The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer.
Ruth 4:14
*note: As we continue to consider Ruth’s story, let’s read chapters 3 and 4 carefully.
Last week, we discussed the loyalty and diligence of Ruth which led her to make a statement of conviction and commit to hard work. Last verse in chapter 2 is where I want us to begin today. The Bible says, “So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz in order to glean until the end of the barley harvest and the wheat harvest. And she lived with her mother-in-law.”
I’ve read this book many times but, this time I was struck by the large significance in time. Ruth worked diligently in the field of Boaz for a whole season. This means, in April or May (or BOTH months) Ruth was in the field gleaning. Why is this significant? Because just like Rahab, there was a time of waiting involved in her own redemption. Likewise, the world waited for a Savior to redeem it back to God. Likewise, you may be waiting for God to redeem a part of your life. Sisters, waiting is HARD, but with God all things are possible. Through Ruth, we are encouraged to wait and work through the season of harvest. If God has called you into a season of working and waiting, press IN and press ON. God’s love redeems us from sin, we know this from the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we walk with Him, He finds ways to redeem the broken, shattered or empty parts of our lives and that often calls us to wait.
But, thankfully Ruth didn’t wait forever, neither will you or I. While Ruth stepped into a season of work, God worked on her behalf. God cultivated a heart in Naomi to pursue a different and more secure life for Ruth. This is the exciting part of the story to me because I believe it’s important to know God has given people a heart to help you pursue your future! You may or may now know who these people are, but they are there. They are chosen by God. They are praying for you. They are being used by God. This is why giving grace is so important. We all receive grace by God, grace upon grace, and when we rest in the grace we’ve been given, we are more inclined to give grace to others. Naomi wasn’t a selfish woman, she allowed God to nudge into the right direction to do something beautiful for someone in need. Can we commit to giving grace in this way?
Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight. Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.” She said to her, “All that you say I will do.” So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
Ruth 3:1-6
Ruth was obedient to Naomi in saying “all that you say I will do.” I pray, we are dedicated to becoming obedient in all things. This is a critical part of each woman we’ve studied so far. Grace abounds regardless of our ability to be obedient. The Bible says, “while we were still sinners Christ died for us”. God knows we need grace, that’s why it’s never ending. What’s critical is that we are obedient with our life purpose knowing we will need grace and when we need it we receive it. What has God asked you to do today? Begin a ministry in your church? Support a pre-existing ministry? Love a difficult person in your life or a child who constantly misbehaves? Start a business to bless members of your community? Whatever God has called you to, He desires to see you through. Through, sisters! That means to the finish line. That means, across the bumpy roads, through the waiting season, in the depths of the valley and over the mountain top. God wants you to be faithful, listening to those who speak His will into your life and to keep it moving.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:6
Ruth’s story is one of loyalty to the One true God, diligence to her work and obedience to instruction. Through her loyalty, diligence and obedience God granted her the blessing of becoming married and a mother.
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ruth 4:13-17
Ruth and Rahab were two women who needed to be rescued out of their physical circumstance. God wove together His spiritual plan of redemption into the way He chose to redeem their physical lack. David, is the King who the Bible calls a man after God’s own heart. He is the the King David who will establish songs of praise and worship in Psalms. He is the King David who will desire to build a temple for God. He is the King David through whom Jesus the King of kings will be born!
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:16
Jesus is the full representation of the love and grace God has had towards us from the beginning. He knew we would be women in need of redemption and grace; I am so glad He lavishes it upon us in excess. May we not take this grace for granted, but may we use it as our covering and strength to be loyal, diligent and obedient women who fear Him.
#tobepraised
