Foundations Week 14, Day 4

Scripture Read:  Ruth 1 - 2
Title: Ruth Meets Boaz
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H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse:  "And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem.  And he said to the reapers, 'the LORD be with you!'  And they answered 'The LORD bless you.'  Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, 'Whose young woman is this?'" Ruth 2:4, 5

(E) Explain:  Ruth was Moabite woman who was a widowed wife to one of the sons to her mother-in-law Naomi.  Upon the death of her son Naomi urges Ruth to go back to her people and to her gods, but Ruth insists on staying with Naomi; she says, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”  In this statement we see loyalty evidenced in Ruth.  Naomi gives in and returns to Bethlehem with Ruth.  Upon their arrival all of Naomi’s friends recognized her and she informed them her name is no longer Naomi it is Mara; because the Lord has dealt bitterly with her.  Enter Boaz… One day Ruth informed Naomi that she was going to the field to glean after the reapers and the field she chose just happened to be a part of Boaz’s land.   As we will see in tomorrow's reading that this story gets more involved and ultimately we will see a beautiful story emerge out of the ashes up to this point.

(A) Application:  In this account we see God’s providence in in the life of Ruth.  None of what happened in this story happened by accident.  Every detail was orchestrated by God.  In this we see that with all the tragedy and uncertainty in the lives of Naomi and Ruth, that God had a plan.  The plan served his purpose because it was through Ruth’s offspring that the Messiah would come.  Sometimes we may not understand why certain things happen or even how God could work in some circumstances but God loves to defy the odds.  He is a God who delights in the underdog.  He loves to make the impossible, possible and He does it all on His own terms.  

(R) Respond: Lord, you make beauty from ashes.  May I not allow my circumstances dictate my trust in you.  You delight in the underdog, because you love to show that you are an able and capable God.