The negotiations have been
made, and the witnesses have confirmed and blessed them. Boaz is to
be the kinsman redeemer of Elimelech's land, and in doing so is
entitled to marry Ruth. Boaz' mission to be wedded to Ruth is nearly
complete, and as they share their nuptials together in today's verse
found in Ruth chapter four and verse thirteen we have ringside seats
to their union and more. We read:
So Boaz took Ruth, and
she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her
conception, and she bare a son.
Let us remember that all
these negotiations have taken place while Ruth sat “still” at her
home. In obedience to her mother-in-law Naomi, Ruth simply waited
while Boaz prepared a place for her. But finally, the day had come,
“So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife:”. It
started in Ruth's homeland with her decision to travel back with
Naomi to Bethlehem, and now she was married. It began with her desire
to go and work in a field, and her “hap” was to glean in Boaz'
field. It continued as Boaz provided and protected Ruth before she
even knew that he was a kinsman redeemer, and in her obedience to her
mother-in-law Naomi, she forged ahead with her gleaning day after
day. Now, after further obedience to Naomi by humbling herself and
going to Boaz' feet during the night, Ruth was Boaz' bride. What a
marvelous story we have enjoyed, and the climax of the story
culminates in this wedding and more.
In
addition to being married, we read, “and when he went in
unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.”
We could see the LORD's leading as this story progressed, and now we
see the source of a child, a male child, born to Boaz and Ruth. God
was involved, and His blessing was upon both of them as they followed
His ways. Let's think about the hardship Ruth had known when her
first husband died. Let's remember that Ruth left her homeland to
take this venture of faith with Naomi, and then let's think about her
holding her son who was born of Boaz just because she obeyed and was
faithful to the God of Naomi and Boaz. God is faithful, and He is
involved in the affairs of people, and when it seems that life has
come to their most difficult places, He still has a plan in mind that
He is working out just as He did for Ruth.
Our
kinsman redeemer has promised to “prepare a place” for His bride
as well. In the gospel of John in chapter fourteen and verses one
through three we read:
Let not your heart be
troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's
house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I
am, [there] you may be also.
Jesus,
as Boaz did for Ruth, is preparing a place for all who will believe
and trust in Him. Ruth believed and trusted Boaz, and he negotiated a
home for her. Jesus is doing the same for those who follow Him. There
was only one woman who married Boaz that day in Bethlehem, and there
was only one woman who bore his son. Today Jesus desires that
everyone will come to Him to be His bride. The invitation is open to
all. The question is, “Will we become His bride today?” He waits
for us to say “Yes”, and His plan for our redemption is
fulfilled.
Next
time we will see the women report to Naomi, so read ahead, and we
shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites,
www.amazon.com
; www.barnesandnobles.com
; download
to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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