LEARNING DAILY

 

Ruth 2:12, The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.

 

The story of Ruth occurs during the time Israel was ruled by the judges; it begins during a time when Israel was experiencing a great drought. An Israelite family goes to the land of the Moabites to seek food. The family’s two sons marry Moabite women. As the story unfolds, the husband and two sons die leaving the three women alone. Naomi, along with one daughter-in-law, Ruth, return to Israel because the famine has ended.

 

The statement made that the women were left alone is not totally true because God has not abandoned them. The story of Ruth is word to us that we must remember. We have seen the cycle in the book of Judges that shows God left Israel alone but He never abandoned the people. The story of Ruth shows that God was faithful to individuals in their time of need. It shows that He redeems and leads His people when they follow His direction. Ruth, the Moabite wife, believed that Naomi’s God would provide and went back to Bethlehem with her.

 

In Bethlehem, Ruth was led to go into the field owned by a man named Boaz to gleam or gather grain left in the field during the harvest (2:3). This was God’s way of providing for those who lacked the ability to provide for themselves. It is important to know that the story of Ruth would not happen without Ruth being led to this field. God was getting her to the right place at the right time to meet the right person who would meet her needs.

 

There are no coincidences when God is involved. Today this is still important for God’s people to know as they walk with Him. I have stories that support this. Think back over how God has led you to do something or brought people into your life. People have influenced my walk with the Lord in great ways. My hope is I have been able to do that as well with those God has brought into my life. Coincidence? Nope!

 

The Life in the Spirit Study Bible states verse 12 is the key verse in the book of Ruth. Why? What does that mean for you and me? Ruth lived in a time when people forgot the Lord and “did what was right in their own eyes”. Look around you today. Isn’t this philosophy dominating in our world? We live in a time when people want nothing to do with God; even church leaders and pastors fail to believe God’s Word is true. Verse 12 is a reminder for you and me that even in times of great apostasy, times when people have abandoned God, He continues to watch over those who hold fast to Him with a sincere trust and committed faith. In this story about Ruth, we see God’s provision in the lives of those who trust and follow Him on the narrow way to eternal life in His kingdom.

 

I wonder how important that will be for us to remember in the future!