SHE CHOSE ISRAEL

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Ruth 4:13

God’s best for us is not always the easiest choice. We often have to accept much bad along with the good.

Ruth had lived in Israel long enough to have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. She could have returned home, but she chose to stay. She could have chosen to convert but just live elsewhere. There are many Christians that love Jesus but really struggle with His followers. I’m sure I can be one of those difficult people that others don’t like at times. Being part of the Body of Christ is similar to being part of a family. We don’t get to choose who we are related to. It just is what it is.

Ruth didn’t take her decision to marry Boaz lightly. This act would force her to leave behind any vestige of Moab. Her first husband may have been an Israelite but at the time of their marriage they were on Moab’s soil. And while it probably wasn’t a difficult decision to marry Boaz, I wonder what she felt knowing that she was marrying into a very disobedient people. But not just that, her firstborn child would help redeem the bloodline of her first husband’s family. This act was what it took to fix Elimelech’s and Naomi’s rebellion against God’s commands.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive me for running away from difficult situations that you wanted me to bear up under instead. Thank you for forgiving me so that I can forgive as well. Work out Your peace in my heart so that I can live in peace with those around me. In Jesus Name, Amen

Journal Questions:
Name some examples in scripture where people had to remain in difficult circumstances.
There are also times when God tells people to leave a troubling situation, even if only for a time. Name some examples of that from scripture.
List some synonyms of endurance.