“May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:12
Ruth, the great-grandmother of King David, was faithful. A Moabite, Ruth married a Jewish refugee fleeing from famine is Israel. He died but Ruth chose to remain with her widowed mother-in-law, a choice that brought her to Bethlehem. (Ruth 1:16-17 are the familiar words of Ruth’s vow to her Naomi and her God.)
This is one of the most beautiful stories in the Old Testament narrative. Ruth and Naomi are widowed, wholly dependent on the benevolence of others. However, Levitical law allowed for gleanings of the harvest to be left for the needy and under Levirate law, a kinsman was bound to marry a widow and raise an heir so her family name would continue. Boaz was not Ruth’s closest relative so he had to publicly transact land and marriage to assure the continuation of Naomi’s family. In doing so he became Ruth’s redeemer kinsman.
In the most devastating moments of life, God offers provision. We ask, “What will I do? How will I survive?” God says, “Trust and follow me.” God’s has a plan of redemption, care and security. Jesus became our Redeemer Kinsman. We will not be abandoned to despair.
Happy 4th!
Gretchen