Two way rest for Naomi and Ruth

Ruth 4:14-15

And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.

In yesterday’s devotional we have seen that Orpah kissed her mother in law, Naomi and returned to her home of Moab while Ruth followed her. Naomi entreated Ruth to go back to her home after Orpah. Ruth 1:16-17 says “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” After noting that Ruth was steadfast in following her, Naomi stopped pleading Ruth. They both reached the town of Bethlehem during the barley harvest. The natives of Bethlehem immediately recognized Naomi and asked if she was Naomi. Naomi said (Ruth 1:20) “Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.” Naomi actually means pleasant. She was now bitter due to the loss of her husband and her two sons.

Naomi had a relative of her husband, whose name was Boaz. Ruth asked her mother in law if she could glean ears of corn in a field that belonged to a man whose favor she can find. Naomi blessed Ruth and sent her to glean the ears of corn. Ruth was gleaning in Boaz’ field and Boaz observed Ruth and asked the reapers who she was. Having known who Ruth was, Boaz spoke very kindly to Ruth because she found grace in his eyes. Boaz had heard all that Ruth had done to her mother in law, leaving all her family and friends behind her in Moab and following Naomi all the way to Bethlehem to the people that she is not familiar with, putting her wholehearted trust in the Lord God of the land.

Naomi was keen on finding rest to Ruth. Rest here means to find a husband with whom she could make her home and live peacefully. Ruth followed every instruction of her mother in law and reached Boaz like she was instructed. Boaz says in Ruth 3:11, “And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.” The entire town of Bethlehem has heard of Ruth’s virtuousness and this impressed Boaz.

Boaz was ready to redeem Ruth right away but knew that there was another man in town who was closely related to Elimelech than himself. He wanted to find out if the other kinsman was willing to redeem. The other kinsman passed on this burden to Boaz and Boaz bought the parcel of land that Naomi was selling and also redeemed Ruth and took her to his wife. Ruth 4:9-10 says, “And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.”

God blessed Boaz and Ruth with a son. Not only did Ruth find rest but also Naomi was blessed with a restorer and a nourisher in her old age. The people of Bethlehem said that Naomi’s daughter in law that loves her was better than seven sons. The neighbors said (Ruth 4:17), “There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.” God saw the trust that Ruth had in the Lord God of Israel and also Naomi’s desire to live in the House of God filled with the bread of life. Thus Naomi and Ruth found the two way rest in Bethlehem.

From the land of Moab where there was spiritual famine, Naomi and Ruth reached Bethlehem filled with the bread of life and spiritual blessings. Today spiritual famine exists in the people and places where Christ is not the center but spiritual blessings overflow where Christ dwells. Colossians 3:1-4 says “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” May we all seek and set our affections on the heavenly things so that we also would appear with Christ in glory and find the heavenly rest like the way Naomi and Ruth found!

Tomorrow: Bathsheba, the Wife of Uriah