Delivering Hope Ruth 2:19-20

Delivering Hope

Ruth 2: 19-20

Her mother-in-law asked her, "Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Bless the man that took notice of you."

Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. "The name of the man i worked with today is Boaz," she said.

"The Lord bless him!" Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. "He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead." She added,"That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers."

Previously Naomi had felt bitter but today we see a Naomi that is waking up to the Lord's protection and goodness. Her faith in God was indeed still alive and she praised God for Boaz's kindness to Ruth. Life's application Bible says,"In her sorrows she still trusted God and acknowledged His goodness. We may feel bitter about a situation , but we must never despair. Today is always a new opportunity for experiencing God"s care." His mercies are new every single day.

Warren Weirsbe, p. 41: The last time we met Naomi, she was sharing her bitterness with the women of Bethlehem...but we now hear a new word from Naomi's lips: "bless!". She not only blessed Ruth's benefactor, but she also blessed the Lord! We have to move from bitterness to blessedness...Naomi had hope because of who Boaz was--- a near kinsmen who was wealthy and influential. As we shall see , a near kinsmen could rescue relatives from poverty and give them a new beginning (Lev. 25:25-34)"

W.W..p.43. concerning the law about kinsman- redeemer. It was not just kindness and love of Boaz for Ruth that gave Naomi confidence, for those wonderful feelings could change overnight. It was the principle of redemption that God had written in His Word (Lev. 25: 47-55) that gave Naomi assurance that Boaz would rescue them. As a near relative, Boaz could redeem the family property that Elimelech had mortgaged when he took his family to Moab. Naomi wasn't wealthy enough to redeem it, but Boaz could buy it back and keep it in the family."

In this story we see how the Lord TAKES away (the husband) and He GIVES (provision with food and a new potential husband). Ladies, God is our refuge and our strength. He GIVES freely His grace. Grace is intended to make us happy in God. When we look back to the beginning of this story we see human decisions making a mess of things. At the same time we see the providence of God marching along side of these characters. We need to look back in our own stories to see where we have come and recognize His providence in our own lives!

Just a Ruth delivered both food and the good news about Boaz to Naomi, we too can have our hope revived in the good news of Christ and His word. Is there a time when a person or God's word brought hope to you in a tough situation, and as a result, your heart lifted?

For further reading: Psalm 41:1; Romans 10: 15

Heavenly Father, how full of thankfulness we find ourselves today. Help us to recognize the providence in our own lives as we see in Naomi's and Ruth's. We acknowledged that without You there is no hope but with You we have life abundant. Let us spread that news today to others we encounter. Thank You for new mercies daily and for your grace that covers all the messes we find ourselves in. Amen