Meat for the Hungry

www.sarahbmartin.wordpress.com The morning sun was mid-sky when Boaz acquired the sandal from the nearer kinsman. In this crowded, open-air courtroom, Boaz held the sandal high and shouted, "You are witnesses to this transaction. I have bought all that was Elimelech's and his sons. In addition, Mahlon’s widow, Ruth, will become my wife and I will raise a son for Mahlon, so neither his inheritance is lost nor his position at the city gate.” www.anewdaywithchrist.blogspot.com “...All the people…said, ‘We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel; and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.’” What an amazing and grand blessing. This very wealthy, prominent Israelite would marry a Moabite, and they were excited about it. Nevertheless, what did their blessing mean, especially since they referred to Rachel and Leah building the house of Israel?

sarahbmartin.wordpress.com Ruth 3:6-11: Under the cover of night and a distance away from the festivities, Ruth stepped onto the threshing floor. As she searched for a place to hide, a light breeze blew through causing her anointing oil fragrance to waft into the air. Catching the scent, she worried it would give her away. But she couldn't think about that now, she just needed to hide.  Don Marco Crayon Art  Finding the perfect hiding place, Ruth sat in the shadows and dreamed of her future. What might it be like to be the wife of Boaz? How many children would they have? Ruth determined she would be a good, loving mother, but not lax. She would train and discipline her children so they would be well behaved and respectful. As time ticked by, her thoughts so engrossed her, she almost forgot where she was and why. Nevertheless, commotion from the festivities snapped her back into the present. Men were coming to find a place to bunk for the night. Keeping v...

“So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor…” (Ruth 2:2) What little resources Naomi and Ruth may have brought from Moab had now dwindled to the point of desperation. Since a Moabite and an elderly woman have very little options to earn a living, Ruth decided it was time to try gleaning. Although Naomi wanted to protect her young daughter-in-law from the harsh realities of life, she knew she could not. There were dangers for women gleaners. Working in the extremely hot sun could cause sunstroke, dehydration and exhaustion. Many times, gleaners faced ridicule. However, in Ruth’s case, being a Moabite could also spawn mistreatment and abuse. 

  Are you ready to see how God works in the midst of rebellion, pain or anger, and are you ready to learn of great love and redemption? Fabulous, because today we begin the study of the Book of Ruth, a touching and true story much better than Cinderella. Ruth, a Moabite, lived in the time when Judges admonished Israel, approximately 1100 BC. So, to begin, we need to set the stage.