Look Inside. Look Around. What do you See? Show Me! #8

Yesterday we moved on in the history of Israel to the time of the judges. We noted that overall it was a dark time in their history, as everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes, and that they got into this rut of sinning over and over again, falling into the idolatry of the land. But we also saw a lot of crying out to God in prayer, the continual covenantal mercy of God, and a faithful, influential remnant of people who really loved God. That's what we find in Ruth:

Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. 3 Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. 4 So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” 5 Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” 6 Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.” (Ruth 4)

After the history of Judges and before the history of Samuel may seem like a strange place to put this love story, but it really is appropriate, as it is an example of more people open to God during the period of the judges, as well as God's ongoing guiding of His plan.  Ruth lovingly followed her mother-in-law back to Israel after all the men of the family died, and God provided a husband to love Ruth and provide for them both.  In the process, this Moabitess Ruth becomes a part of the line of the coming King, David, and therefore utimately the Messiah. The fact that she is from the people of Moab, with whom the Israelites had had great conflict for agenerations, makes this story even amazing.  Key to understanding this whole story is that term repeated over and over in this paragraph and throughout the book: Redeemer.  Just as Boaz bought back the right to marry and provide for the bride of his relative's widow, God buys back His people, as He did over and over again in Judges, as He was preparing to do through David their great King, and He is doing throughout History in His great Son, Jesus Christ.  It is all part of The Great Love Story of all time.  So, if you look around and see all sorts of terrible things, look into Ruth, then look around you again. Where do you see traces of God's love? People whom He is working? Ways He is working to provide - even if it is small things like Ruth gleaning through the fields to get enough food to get by - God is working out His plan.  Take a picture and post it here, let me see and rejoice with you.