Word Live: Happy Ever After
Have you ever tried to trace back your family tree? Is a sense of family important to you? Thank God for your spiritual family as well as your natural one.
Bible passage
Ruth 4:13–22
Naomi gains a son
13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: ‘Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.’
16 Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, ‘Naomi has a son!’ And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
The genealogy of David
18 This, then, is the family line of Perez:
Perez was the father of Hezron,
19 Hezron the father of Ram,
Ram the father of Amminadab,
20 Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,[a]
21 Salmon the father of Boaz,
Boaz the father of Obed,
22 Obed the father of Jesse,
and Jesse the father of David.
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Explore
I put my paperback down with a contented sigh. There was a sequel to come. I would find out more about these First World War heroines who braved the front line in their ambulances. I needed to know!
I find it so exciting that, although we don’t see more of Ruth’s actual life after she had her son, there are clues! Although it is the men’s names in the genealogy (v 18), we are very aware of the part the women played. Naomi is told that her daughter-in-law is worth more than seven sons (v 15). A fitting tribute for Ruth. And Naomi gets to cherish the new baby that not only brings so much hope to her but is also an important member of the family tree that leads us right forward to Jesus (v 17; Matthew 1:5,6,16).
Sometimes, as we go about the normal things of life, we absolutely don’t know what might be important in our futures and those of others. We don’t need to be terribly weighed down by this thought. Just trust God, be ready for the call, and follow him.
Author
Liz Pacey
Respond
On a piece of paper (perhaps in your journal) draw a large heart. Write as many names as you can from your family or church family. Use this regularly as a reminder to pray for these people.
Deeper Bible study
Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name … great is your love towards me.’1
If this final scene were in a Disney Princess movie, there would be an ensemble singing and dancing, with Ruth and Boaz centre stage! Everything has come together beautifully, despite the hardships and unkindness, grief and injustice along the way. Even Naomi’s neighbours are here, singing Ruth’s praises! Finally, Ruth is recognised as the princess among women that she is: better than seven sons – an extravagant compliment in a community that doesn’t seem to value women much at all! We have walked this journey with Ruth and Naomi, when no one else was with them, when Naomi even felt abandoned by the Lord himself. We know that the one who has protected and restored them is the Lord their God – the Lord our God. Ruth and Boaz trusted the Lord and chose to honour God, putting their faith in him and his Law and denying themselves in humility and love. It is now, at the conclusion of their story, that we see how God honours them: by bringing them into the story of King David and, consequently, into the story of the King of kings – Jesus!2
By trusting God in faith, we – like Naomi, Ruth and Boaz – are welcomed into the family of God, honoured and valued as part of God’s kingdom: ‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!’3 God’s purpose in filling our lives with his love is that our love for others may increase and overflow.4 God’s love is more powerful, steadfast and faithful than that found in any romantic movie. It is the sort of love that Ruth and Boaz chose. When we choose to love like this, we become a powerful blessing from God to others.
Lord, thank you for your amazing love. May my love grow in self-denial and depth of insight, that I may discern how to honour you with my life.5
1Ps 86:11,13 2Luke 3:23–38 31 John 3:1, italics added 41 Thess 3:12 5Phil 1:9,10
Author
Katharine McPhail
