The Book of Ruth
Day 7
One Small Step for a Family, One Giant Leap for Humanity
Read: Ruth 4:11-21
The Lord saves our families for His glory and for our own pleasure—He wants us happy, for sure. But our happiness is only part of His glory; we are saved also for His wider purposes in the world. Our families are intended to be families that give. We are training and learning not only for ourselves—but for others.
As we close out the story of Ruth, Jesus would remind us He has redeemed our families for a purpose that includes more than just us.
Recalling again the purposes of the kinsman-redeemer, it is his role not only to keep a family intact, but to bestow through that family a lasting contribution, influence, and impact on others. As kinsman-redeemer, Boaz brought an immediate hope and fulfillment to Naomi, Ruth, and the wider community by rescuing their family. Wonderful!
But let’s also see that beyond immediate, personal hope and fulfillment for their family, “The Boaz’s” and the elders of their community desired and envisioned their family becoming fruitful and influential, serving God’s purpose and touching many lives for generations to come.
This is very evident in the far-reaching prayer of the elders! They pray that Ruth will be “like Rachel and Leah who built up the house of Israel.” (Ruth 4:11) That’s a big prayer for a godly contribution to the church. They pray that Boaz and his family will “have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem (Ruth 4:11).” That’s a big prayer for a godly contribution to the community. They pray that their family will be “like that of Perez,” who had raised the tribe of Judah to a prominent place. (Ruth 4:12) That’s a big prayer for a godly contribution to the nation.
Soon, Ruth did give birth to a son, a beautiful expression of God’s restoration of Naomi who held him in her arms. Imagine what she felt! At one time, a near total loss of family, and now, this beautiful grandson in her arms! And imagine what Ruth felt—having sacrificed hopes of every marrying again, and now this godly husband and baby boy!
Who was this son? Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. (Ruth 4:17) Wow! As if the miracle of this restored family is not enough! In addition to that, it is from the family line of Boaz and Ruth the Moabitess that eventually, down the line of David, came the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord! Now that is a legacy! That is a family’s remarkable contribution to the church, the city, the nation, and the world! This one family’s small steps of obedience to God became a giant leap for humanity!
We can expect Christ to make our families spiritually fruitful too. “…The Lord enabled her to conceive.” (Ruth 4:13) Just as Ruth’s redeemer enabled her to conceive and bear fruit, our Redeemer has enabled us to conceive and bear fruit. Through our families, He will bring Christ to others in this world. It will have more impact than we will ever know—an impact lasting generations from now, when we are long gone, even into eternity.
Be encouraged. You don’t even know what fruit might come from you and your family. Who led Billy Graham to Christ? I don’t know, but I’m glad he or she did! Or think of the impact of the parents of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson. His dad was a non-famous artist who simply took the time to raise his family well. Little did he know that his little Jim would grow up to lead millions of people in the joy of successful family living. He took small steps that are touching masses of humanity.
Whether you influence millions or maybe not that many, every small step of obedience your family takes today is a giant leap for humanity in years and years to come.
Pray for and expect spiritual fruitfulness with lasting, generational impact; these are benefits granted to you by your Kinsman-Redeemer, Jesus!
And just delight today in the wonderful work of our Redeemer. Think of all that He’s done for you and me!