Ruth 2:12 “The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
Dear God,
Another lovely autumn day, for which I sincerely thank You, as I also do for the privilege of being given life, and now the hope of a soon coming Saviour.
The story of Ruth is gem that illustrates faithfulness and hope, amidst the sorrow of apostasy so often expressed in the history of the Israelite nation. Ruth however, is an example of selfless loveliness. She was committed to caring for her widowed mother-in-law, even though she was a widow herself. She had learned to love and had chosen to follow the true God from on high. She also loved Naomi her Israelite mother-in-law, and chose not to be parted from her, when Naomi left Moab and returned to Israel.
Ruth had no idea that You God had a purpose for her in the new adopted country, Israel. A most blessed and prosperous one! It so wonderful to think that You have blessed selfless lovely people from nations other than Israel; in a way that was important in answering scriptural prophecy. For example, Rahab the prostitute, who was spared by the Jews, because of her faithfulness to the Israelites. Later she married an Israelite man, and gave birth to a child that is in the lineage of Christ; and this was also the case for Ruth.
As was the custom in Israel, Ruth married a close relative of her first deceased husband, so a son could keep the family name and property. Therefore Ruth a Moabite woman had a son that was the great grandmother of King David, who also was in the lineage of Christ. The account of this is in Ruth 4:13 “So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife, and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.”
How blessed am I and all who follow You dear Lord, for You love everyone and do not follow the traditions of man, for which I am very grateful. Because You are God, You can take an adverse situation and make it Your own opportunity. This is such a lesson, for when I complain and sorrow about how circumstances come and play out. I can instead of whinging and focusing on ‘poor me’; I can remember You love me without fail and know what is best for me. Because You are the God of heaven, any of my situations can be Your opportunity. One day in heaven when all is revealed about my history on earth, I will see, why situations played out as they did, and in the end I will know, that all worked out for the best for my eternal salvation.
Forgive me please for my lack of faith and trust, and change me to be as You want me to be, so You can work more powerfully within me for Your purpose on this earth.
Amen