Whether you are cozy in a blanket or jogging down the street, we are so glad you are here as we jump into Ruth chapter 4. This story is revealing to us that God has a plan for every single one of us even when the bottom falls out. His intentions can never be shaken.
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Transcription:
Hi, I’m Erica. Welcome to the Bible for Busy People, where every weekday you and I meet to study God’s word in seven minutes or less. It’s us gathering to remember how loved we are, and how peace is always available to us. Jesus is our peace, and he says, come to me, in his word, and I will give you rest. So whether you are feeling cozy in a blanket, Or on a break at work, Maybe you’ve got your earbuds in and you’re sitting in your break room and you’re like, I just need a deep breath. Oh, I am just so glad you’re here.
We’re studying the book of Ruth in our harvest series. Boy, this is the most beautiful story, I think, or at least, okay… I always say this is the most beautiful one. No, this is ONE of the most beautiful stories in the Bible because it shows us that God has a plan for every single one of us. Even when the bottom drops out, he still has a plan. Actually Psalm 33:11 says, but the Lord’s plans stand firm forever. His intentions can never be shaken. And that’s why I love the book and the story of Ruth. It’s so beautiful.
So, in case you missed the first few chapters together, let me sum it up for you. Ruth is a faithful daughter-in-law. Her husband died, but she didn’t go back to her home. She was from Moab, she was a foreigner. She decided to stay with her mother-in-law, Naomi, who was also a widow. She said, where you go, I will go. Where you stay, I will stay. Ruth planted seeds of selfless love, and we’re about to see her reap the fruit of God’s faithfulness because a man named Boaz, a rich man and a member of her father-in-law’s family is about to come to her rescue, to shelter her, and to take care of her mother-in-law too.
You ready? Here we go. We’re gonna dive into chapter four. “Boaz went to the town gate and took a seat there. Just then, the family redeemer he had mentioned came by, so Boaz called out to him. ‘Come over here and sit down friend. I want to talk to you.’ So they sat down together. Then Boaz called 10 leaders from the town and asked them to sit as witnesses. And Boaz said to the family redeemer, ‘You know Naomi, the mother-in-law who came back from Moab. She is selling the land that belonged to our relative Elimelech.'” So that’s Ruth’s father-in-law who died. “‘I thought I should speak to you about it so that you can redeem it if you wish. If you want the land, then buy it here in the presence of these witnesses. But if you don’t want it, let me know right away because I am next in line to redeem it after you.’ The man replied, ‘All right, I’ll redeem it.'” He liked the idea of the land. “Then Boaz told him, ‘Of course, your purchase of the land from Naomi also requires that you marry Ruth, the Moabite widow. That way she can have children who will carry on her husband’s name and keep the land in the family.’ ‘Then I can’t redeem it.’ The family redeemer replied, ‘because this might endanger my own estate. You redeem the land, I cannot do it.’
“Now in those days, it was the custom in Israel for anyone transferring a right of purchase to remove his sandal and hand it to the other party.” Interesting. “This publicly validated the transaction. So the other family redeemer drew off his sandal as he said to Boaz. ‘You buy the land.’ Then Boaz said to the elders and to the crowd standing around, ‘You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of a Elimelech, Killion, and Mahlon, his sons. And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. You are all witnesses today.’ Then the elders and all the people standing in the gate replied, ‘We are witnesses! May the Lord make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah from whom all the nation of Israel descended! May you prosper in Ephrathah,'”
I don’t know how to say that. Ephrathah…? Lord, forgive me. I don’t know how to say that.
“‘And be famous in Bethlehem. And may the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.'”
“So Boaz took Ruth into his home and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son. Then the women of the town said to Naomi, ‘Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family. May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age, for he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!’ Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast, and she cared for him as if he were her own. The neighbor women said, ‘Now at last, Naomi has a son again!’ And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.” King David in Israel!
Do you remember when Naomi changed her name to Mara at the beginning of this story? She was so bitter. She was so angry at God for taking her husband and her two sons. But do you see how God had a plan? We live in an evil world and bad things happen all of the time, but we have a good God who never fails. He never fails, he never stops loving us. And I wanna read that verse, I believe it was from the Psalms, from Psalm 33 again, because maybe this is something that you need to hang on today. Psalm 33:11. Hang on to this today, but the Lord’s plans stand firm forever, his intentions can never be shaken. So if you are wearing the shoes of Naomi from earlier in this story where you are so bitter and you can’t see a way out of your situation, just know that with the Lord, there is always a way. Just as he opened the Red Sea for the Israelites, just as he completely redeemed Naomi’s family through Boaz. He has a plan for you. Don’t forget that. Remember that, hide it in your heart. Until next time we meet, remember you are loved.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life. Find more podcasts that will recharge you at onpurposely.com.
