I'll explain what I mean by parent prayers at the end... Here are my nuggets from Ruth!
She is the great grandmother to King David.
She was a Moabitess, the Moabites held Israel in captivity for 18 years. The Moabites were one of the cursed people created through Lott's daughters.
There was a famine in Canaan (the land of milk and honey). Israel had brought death to their promise by all their apostasy.
Israelites were not to marry Canaanites and we see here they had transgressed that law many times over.
Ruth being a Moabitess lived a pagan life. However, after her husband died, she was willing to adjust, change her entire life to be with Naomi and accept the Israelite God. After Rahab, this is the second woman on record laying down a pagan lifestyle to join the Israelite life.
She was patient, humble, a stranger and because of her sacrifice she gained favor.
Good that is done will be recognized, maybe not today or in this lifetime but, it will be in eternity.
There are blessings stored up for us behind the scenes. God works in the unseen places just as much as He Does in the open places.
Ruth must have been gorgeous because *without delay* Boaz went to the elders at the gate to discuss his kinsmen redeemer possessions.
Bethlehem became famous due to the blessing given to Boaz and Ruth.
Boaz was Rahab's son. (THIS RIGHT HERE IS HUGE)
Parent prayers. I think all prayers are important but, out of a parent's heart there comes a different cry. I think back to Samson's parents. They knew their son had a call on his life and they called on the Lord multiple times to seek guidance how to raise him to please the Lord and to make sure he reached his purpose on Earth. I think for those parents who stay in a prayerful lifestyle, God shows them things that their children don't even know about their lives. And because of this, many times the children can refuse their advice because they don't know and see what their parents know and see. Naomi thought God had left her and cursed her because her husband had passed as well as her sons. She thought her family was over. But what I love about her is even though she FELT like that, she continued to DO things for Ruth and POSITION Ruth to receive promotion and blessing in the form of a new husband. Naomi was the reason (besides God) for Ruth meeting and receiving Boaz as her husband. Naomi could have easily allowed her situation to control her and keep her from going back home. But she didn't. She had the best for Ruth in mind during this hard season for herself. Mothers know. Parents know. I think parents (good parents) see their children through eyes that are looking at potential and purpose instead of what looks good at the moment or through gain. I'm not saying parents know everything or are right in everything but I think when it comes to their children, they try their hardest to do right for them and to them and give advice according to their children's calling, purpose and potential not based on their own wishes and path. If this isn't the case for all parents, Naomi's story has shown me what kind of parent I want to be.
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