As dramatic as these events of life are, we were reminded that God uses his people to work out His purposes for His glory.
We catch glimmers of hope no matter how desperate our circumstances. We catch glimmers of God’s lavish redeeming mercy and grace. We catch glimmers of God’s character, His provision and compassion for the needy.
What seemed like random choices was God’s hand of guidance.
Naomi and Ruth just HAPPENED to arrive at barley harvest. Ruth just HAPPENED to choose Boaz’s field, who just HAPPENED to be a bachelor and a Godly man. Ruth just HAPPENED to find favor in Boaz’s eyes and she HAPPENED to be working at the time Boaz shows up.
We catch glimmers of Boaz reflecting those character qualities of God.
With an incredible move, he is in position to bring Ruth out of her circumstances and provided abundantly.
He anticipated and met her needs by quenching her thirst, made sure she had access to water, he fed her, he made sure her baskets went home full.
A pastor summed it in these words, “We see how God providentially guides and provides in what may outwardly appear to be inconsequential moments. God does some of His most extraordinary work through ordinary events and people.”
Boaz demonstrated God’s character of God by graciously and lovingly making a widow, a foreigner a part of his family.
“All our lives are tributes to the providence of God.”
This story so far reveals how BIG the need is and designed to reveal how BIG our God is.
Whatever chaotic circumstances one finds himself in we can trust that God has, is, and will be at work.
When we care for a loved one, how do we go above and beyond in our care?
FEELINGS OF DESPAIR
PREVIOUS DEVOTIONAL SUMMARY FROM RUTH
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ReplyDeleteWhat I thought was quite interesting upon further study was the names Naomi gave her two sons and perhaps gives a clue to their untimely deaths. It may give us a somewhat clearer understanding about why she may have felt so bitter.. You see, when the first son, Mahlon, was born he may have looked sick. They gave him an appropriate name: "sickly". The second born, Chilion, was born perhaps small and weak so they named him "pining" or "wasting away" (v. 1:1-2). Well anyway just saying they may have had health issues and Ruth just may have been used to care giving before she began her journey with Naomi.
ReplyDeleteWell anyway just something to ponder.