By David ReayFriday 12 Jul 2013LifeWords DevotionalsFaithReading Time: 0 minutes
Transcript:
Read Ruth 4:13-17
13 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. 14 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. 15 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!”
16 Naomi took the baby and cuddled him to her breast. And she cared for him as if he were her own. 17 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. (NLT)
It may only be in fairytales that everyone lives happily ever after. But human life has its happy endings. The book of Ruth ends on such a happy note. Ruth is no longer a vulnerable young woman. Naomi is no longer an embittered and lonely old lady. Boaz has found his true love. In the midst of our proper perplexity at just how rough life can be at times,never forget that life can be quite the opposite too.
But this story is more than just a happy outcome in the life of a family beset with misfortune. It reminds us that all our stories are part of a much bigger story. Here,we read that the baby born to Ruth is to be the grandfather of David. And elsewhere we read that it was from the human family of David that Jesus was born. So this rather obscure little story of not very famous or distinguished people forms part of a bigger picture.
Perhaps this is why it gets space in our Scriptures. This happy ending results in the birth of a Saviour. The kind actions of Ruth and Boaz are woven into the Saviour’s lineage. The bitterness of Naomi has been transformed into the privilege of caring for one who is part of that lineage.
The happy endings and the sorrowful endings,the glad news and the bad news,all are taken up by God for his good purposes. Out of myriad minor-life situations,God weaves his tapestry of salvation. Our life stories are part of a much larger story. And that will have a happy ending.
Blessings
David Reay