In the book of Ruth, we are confronted at the beginning of the story with two women who have lost it all (or never had it to begin with). They are childless, husband-less, homeless, and stranded without position or power in a world that did not place a high value on barren young women and son-less older women. They return to Bethlehem at the end of chapter 1 because they have run out of options. Naomi has made the trek home a bitter woman, ready to die around familiar surroundings and Ruth (a contingency Naomi had not planned for) seems to have no idea what she has signed up for. By all accounts, these women were destined to live their lives scraping and surviving with very few options for happiness or advancement.
However, at the very end of Ruth 1, the writer tosses in a line that throws a wrench in what was sure to be a story that began and ended in tragedy. It reads, "So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. (Now they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.)" (NET).
Naomi couldn't yet understand that in the midst of her complete tragedy, God had already set in motion every single piece of the puzzle for her redemption. Ruth, her faithful daughter-in-law will prove to be of more worth than seven sons. The hunger pangs that they feel acutely will be alleviated by the barley harvest that coincidentally was starting. These women of no options served a God of unlimited options. Although Naomi saw herself without hope, God had a plan to provide. Ruth, who came to take shelter under the wings of Yahweh, found abundantly more than a barren young women could have ever dreamed.
I'm reminded of God's boundless reach today. When I question what in the world I am doing with my life, I know that God has unlimited good works for me to accomplish. When I wonder if I have screwed up my life beyond repair, I am comforted by the fact that He has plans for me to prosper and that He remembers me. God is a God of unlimited options and He is not deterred by your situation no matter how bad it may seem. Hide yourself under the wings of Christ and take refuge in his boundless plan for you.
However, at the very end of Ruth 1, the writer tosses in a line that throws a wrench in what was sure to be a story that began and ended in tragedy. It reads, "So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. (Now they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.)" (NET).
Naomi couldn't yet understand that in the midst of her complete tragedy, God had already set in motion every single piece of the puzzle for her redemption. Ruth, her faithful daughter-in-law will prove to be of more worth than seven sons. The hunger pangs that they feel acutely will be alleviated by the barley harvest that coincidentally was starting. These women of no options served a God of unlimited options. Although Naomi saw herself without hope, God had a plan to provide. Ruth, who came to take shelter under the wings of Yahweh, found abundantly more than a barren young women could have ever dreamed.
I'm reminded of God's boundless reach today. When I question what in the world I am doing with my life, I know that God has unlimited good works for me to accomplish. When I wonder if I have screwed up my life beyond repair, I am comforted by the fact that He has plans for me to prosper and that He remembers me. God is a God of unlimited options and He is not deterred by your situation no matter how bad it may seem. Hide yourself under the wings of Christ and take refuge in his boundless plan for you.
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