More to The Story - Chapter 9 - Ruth
"AS IT TURNED OUT"
"So, (at the insistence of Naomi, Ruth) went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech." (Naomi’s clan) Ruth 2:3
REFLECTION
Coincidences are far underrated. “It’s just a coincidence” we say.
Naomi and Ruth returned to Israel and they needed food. Because Jewish law provided for foreigners to be able glean left over crops, Ruth went out to the field to gather some grain. It just so happened that the field belonged to Boaz, a male relative of Naomi.
We have seen that Naomi’s and Ruth’s shattered dream of family had introduced Ruth to the God of Israel and had brought them into a deep and unparalleled friendship. Now hope was beginning to introduce itself as well.
Often the greatest gifts of God can only be seen, perhaps even only received in the midst of pain.
Prayer
“Lord, throughout scripture you reveal to us that help comes from very different directions. Thank you Lord, that you are working on my behalf even when I am most blinded to it. Amen”
You can follow Pastor Jeff on Twitter @jefflampl
Several years ago I read a sentence that has stuck with me ever since - " There are no "co-incidences in a Christian's life, only " God-incidences ". We need to be open to " God-incidences" every day.
ReplyDeleteTom Kerr
Psalm 139:15-
ReplyDelete"My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be"
Our vision is short. We see "through a glass darkly".
We have the ability to make choices. God is completely aware of our choices before we ever make them.
"Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord"
I think it is interesting that the word David is given to describe our being is "woven" or "knitted".
Our lives are, indeed, an intricate creation of the Lord's, intersecting days and intersecting lives. Maybe some things that happen don't have an eternal effect, maybe they all have an eternal effect.
We can ask, "why pain?" but we must be careful not to say, "it must be".
But, one thing we, as believers should know without a doubt or second thought is "how wide and how deep our God loves us".
Who works to bless us, to teach us, to safeguard us, to hold us close to Him....who died for us and gave us the Holy Spirit to enable us to trust Him. He gave us joy! Thank you, Jesus
"My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue
An everlasting vision of the ever changing view
A wondrous woven magic in bits of blue and gold
A tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold.....