Ruth 3:14-18 New International Version (NIV)
14 So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized; and he said, “No one must know that a woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 He also said, “Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.” When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and placed the bundle on her. Then he[a] went back to town. 16 When Ruth came to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “How did it go, my daughter?” Then she told her everything Boaz had done for her 17 and added, “He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” 18 Then Naomi said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.”
Thurs. November 12
I’m sure Ruth and Naomi were excited and anxious about what would happen next! Would Boaz be able to redeem her? Or would she be redeemed by someone she did not know? Would this other person care for her and Naomi the way that Boaz had? Faith in the work of God often involves waiting. Like a child waiting for Santa to arrive on Christmas Eve, we wait with eager expectation for God to save, redeem, and bless. Like Naomi and Ruth, we can make plans and even put those plans into action, but God is ultimately in control. We wait for God to act, move, and work. What are you waiting on? A new job? Help with a relationship? An offer on a house? Acceptance into a new school? The hard part of waiting is not being in control. The good news is that God is in control and God loves you more than you will ever be able to fully know and understand. Sometimes we wait, but the one we are waiting for has already proven to be faithful and good. So we wait with hope, endurance, faithfulness and perseverance.