For a full description of the (Y3) reading plan, see the “About” page.
- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Ruth 1
Naomi’s life got hard, no question. Because of that, she thought the LORD had turned against her. She couldn’t have been farther off the mark! Her hardship ultimately resulted in the birth of God’s promised Messiah. Though we don’t all have the same story, we do all have the same truth. Hardship in this fallen world is not an indication that God has abandoned us. When we belong to Him, He works even the worst imaginable things out for good.
Ruth 2-3
I wonder if all these Jewish customs surrounding the gleaning in the fields and the kinsman redeemer were strange to Ruth. God set the nation of Israel up to do things differently than the surrounding nations so it’s possible she had never heard of, or at least never experienced to any degree, such things as what she experienced with Boaz. The fact that Naomi had to instruct her about what to do kind of makes me think this might be the case.
Also, Ruth’s story sounds a lot like how we come to Jesus, our Redeemer. Like her, we have to do things differently; contrary to anything we have known or are used to. God sends us our own Naomi to teach us what we need to know, pointing us to the right way. And when we obey these things that are contrary to our nature, Jesus graciously and lovingly accepts us as His own.
Ruth 4
Funny, how the other relative first agreed to take Elimelech’s land, but backed out when he learned that Ruth was part of the deal. All of a sudden, he couldn’t redeem the land for risk of ruining his own inheritance. I don’t understand all the implications of that, but I believe that, with Ruth involved, acquiring the land would not benefit his own interests. What a treasure that man passed up! Ruth truly was like Rachel and Leah. Through her, God not only built up the house of David, but perpetuated the eternal line and inheritance of Christ. It makes me wonder what great treasure I pass up when I am looking only to my own interests.