[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PTS), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]
ℝ𝕌𝕋ℍ
𝟙:𝟚𝟘
"She said to them, ‘Do not
call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.’"
How many of us have a good name
with a good meaning? I guess, all of us, if our parents aren't that horrible,
and our parents aren't horrible, of course!
Naomi had a good name, but she
couldn't live up to her name. She didn't experience what her name said it to
be. She couldn't fulfil her parents' dream. She preferred to change her name!
But she relied on God in her
heydays and gloomy days. Indeed, she lost her husband and all her children. God
looked too bitter to her. But she remained steadfast in her faith towards
Yahweh that made Ruth abandon everything and follow Naomi to follow Yahweh.
A time of "Mara" was
upon her, but God meant it "Naomi" for her. In a bizarre way
but the providence of God, she got Boaz as her "son" who brought
amazing happiness not only to her but to all. Above all, she became the great
grandmother of Jesus Christ!
Naomi is indeed Naomi! There may
not be a miracle to your name, but there's a miracle of God for those who keep
clinging to God!
ℝ𝕌𝕋ℍ
𝟚:𝟙𝟚
"May the LORD reward your
work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose
wings you have come to seek refuge."
When I was in Shillong, I knew a
man with an impeccable reputation. When he was cleaning his home, his neighbour,
a young lady helped him. In gratitude, he was wishing prosperity, success, good
life, etc. for her. Then two elderly women next door quipped, "Why don't
you just marry her?"
Hmm! Boaz never knew that the
blessing he was pronouncing upon Ruth was he himself. Ruth as well hadn't
anticipated that possibility at this point of the story (v19-20).
Many times, we pray, we bless, we
wish, but sometimes we could be the answer, the blessing, the hope, the comfort
to some of those prayers, people, or places!
Remember Boaz's Blessing!
ℝ𝕌𝕋ℍ
𝟛:𝟝
"She said to her, ‘All that
you say I will do.’"
Boaz was an old man. Perhaps he
wasn't handsome either. Perhaps there were richer men, more handsome, and
suitable grooms for this elegant lady Ruth (cf. v10)
Ruth wasn't a gold digger, (which
BTW, all modern women are accused to be). She didn't look for 6-packs abs or
anything of the sort.
What she did was in obedience to
her mother-in-law's counsel, which is to fulfil Yahweh's commandment of
Levirate marriage. A Moabite woman chose to follow the God of Israel even when
it concerned her very life.
And she proposed Boaz marry her
using the same language Boaz has blessed her before! A Smart Brave Chaste
Religious Beautiful Lady!
What was the reaction of Boaz? He
summarised her in one word "Excellent," a woman of excellence, v11.
And it reminds us of the excellent woman of Proverbs 31.
This response of Ruth to Naomi also
reminds us about another man who destroyed his career and his people because he
didn't listen to the counsel of wise elders, king Rehoboam.
ℝ𝕌𝕋ℍ
𝟜:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝
"Then the women said to Naomi,
‘Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a ℝ𝕖𝕕𝕖𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕣
today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you a ℝ𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕖𝕣
of life and a 𝕊𝕦𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕣
of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you
than seven sons, has given birth to him.’"
This is a fitting concluding remark
in the book of Ruth. It summarizes the theme of Ruth— that God is a Redeemer,
also a Restorer and a Sustainer!
Indeed, Yahweh, our God is!
Epilogue: Naomi reclaimed her name.
And the women of Bethlehem (not only Naomi and Boaz) confirmed that Ruth was an
excellent woman. In their words, "better than seven sons."
@___________if your baby is a girl,
may she be better than seven sons. If a boy, like David of course! 👍
What an amazing cast of characters!