Grace, Grace, God's Grace

 DECEMBER 18, 2022

Ruth 1:16

“Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God”

These words were spoken by Ruth, Naomi’s Moabite daughter in-law. Over the previous 10 years Naomi had experienced famine and the deaths of her husband and two sons. In addition, both her sons’ wives were barren. As she journeyed back to Judah her words were, “I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty…The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” (v20-21)

Can you empathize with Naomi? Have you ever felt abandoned or even treated unfairly by God? Well, the story of Ruth and Naomi is a story of God’s faithfulness that provides us hope for the future. By God’s hand, Naomi’s life would turn around once at home in Judah. Naomi would also play a significant role in Ruth’s redemption, ultimately helping Ruth to marry a man named Boaz, with whom Ruth would have a son. This grandson to Naomi would be a part of a powerful lineage including Jesse and King David and ultimately leading to our redeemer, Jesus Christ.

God never abandoned Naomi. Ruth, the Moabite, found faith in Naomi’s God, our God and was willing to leave her home and family to follow and serve Naomi in a foreign land. Naomi did not see God’s grace at work, yet it was God in his faithfulness who rescued her and ultimately made her part of his saving plan in Jesus Christ.

Remember God never stops working, look for the signs of Grace in your life today.