As our study of the book of Ruth concludes, we have to grin at the goodness of God. In spite of death, displacement, and discouragement, a Gracious God has a good plan. He saw the circumstances, and I believe he grieved with our main characters, Naomi and Ruth when their husbands passed prematurely, he grieved with the barrenness of Ruth and Orpah for the decade they hoped to conceive. He was and is the God who sees needs and provides, in Hebrew, Jehovah-Jireh.
At the end of chapter 4, God provides for Naomi and Ruth. The good Boaz steps up as kinsman-redeemer, purchases Naomi’s land and marries Ruth. An ethical man, he was above reproach as he invited many elders of the town to be witnesses legally. He treated the two widows with honor and respect. And the LORD saw fit to bless Boaz and Ruth with a son, Obed, who would father Jesse who would father King David…as the lineage of Baby Jesus, King of Kings, carries on without skipping a beat.
Naomi held her miracle infant grandson on her lap, the hope for which she must have prayed fervently. Her circle of friends exclaimed, “The Lord is good….your daughter-in-law Ruth loves you, and that’s “better than 7 sons.”
God saw fit to bless me with sons only. Four of them. They are a huge blessing. In Ancient Israel, having many sons was seen as God’s favor—strapping young boys would grow into hardworking men and provide for their own families, and as the older generation aged, good sons would care for their parents, especially widowed mothers.
I find it fascinating that Moabite Ruth, this foreign girl, was known by the community as someone who loved so well. We get a clue back in chapter one, “Where you go, I’ll go….your God will be my God….” Ruth promised to love Naomi with a complete, unending kind of love. But here in chapter 4, we have solid evidence from a gaggle of little old lady witnesses—-who might have been prone to judging—that the love of Ruth was legendary. Better than the blessing of 7 sons.
Christmastime is a perfect opportunity to love extravagantly. Not with gifts money can buy, but Love as Paul described, the most excellent gift to give, the most excellent gift anyone could receive.
Love that’s patient, love that’s kind. Love that doesn’t envy, nor boast, and isn’t proud. Love that’s not rude or selfish. Love that doesn’t anger easily and keeps no record of wrongs. Love that doesn’t delight in evil but rejoices with truth. Love that protects, and trusts, and hopes, and perseveres.
Love like Ruth.
Donielle Winter
EFCC Member