April 06, 2020: SOAP #3777:  Ruth 3-4; Psalm 64, 65; 2Corinthians 6

Scripture:  Ruth (NIV) 4:14 The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-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, laid him in her lap 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.

Observation:  As I finish reading this short book (Ruth), I feel the Lord, as yesterday, drawing my attention to Naomi.  This woman who made such an impression on her Moabite daughters-in-law that they both wanted to return with her when to her home in Bethlehem.  She convinced one to return to her home, but not Ruth.  Naomi took time to educate Ruth about the customs of Israel.  When the time would come for Naomi’s death, Ruth would be left alone in a strange country.  Naomi carried a concern that Ruth find a husband.

Naomi did not get herself entangled in Ruth’s affairs.  She gave the necessary instruction, but let Ruth go it alone to the threshing floor where she would meet Boaz.  She did not do for Ruth what Ruth needed to do for herself.  Surely Naomi stayed awake late that night when Ruth went to meet Boaz.  Naomi proved faithful; later she reaped the harvest of her investment in this young Moabite girl her son had brought home.

Application:   There is a time to train our children, and there is a time to let them go and be responsible for their own choices and actions.  (And what is true for our natural children, is also true for our spiritual children.  A time comes when they need to stand on their own faith.)

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, Fine me faithful in timely ministry to my son and to spiritual children. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!