Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: FRUIT (05/26/22)
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TITLE: Loyalty Pays Dividends | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
06/02/22 -
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Naomi received word that Judah was blessed with good crops. She decided to return to Judah. Naomi instructed her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab with their families and give themselves a chance to remarry. Orpah stayed. Ruth went with Naomi. Naomi urged Ruth to return to Moab. But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.” Ruth 1:16 NIV
Ruth was stepping into an unknown future by going to Bethlehem. She gave up her family and security to help Naomi get through her grieving. Bitterness can crawl into our hearts when we grieve. Naomi felt the Lord’s hand turned against her. Her friends in Bethlehem called out to her, “Naomi.” She told them to call her “Mara” meaning bitter. Neither woman lost trust in the Lord.
Ruth told Naomi she wanted to go to the fields and pick up any left over grain. Unknowingly, she worked in the field belonging to Boaz. Boaz was from the clan of Elimelech. Boaz greeted his workers in the field saying “The Lord be with you.” They answered. “The Lord bless you.” Boaz noticed Ruth and inquired about her. He was told who she was and about Naomi.
Boaz told Ruth to work only in his field. She wanted to know why he was doing this. He told her because of the commitment and loyalty she showed to Naomi by leaving her own parents and homeland to come to a strange land to take refuge. Boaz prays for her in Ruth 2:12 “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.”
Boaz invited Ruth to a meal. She ate and had some food left over. Afterwards, she went out to work in the fields. After work she carried the barley and the left over food back to Naomi.
Ruth told Naomi she had been working in the field of Boaz. Naomi informed her that Boaz was a close relative and he was one of their guardian-redeemers. She instructed Ruth to go to the threshing floor and when Boaz finished eating and drinking to approach him and uncover his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night Boaz awoke and saw a woman lying at his feet.
“Who are you?”
“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”
Boaz advises Ruth he is not the first guardian-redeemer. He assures her if the first in line wants to do his duty that is good and if not he will redeem her. Ruth tells Naomi of her encounter with Boaz. Naomi advises Ruth to wait and see what happens.
Boaz meets with the first guardian-redeemer and ten elders and discuss the situation. The man initially said he would do it. Boaz then told him he would have to acquire Ruth the Moabite. The guardian-redeemer hearing this said no he would not do it. Boaz bought from Naomi Eliemech’s and her sons property and acquired Ruth.
The fruit of Ruth’s loyalty, to Naomi and faith in God brought her a loving husband in Boaz. Together they had a son. They named him Obed. Naomi was filled with joy. She took the child and cared for him as if he was her ow. Obed is the father of Jesse. Jesse is the father of David. Most of all Ruth is placed in the family line of Jesus Christ.
Boaz was a guardian-redeemer of Naomi because of his relationship with Emilelech. As believers we have a relationship with Jesus. He is our guardian-redeemer. He freed us from the darkness of sin. We are in his family and heirs to what Almighty God has.
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