Ruth: Redeemed

And Boaz said…Moreover, Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, I have acquired as my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance, that the name of the dead may

not be cut off from among his brethren and from his position at the gate.

You are witnesses this day. Ruth 4:9-10

Most of us don’t know what we need, although we think we do. Thank goodness God does and is bringing His plan to bear despite us and our circumstances. Ruth’s redemption came as God had planned, and there’s no way she could have seen her redemption coming, but when it came, she embraced it.

You may be wondering, “What was Ruth’s part in God’s plan?” It was the same as ours: faith and obedience. As you review Ruth 4, notice her part in redemption. As it came, she said and did nothing to aid the process or assist its performance. What does that tell us about redemption? Primarily this: God does the work from start to finish. Beforehand, in Ruth 1 – 3, she had been busy, though, doing the next right thing, and her faithfulness and submission are duly commended in scripture. We are assured that all of Bethlehem marveled at her faithful commitment and submission to Naomi. Ladies take heart. All those days and weeks leading up to Ruth’s redemption involved her heart and submission, but when her moment of redemption came, she merely watched and received.

If you’re saved, can you recall the circumstances of your salvation? What was it like for you? Did you have an active part in it? Did you get up that day and say, “Ok, self, today is the day!” Of course not! But when the moment came, you believed, and it was yours – and in an instant, you were filled with His Spirit, and your eternal fate was sealed. However, what was happening behind the scenes and in the heavenly(s) is profound. That day – your day - had been coming all the days of your life. God’s spirit had wooed and awakened you to believe, and at the appointed time, you were redeemed, and all of heaven rejoiced! Ladies, that within itself is a miracle. No one can be redeemed apart from God’s divine plan because even the faith to believe is a gift from God.

I love that God doesn’t need our help, but even more than that, I’m amazed to see His wisdom play out in such a unique way. The way I see it is this. If I had any part in it or could affect it in any way, I’d mess it up because I overthink – ponder and process things to death. I want all the circumstances perfect and all the things that I can control managed, and in the process, I fail to simply enjoy that moment in the miracle as Ruth did. God will share His glory with no one, and it’s most evident in His merciful work of salvation. If we played a significant role in it, we’d take credit for His work, and that will never do. The plan to save you was an act of grace before the world began.

When we think of Ruth’s redemption, we know that Boaz had promised it accomplished. Now, in Ruth 4, she stood and watched as Boaz brought it to bear, fought for her, and won. Having Ruth - redeeming her meant everything to Boaz, and he would not be denied! Jesus has fought for your redemption, too – He’s won it and secured it on Calvary. All you need do is thank Him and receive as Ruth has so eloquently done.

What’s the takeaway? God doesn’t need our help, only our hearts and cooperation. With that, He can accomplish all that’s needed to secure our redemption and so much more.

Prayer: Mighty and gracious Lord, give us the grace to receive. Thank you for saving us and keeping us secure. May we rejoice with heaven and stand in awe of all that you have done. Amen and amen.