Ruth is a wonderful story about God's provision and about God's sovereignty. Ruth went to work in the fields, picking up grain that harvesters had dropped. This was a dangerous job, because of the character of many of the reapers. Ruth 2:3 says, "As it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech." As it happened...coincidence? I think not. I think it was the direct leading of God.
Ruth had left her country of Moab to be with her mother-in-law, Naomi, who had lost not only her husband, but also both of her sons, one of which was Ruth's husband. Naomi encouraged Ruth to return to her home and remarry, but Ruth stayed with Naomi and would not leave her all alone. Word got around about what Ruth had done:
11 Boaz replied, “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. 12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”
What is the story of our lives? Do we live a life of faithfulness? It was no coincidence that God led Ruth to work in Boaz's fields, and it seems as if Ruth had come to trust in Naomi's God, and not the gods of her home country (they worshipped idols).
Long story short, I think God blessed her for her faithfulness. Ruth ended up marrying Boaz and had children. She was the great-grandmother of David.
I Samuel, as the name of the book says, tells the story of Samuel. He was born to a woman who was childless, but who became pregnant as an answer to her anguished prayer for children. After Samuel was old enough, she left him at the Temple to be Eli's helper, because she made a vow to God that if He gave her a child, she would give the child back to Him. She was true to her word and God blessed her with three other sons and two daughters.
Eli had two sons of his own, but they were wicked sons. Eli knew what they were doing, and confronted them on it, but they wouldn't listen to him and he didn't really discipline them. So a prophet came to Eli with a word from God and told him: 2:29 So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—for you and they have become fat from the best offerings of my people Israel! 30 “Therefore, the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I promised that your branch of the tribe of Levi would always be my priests. But I will honor those who honor me, and I will despise those who think lightly of me.
Meanwhile, Samuel was serving the Lord by assisting Eli. Even though he was only a boy, he was the Lord's helper. This confirms that God uses and works through children.
God called out to Samuel in the night and gave him a message to give to Eli, and this was His message: 11 Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am about to do a shocking thing in Israel. 12 I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end. 13 I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn’t disciplined them. 14 So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.”
God takes our parenting seriously. Just as He disciplines us when we stray, He expects us to discipline our children.
Chapter 3 ends with:19 As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable. 20 And all Israel, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, knew that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord. 21 The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh and gave messages to Samuel there at the Tabernacle.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment