Hello Ladies ~ Today we have part 3 in our series. May we all be blessed and encouraged as we read.
Four Women That God Chose to be in the Lineage of His Son, Jesus Christ
by Shari Hervold
Before we meet Ruth, let me remind you that if your haven't met the two women that were introduced in the first two lessons in this series, you may read about them by clicking on their names, Tamar and Rahab.
The next woman, Ruth, is greatly admired and loved by all who read her story in the book that bears her name. She, unlike Tamar and Rahab, did not have a blemish upon her record...except for one thing. There's always a back story, isn't there? Ruth was a Moabite and as such, because of a sin the Moabites had committed, according to Deuteronomy 23:3 she "was shut out of the congregation of the Lord." God's Word itself shut her out. Yet, she, with great courage and strength from God Himself, rejected the gods of the Moabites, traveled to a strange land and culture with Naomi, her mother-in-law, and accepted the Hebrew God. The trip from Moab to Bethlehem was a long and dangerous one, yet Ruth bravely faced down her fears and made the journey, fully expecting nothing to await her there. She was an outsider from a heathen country and, as far as she knew, would remain so. Soon after her arrival she began the hard task of working for food for herself and Naomi. Ruth 2:12 says that Boaz states this concerning her: "The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge." The one thing Ruth had not reckoned on was God's love and protection for her. But, because of her love for Him and Naomi, God rewarded her. God worked out the details so that Ruth went on to marry Boaz, a kinsman of her deceased husband, and bore a son, Obed, who became the grandfather of King David, thus in the lineage of Jesus. Next, we will meet the last of these four ladies, Bathsheba.
Reflection: If you are reading this blog and have not asked the Jesus of the Bible to become your Lord and Savior, I implore you to do so now. If you long for a lasting joy in your life, I ask you to trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life made available to you through His death and resurrection. Jesus Christ himself said that if you come to him, you will become a child of God and joint heir with him in all the wonderful things that God has prepared for those that trust in Him. It is the best decision you will ever make.
