April 7, 2017. As You Wish

Ruth 1-4

Ever seen Princess Bride? Ruth at times resembles Westley when he replies to Buttercup “As you wish” whenever she has asked something of him.  No questions asked, zero complaint, pure willingness to do as she asked, because in reality he was saying “I love you.”

Ruth is a beautiful person, quiet, humble, and yet courageous, determined and strong.  This woman lost everything she knew.  She lost her husband, and then by following her mother-in-law, she gave up her home, her family, everything she was comfortable with.  For what? What caused this woman to give up her home and security to follow someone to an unknown land without knowing what would happen?  Long story short, she knew who Naomi’s God was and knew the Lord would provide for them in one way or another, she recognized the love He had for his people and wanted to be apart of that. 

Chapter 2 we find Ruth who ends up in a field owned by a close relative of her late husband, Boaz, and she begins to gather wheat from the ground.  She is noticed by Boaz and given favor by him and he has commanded his men to watch out for her. 

13 “May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.”

 15 As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. 16 Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”

She continues to gather wheat and barley till the season is over. In chapter 3 Naomi is playing matchmaker now. Ruth does whatever is asked her without complaint and in chapter 4 we find she and Boaz are now to be married.

Why is this simple book in the Bible? Why was it written? All of those questions are answered in the very last chapter in the last few verses.

21 Salmon the father of Boaz,

Boaz the father of Obed,

22 Obed the father of Jesse,

and Jesse the father of David.

Did you catch that? David, as in King David, as in the line of Jesus Christ himself. When we can’t see the end result, or blind to the big picture, those are the times we must be like Ruth and simply trust our Lord.  In your everyday walk with your Lord and Savior, challenge yourself with simply replying “as you wish” when He calls you to do something.  You never know how He will use you in the long run.