite heritage, her own parents, and the religion she had learned from childhood and never turned back or wavered in her decision: “Where you go, I will go…your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (1:6).  Ruth and Naomi journeyed back to Bethlehem, and upon arriving, she followed all of Naomi’s instructions as the two sought their survival.  Ruth didn’t demand things go her way, but allowed God to guide her life through Naomi.
2. Ruth married Boaz, and their son, Obed, became the grandfather of King David and ancestor of Christ. At that time, Ruth had no idea of all this.  She knew only that God had called her to Himself, and she pledged to follow His lead.  Now, Ruth, a foreigner and a woman, would also share in God’s plan to save all people.
3. Ruth lived out one of Jesus’ essential teachings: that we must be willing to renounce family for the sake of Christ, or plans, rights, comfort, safety, heritage, or status in order to follow God’s lead without, perhaps, ever seeing the fruit of their sacrifice.  Ruth gave up much, yet experienced Christ’s truth that “those who lose their life for my sake will find it” (Matt 10:39).

 

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank You that this story which began in tragedy and apparent hopelessness ended in joy and hope.  In Your grace, You took this Gentile woman and made her a direct part of the Messianic line.  You accomplish far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think.