Continuing through
Through His Eyes: God's Perspective on Women in the Bible by Jerram Barrs- today, Chapter 8, Naomi and Ruth.
Barrs opens this chapter with reflection on the faithfulness of God towards His people throughout history. He writes, "we know that God has promised to build his kingdom. God is always active among those who love him, always seeking a people out to draw them to himself, always committed to caring for them, always eager to safeguard them against all their enemies. He is ceaselessly working to establish his reign in his people's lives and, through them, into all the world." (p.121) Barrs reminds us that the Old Testament "is a missionary book" (p. 122), that from the beginning, the Lord charged His people to be a blessing to the nations. Those are good reminders to me. He has been, is, and will continue to be Sovereign and purposeful in all of His ways.
But onto Naomi and Ruth. Many are familiar with the basics facts of this story. It's a women's Bible study and devotional favorite. However, through this chapter, I was able to consider some of the details in a new light.
First, I have not before really considered the historical context of the book of Ruth- that this time, the end of the 12th century BC, was a time "of unbelief and of idolatry among God's people, of disobedience and rebellion against the Lord and against his commandments." (p. 125) Barrs points out that our own times might be described similarly, a time when "everyone is doing what is right in his or her own eyes." (p. 126) The book of Ruth is a story of faithfulness, "of three people who honored and loved God, who were faithful to him, and who obeyed his word despite the pattern of life in the culture around them." (p. 125) Despite the times, are we, as believers today, described in the same manner?
I have not before considered the story of Naomi and Ruth in the context of immigration. We know that Elimelech and his family leave Bethlehem, cross the Jordan, and move to Moab- perhaps due to famine, drought, pestilence or disaster, perhaps due to political unrest. And then in a span of a few verses, the sons marry, the father dies, the sons die, and two of the widows travel back to Bethlehem. In that context, we witness the graciousness of Boaz in recognizing Ruth's faithfulness to Naomi, and that beautiful blessing he asks of the Lord over her,
All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge! (Ruth 2:11-12)Barr points out that this is the promise, the blessing, to all who are God's people, no matter what nation they come from, "that the Lord will richly reward us and repay us when we commit ourselves to serve Him." (p. 135)
Finally, I have never considered Naomi's response to grief, her self-described bitterness, as a right response. The key must be not self-wallowing, but indeed, crying out to the Lord in times of absolute despair, and looking only to Him for relief and comfort. Jeremiah describes in his prayer, "You know me, O LORD; You see me; And You examine my heart's attitude toward You." The mourning of Lamentations 3:25-26 acknowledges, "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the Lord."
I think it is that faithfulness of Naomi and of Ruth, that we read of in this chapter and will be grown even more in the chapter to follow, which makes the story so sweet. It is my prayer that, as God works through my family, we will be found to hold to and act with the same trust and faithfulness as these two women used so mightily by God.
Don't stop here! The Ch. 9 continues this story to it's beautiful ending. Check in for more from
Belinda at Upsidedown Bee soon!
(art credit:
The Story of Ruth, by Thomas Matthew Rooke, 1876)
For You formed my inward parts;
I'm a day late for Wordful Wednesday. Alas. Some weeks are like that. 
"I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me... I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." 
Wandering through Blogdom while the kids watch Bedtime Stories. (with Adam Sandler, that goofy guy that makes me laugh. My all-time favorite Adam Sandler? The Hanukkah Song. hands down.)
Took a little weekend getaway, to get away, to get a way, this last weekend- a road trip up north to Minneapolis. Me and two friends and a new friend. A friendly foursome. A frolicking foursome. A funny foursome!
Belinda at Upsidedown Bee has posted her comments on Chapter 9 of Through His Eyes: God's Perspective on Women in the Bible by Jerram Barrs.
The old saying goes, "there's a first time for everything." When Hudson Taylor departed the shores of England for Shanghai, China in 1866, he was among the first Christian missionaries to the country, and the first in his own family to minister abroad. Taylor's great-grandson, James Hudson Taylor III, continued the work of his family, finding ways to take the Gospel to inland and rural China despite obstacles. In the commentary "A Legacy All of Grace," WORLD Magazine writer Mindy Belz tells of the faithfulness of this family. Belz writes, "Hudson Taylor once promised God, 'As for me and my household, we shall surely serve the Lord." And, indeed, they have.
1) Looking back at my week, I think what a wonderful variety of experiences I have had. I took a woman to meet with her probation officer, and we celebrated another week of sobriety. I took another woman to sign a lease on a new apartment, and we rejoiced that she and her son would be moving to an affordable and safe neighborhood. I helped to get supper out in our church kitchen. I was able to sit around a table with a group of home school moms and encourage and exhort one another. I was able to be with my kids and work through the promises and challenges of Ephesians together, examine the events leading up to the Great Depression and ponder many of the same issues we seem to be confronting today. I fell in bed, spent, every night, and woke ready to do it again each morning. 
He will not always accuse,
... There was no trace of the fog now. The sky became bluer and bluer and now there were white clouds hurrying across it from time to time. In the wide glades there were primroses. A light breeze sprang up which scattered drops of moisture from the swaying branches and carried cool, delicious scents against the faces of the travellers. The trees began to come fully alive. The larches and birches were covered with green, the laburnums with gold. Soon the beech trees had put forth their delicate, transparent leaves. As the travellers walked under them the light also became green. A bee buzzed across their path. 
A PTW tip o' the hat to the winner of the H Family Bracket Challenge-
Continuing through Through His Eyes: God's Perspective on Women in the Bible by Jerram Barrs- today, Chapter 8, Naomi and Ruth.
Two shots of the weather from the Heartland this weekend. On Saturday evening, thunderstorms rolled through, a coldish downpour of rain and wind. We were headed home at dusk, motoring through the storm. I like the blurryness of the lights against the wet windshield and how the lens captures the drama of the clouds much better than our bare eyes did.
I'm a few days late in updating, but over at Half Pint House, Megan has posted commentary on Deborah, from Through His Eyes: God's Perspective on Women in the Bible. 
The Queen definitely got the better deal!
Stinky, smelly, dirty water at the bottom of the dishwasher. Never good. Never ever good.
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