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SPOILER ALERT: If you don’t know how the story of Ruth and Boaz turns out, this post contains information about it you may not want to read just yet. Come back after we’ve started Ruth 4 if you want to see it for yourself first…
Hello again! It’s so hard to believe we are already wrapping up this study. I hope your dig into Ruth has been as profitable as mine has. God’s Word is so good!
Last Week’s Work
This time, the Spirit called out the poetry in verse 9, “spread your wings over your servant for you are a redeemer.” I commented about how this might have helped Boaz identify Ruth on the dark threshing floor, since he used similar language in their conversation in Ruth 2:12. I also recall seeing similar words in a few of the Psalms attributed to David, the famous king of Israel who was also Boaz’s and Ruth’s great-grandson.
As I studied the Hebrew word ga’al, translated redeemer, I thought about how often I’ve heard Jesus called the Redeemer. He’s not a redeemer in the sense Boaz was: the kinsman who bought Elimelech’s field and married Ruth to provide a son for her childless, late husband. But, to Christians, Jesus is our brother who also fulfilled at least one of the kinsman’s duties. By his death, he redeemed us from slavery to sin and death (see John 8:31-36, Romans 3:23-24, Ephesians 1:3-10). I feel the Spirit leading me to dig more deeply into this facet of Jesus’s life—which means our next DISO study text will probably be one of those passages!
CONVICTION
I remain convicted by Boaz’s steadfast commitment to God’s law and his family. He had a humble heart and was very willing to do the right thing, even when the woman who needed rescue was born of people with whom Israel was in conflict.
As I write, I see myself in a similar situation, facing the possible surrender of something I really want, and I believe the Spirit is prompting me to respond as Boaz did: if x happens, good; let it be. But I don’t want x to happen. I want y to happen. So much so that I am catastrophizing any other outcome. That feels like an idol.
CORRECTION
I’m pulled toward two passages in this study: first, a segment of Ruth 3:21, “do not fear,” one of the most repeated commands in God’s Word, I’m told. The second passage is from the cross-references, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is … not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way…”
I believe the Spirit is telling me not to fear the outcome of the situation about which I’m so concerned, and to stop insisting on my own way. I know from experience this doesn’t mean I’m going to get what I want, but I can say—also from experience—whatever happens will be for God’s glory and He will work it out for my good, even if that takes a long time.
ACTION PLAN
So, my action plan is to walk with courage toward this crossing, willing to accept how God chooses to resolve the situation. Like Boaz, the result is completely out of my hands. God knows how I want it to go, but He sees beyond my vision. Both Ruth and Boaz have trusted God in this whole series, and I know it turns out for good all the way around. I’ve got to trust that God is working that way in my situation, too.
Our Next Study
I hope you’ll continue to check in with me as I start our examination of the last chapter in Ruth next week. See you then!