God Speaks
An Immigrant Embracces One of God’s People; Then God Embraces the Immigrant
Verse of the Day: [Elimelech means God is king. Instances of people referring to the LORD God and His direction and blessing occur throughout the ups and downs of this short book: Ruth 1:6, 13b, 16-17, 20-21; 2:4, 12, 20; 3:10, 13; 4:11-14. The most well known is:] But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you from me.” (Ruth 1:16-17 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Ruth 1-4:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Ruth 1
1. God is concerned for widows even though they may have moved away from Him.
2. People who have moved away from God can and should return to Him.
Ruth 2
1. God looks with favor on those who serve others, honor their elders, and take refuge under His wings.
2. Young people, like Ruth, need to take advice from their elders or supervisors like Naomi and Boaz.
Ruth 3
1. God gives His obedient people plans to overcome their difficulties just as He did Naomi.
2. People should ask for God’s direction whenever they face a dilemma.
Ruth 4
1. God uses the people who honor Him to bless other people.
2. People need to be open and honest in their business and personal lives as Boaz was.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Ruth 1-4?
Dear LORD and Father God, thank You for adopting me into Your family. Thank You that I can never move away from Your love, even when I wander away from Your rules and regulations. Your love draws me back to You and Your ways. Please look with favor on my current difficulties and show me what to do. May I find favor with my superiors. May I serve others as I take refuge under Your wings. I willingly submit to Your sovereign rule in my life. I know in the depth of my being that whatever happens will eventually work out for my good and Your glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Ruth 1-4? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will examine my life to see where I have moved away from God.
- I will look for ways I can treat foreigners with dignity as Boaz did Ruth.
- I will pray and ask the LORD for His solution to my current dilemma.
- I will tell my children and/or grandchildren (or any children in my care) of their family line and encourage them to carry it on to honor God.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.