God's Wonderful Plan

Scripture – Ruth 4:9-12: ⁹Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion and Mahlon. ¹⁰I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!” ¹¹Then the elders and all those at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. ¹²Through the offspring the LORD gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”

Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) The deal was sealed. Verses 9 & 10 pretty well describe the basic “kinsman-redeemer” law. More than that, I notice Boaz announcing to everyone that he will have Ruth as his wife. This has been God’s plan. (Be sure to read tomorrow’s scripture.) Usually, when I’m in submission to Him, I like what He calls me to do. And so here, God’s will is what Boaz and Ruth wanted, too.

Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will lower my resistance to God’s leading. He has my best in mind. And His plan, if it doesn’t turn out to be mine, is better…..always!

Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Help me, Lord, to keep open to your leading. Thank you for your plan for my life. Forgive me for resisting. Open the way you would have me go this day.

An Invitation – If you’re interested in a face to face discussion about what we’ve been discovering in the Mini-Journal, a small group will be meeting tomorrow morning, 9:45 – 10:30am, at the Southgate Fun and Fitness Center (on Northline near I-75). Look for them around one of the tables in the Café area.

Reading for Sunday, October 28:

Scripture – Ruth 4:13-17: ¹³So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. ¹⁴The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! ¹⁵He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” ¹⁶Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. ¹⁷The women living there said, “Naomi has a son.” And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.