The Book of Ruth ~ Devotion Twenty-Two

"God's Design"


Today is the last day of our study of Ruth. I have enjoyed it immensely and I hope you have to. The last portion of scripture includes a "happily ever-after" ending. But, it also includes genealogy of Boaz and Ruth. Reading these lists of family generations is like watching paint dry. However, look closely and you'll see how God plans things to the last detail and it always results in the best.


Ruth 4:13-22 (NLT) 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.


This is the genealogical record of their ancestor Perez:
Perez was the father of Hezron.
Hezron was the father of Ram.
Ram was the father of Amminadab.
Amminadab was the father of Nahshon.
Nahshon was the father of Salmon.
Salmon was the father of Boaz.
Boaz was the father of Obed.
Obed was the father of Jesse.
Jesse was the father of David.


Boaz took Ruth home to be his bride and she gave birth to a son named Obed. Naomi was so happy about this little guy. And the ladies in town (the same ones who whispered about her when she came back from Moab) spoke a blessing over her. They were in awe of how God had restored Naomi back to better than before. (I'd bet she didn't go by "Mara-bitter-one" now!) She was now Grandma Naomi ("My Joy"). 


The moral of the story is that God will restore you even when you've hit the lowest of lows. Naomi and Ruth lost everything and were knocking on heaven's door from hunger. Ruth had to harvest someone's left-overs so they could survive. 


Instead of dying, they grew in humility and honored God. Boaz, their kinsman-redeemer, came along (not by accident) and ransomed them from their dire situation. A marriage took place and a baby boy was born.


What type of situation in your life have you felt totally at your wit's end? Did or do you see a way out? Maybe you are in that situation now? If so, be encouraged by this story, a true story, of Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi.


1 Corinthians 10:13 (MSG) No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.


God takes the impossible and creates the best possible outcome. When we're in the midst of a situation it seems like it will never work out. God is able. He will follow through in ways that we never expected. 


Mark 10:26-27 (MSG) That set the disciples back on their heels. "Then who has any chance at all?" they asked.
     Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it."


There is no chance at all if God isn't part of our lives. He has made it possible for us to have a Savior. In fact, Ruth is one of the links in the chain of Jesus' human ancestry. She was the great-grandmother to King David and David is in the line of Jesus.


Matthew 1:5-6;16 (NLT)  Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David.........Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.


I'm sure no one in the Book of Ruth thought that through their lives they would be ancestors of the Messiah Himself. 


God uses our lives to create future generations that love and serve Him. Who knows what the issues you and I are going through now will produce to the glory and honor of His greatness if we're only obedient and honor Him.


God is the best planner and executor of His plans. When we interfere the results are always subpar. Let's learn from Ruth that God's design for our lives far exceeds ours. 

May God richly bless you!

Stayed tuned for the next study.