January 4 – Genesis 3, Joshua 5-6, Ruth 3-4, Matthew 3

January 4, 2012 by kevinhsu

Observe with some (Interpretation in Parentheses)

Focusing on Ruth 3-4
Ruth, a Moabite, is redeemed by Boaz, who is a kinsmen-redeemer
In biblical days, if a widow had no children, a male relative was to marry her and have children with her in order to preserve the descent and ancestry of the deceased husband
Boaz did that for Ruth
In doing so, we learn many things
(God loves all nations)
(God delights in making those who were not His people to be His people)
(God blesses those who act according to faith in Him)
Ruth took the step to go back to Israel with Naomi because she wanted Naomi’s God to be her God
And by the end of the book, not only is Ruth re-married and is blessed with a son
But, her son is the grandfather of King David
(God redeems Ruth, a Moabite, and God redeems Ruth into the lineage of the ultimate Redeemer, Jesus Christ)
(Similarly, in Joshua, God saved Rahab the Prostitute, who also entered the lineage of Jesus)

How Points to Christ

Jesus Christ is the true kinsmen-redeemer
Jesus became a man in order to redeem mankind from their sins, making those who were not God’s people into God’s people

Apply

God loves the nations
God delights in making people who were not His people into His people
Please pray that God’s love and delight would be my heart’s love and delight
Please pray that I would grow in love for the nations, longing for all peoples and nations to believe and love Jesus Christ
And please pray for boldness and clarity and opportunities to share Christ with others all throughout my life
And please pray that God would do His gracious work to save many!

Reflections of a New Creation