Word for the day

8/29/25

The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge! Ruth 2:12

This morning as I read again the book of Ruth I was reminded that a beautiful story often includes hardship. Famine and death had left Naomi a widow and childless.

Naomi decides to head back to her home country and says goodbye to her two daughter-in-law's. One daughter-in-law said goodbye and left, but Ruth clung to her. No persuading by Naomi could change Ruth's mind.

So the two of them went on... I love the picture of those two women's hearts both grieving and uncertain for the future, clinging together. The story within the story is often where beauty lies.

Naomi upon arriving back in Bethlehem was greeted my many old friends. She said no longer call me Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. Yet God had not abandoned Naomi, He was preparing a "redeemer" for her the whole time.

As Ruth went out to glean in the field after the harvesters, she "happened" to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz.

Ruth's love for her mother-in-law had quickly became known throughout Bethlehem. Boaz said to Ruth the Lord repay you for what you have done, (for Naomi) and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under who's wings you have come to take refuge!

Naomi upon hearing that Ruth just "happened" to glean in the field of Boaz told Ruth this man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemer's. After Boaz met with other leaders and the redeemer who had first choice turned it down, Boaz became Ruth and Naomi's redeemer.

So Ruth became Boaz's wife and she bore him a son and they named his name Jesse who was the father of King David, from whose line Ruth and Naomi's true "Redeemer" was born.

What a beautiful story of God's redemption. Like our story it starts with hardship and ends with redemption. But all of the "happenings" in between are God's divine providence.

Heavenly Father I love the reminders from the book of Ruth that our life is not by chance or happenstance. That we are not left to endure hardship without hope. I love how Ruth, a Moabite, a foreigner and stranger to Israel, is in the genealogy of our "Redeemer". I love that you have provided a Redeemer for the foreigners and strangers who will come as Ruth came. Ruth told Naomi, your people will be my people, your God will be my God. In Jesus name I give thanks..AMEN AMEN