Wed.’s Devo - Redemption

Read: Ruth 2:1-4:22; John 4:43-54; Psalm 105:16-36; Proverbs 14:26-27 There was a man named Boaz from Elimelech’s clan, Naomi’s husband. He was a wealthy man with a upright reputation. *** Ruth asked Naomi if she could go and glean behind the reapers and prayed she would find favor in the sight of the owner. By God’s providence, she ended up gleaning in the field of Boaz. He saw her and asked her workers about her. When he found out who she was, he spoke to her kindly and told her to stay in his field where she would be safe. He had told his workers not to harass her and to be kind to her, leaving behind plenty for her to reap. *** At mealtime, Boaz invited Ruth to eat with him and his workers and gave her plenty to eat. She ate till she was full and pocketed the rest to give to Naomi. *** That evening when she returned home she showed Naomi all she had gleaned and gave her the food from lunch. She reported how kind Boaz had been for her and shown her such favor. *** Ruth knew that Boaz was her husband’s relative and a redeemer. She gave Ruth instructions about what she should do. She was to go at night to the threshing floor and hide until the men laid down to sleep. When they were asleep, she was to go over and uncover Boaz’ feet and lay at his feet. She did, and when Boaz woke up and discovered it was her, he knew exactly what her act meant. She was asking him to be her covering and redeem her. *** He explained that he had already done the research and there was one relative ahead of him in the line of redemption. He would speak to him that day and find out if he could redeem her or not. If he couldn’t, then Boaz would. *** He sent Ruth home with six measures of grain and she told Naomi all that had transpired. Now they would wait. *** Boaz went to the city gate to catch the redeemer passing through the gate. When he did, Boaz explained the offer. The man was willing to buy Elimelech’s land, but when he found out Ruth came with it, he backed out. He gave Boaz the right to redeem the land and Ruth. *** Boaz married Ruth and they had a son named Obed. Boaz was from the lineage of Judah and Tamar who had had twins. Perez was one of the twins. Six generations later Boaz was born. His father was Salmon who married Rahab, the harlot of Jericho. Boaz had watched his mother transition from being a Canaanite to becoming an Israelite so he could relate to Ruth. Their son, Obed fathered the father of David. *** After Jesus’ two days in Samaria, he went to Galilee. The Galileans were happy to see him since they had witnessed his miracles at Passover. Jesus then went to Cana, the place of his first public miracle of turning the water to wine. An official from Capernaum came to him and asked him to heal his son who was dying. Jesus told him that unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe. The man begged Jesus to come and pray for his son. Jesus did not go with him, but told him his son was healed. When the father returned home, he found that his son was well and had become well the very hour Jesus said he would. This was the second sign that Jesus did in Galilee. *** Lord, thank you for the way you orchestrate our lives to be glorified on the earth. Thank you that you care for everyone of your children and you work everything for our good.