Tues.’s Devo - Jesus, Our Redeemer

Read: Ruth 2:1-4:22; John 4:43-54; Psalm 105:16-36; Proverbs 14:26-27 Ruth, the Moabite got consent from Naomi to glean grain behind the harvesters, which is what the poor did. She ended up in the field of Boaz who unbeknown to her was a distant relative of her late husband. He saw her and gave her much favor. She probably reminded him of his own mother who had been the harlot who hid the slaves when they came to Jericho. He knew how hard it must be to be of a different nationality and try to adjust to a new culture. *** He gave Ruth water, food and protection and told her to only glean in his fields. He told his workers to purposely drop grain for her to pick up. She went home that first day with so much grain Naomi wanted to know where she had picked. When she found out whose field it was and knew that Boaz was a kinsman redeemer, she told her to stay with Boaz. *** At the end of the harvest, Naomi told Ruth she needed to find a husband and told her what to do. She went at night and hid and watched where Boaz slept, then she uncovered his feet and laid down at his feet. When he awoke in the night he asked who was there. Ruth answered him and told him that he was a kinsman redeemer and asked if he would redeem her. Boaz had already done his research and knew that there was a closer relative so he told Ruth he would settle the matter that day. *** The man who was closer in relation to Elimelech didn’t want to marry Ruth so Boaz bought her and Elimelech’s field. He married Ruth and they had a son named Obed who was two generations from king David. *** The story of Ruth is told every Passover by the Jews and is a theme of Passover. It is the story of our salvation, especially to the Gentile since Ruth was a Gentile who was bought by Boaz who was a type of Christ. *** Jesus was in Galilee, close to his home town where there had been little faith in him. But, the Galilean’s that had been at the Passover welcomed him because they had seen all the miracles he did there. He went back to Cana where he had turned the water to wine. One of the Roman officers found Jesus and begged him to come to Capernaum and heal his dying son. *** Jesus told him to return home because his son would live. He obeyed and on his way home, he received news that his son had miraculously recovered. He found out it happened at the same moment Jesus pronounced him healed. After this, his whole household believed in Jesus. *** Amazing how just one miraculous sign can change hearts. Lord, may we do your works so that others might believe and come to you.