1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:04,080 Speaker 1: Where thou diest will I die, and there will I 2 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: be buried? The Lord, do so to me and more also, 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: if aught but death part thee and me Ruth one seventeen. 4 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: Dear Lord, with a heart of true devotion, I declare that, 5 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: no matter what hardships I face, like Ruth and Naomi, 6 00:00:25,520 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: I will not leave your side. As Ruth committed her 7 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: life to serving Naomi, I too have made the decision 8 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:38,559 Speaker 1: to follow you, Lord and to serve you wholeheartedly. I 9 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: will not approach my life's purpose with mediocrity and small thinking. Instead, 10 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: I will move and do everything with excellence, because I 11 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: know that I am serving the King of kings and 12 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: the Lord of lords. When I feel tired, strengthen my 13 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: mind and body complete the task in front of me. 14 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: I decree and declare that I will tend to the 15 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: opportunities you bring me, god like when Ruth attended to 16 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 1: the fields of Boaz. I now know that if I 17 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: am faithful to the Little Lord, you will bless me 18 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:22,960 Speaker 1: with much. I declare that this is my redeeming season. 19 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 1: I declare that all my losses are turning into gains. 20 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: I declare that this is a new season and change 21 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:40,039 Speaker 1: is all around me in Jesus name. Amen. Thanks for 22 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,399 Speaker 1: making prayer or priority in your life to hear the 23 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,480 Speaker 1: Bible come to life. Stay tuned for the Bible in 24 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,440 Speaker 1: a Year brought to you by Bible in a Year 25 00:01:49,600 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: dot com. Naomi meets faithful Ruth. In our last story, 26 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 1: we learned about Israel's corruption. Their lack of guidance and 27 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: devotion to God caused a great civil war to break 28 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: out between the tribe of Benjamin and the rest of Israel. 29 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,799 Speaker 1: Blood was shed and the people of Israel continued to struggle. 30 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: Yet God was faithful to rebuild and to restore. Now 31 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 1: we peer into the lives of Naomi and Ruth, two 32 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: women who suffered loss and heartbreak, but found closeness in 33 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: each other and the favor of God. Inspired by the 34 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: Book of Ruth. Hello, this is Pastor Jack Graham with 35 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. In 36 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: our previous reading, we heard how civil war erupted in Israel. 37 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: The tribe of Benjamin battle the other tribes, killing many 38 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: of their own fellow Israelites. But in the end it 39 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: was they who fell to the sword, and they were 40 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: nearly wiped out. God's people drew close to God again, 41 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 1: but for just a little while. Soon they returned to 42 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: their old ways of sin and rebellion, and there was 43 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: great separation between God and his own people. Today we 44 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: turn our attention to a very beautiful story of devotion 45 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,919 Speaker 1: and love between two widows, a mother and a daughter 46 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: in law who are left alone and hurting. The story 47 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: of Naomi and Ruth is touching and inspiring, and we 48 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: see God's favor poured out on these two women who 49 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: loved God and loved each other. Now let's listen to 50 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: today's reading. It was the era of judges, great warriors 51 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 1: of God ruled and protected the nation of Israel from 52 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: evil forces. Their bravery covered the land and Israel was 53 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: safe from harm. However, the famine blighted the land of Israel. 54 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: Crops turned to dust, and the rains ceased to fall 55 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: for months at a time. Alamelech, a man from Bethlehem 56 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 1: of the tribe of Judah, left to the country of 57 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: Moab with his wife, Naomi and his two sons. There 58 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: they found fertile ground and raised their family in peace. 59 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: All was well until Alimelech passed away and left Naomi 60 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: alone with her son Milan and Chilean. Naomi raised her 61 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: sons and the love of God, and they grew to 62 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: be fine young men. They both married Moabide women, Ruth 63 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: and Orpha. For ten years, the five of them lived 64 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: as a happy family, enjoying the land and each other's company. However, 65 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: tragedy knocked on Naomi's door once again, and her two 66 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: sons died, just as her husband had. There, Naomi was 67 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: left alone with her two daughter in laws. Naomi's grief 68 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:53,200 Speaker 1: sunk its roots down deep. Her sons and her husband 69 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: had left her, and she felt helpless and alone. In 70 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: cries of pain, Naomi called for her two daughter in 71 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: law was saying, you should go and return to your 72 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: mother's house. There is nothing left for you here but 73 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:11,640 Speaker 1: sadness and despair. Naomi covered her face from them as 74 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,279 Speaker 1: she wept. She truly loved her daughters, but knew she 75 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,320 Speaker 1: could not provide a life for them. The two girls 76 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: kissed her and they all wept. They protested, saying that 77 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 1: they would stay with Naomi, but Naomi shook her head. 78 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: She wiped a few tears from her eyes and said, listen, 79 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: I cannot give you sons to mary or food to 80 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,479 Speaker 1: feed you go, and may God bless you with the 81 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: same amount he has cursed me. So Opha kissed her 82 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,479 Speaker 1: mother in law and departed, but Ruth clung to her, 83 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: refusing to leave her side. Ruth took Naomi's hands and 84 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: looked her deep in the eyes. With a gentle voice, 85 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:57,280 Speaker 1: Ruth said, wherever you go, I will go also. Your 86 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 1: people will be my people, Your God will be my God. 87 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: And wherever you die, so I will also. Naomi's heart 88 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: overflowed with gratitude, and the two women ventured back to 89 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:16,160 Speaker 1: beth Lahem to Naomi's family. Ruth displayed true devotion, friendship, 90 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: and a willingness to share in the joys and failures 91 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 1: of life with Naomi. When the two of them arrived 92 00:06:23,160 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: at beth Lahem, the whole town stirred and came out 93 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: of their homes. Naomi has returned, they shouted. They were 94 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: elated to see her once again. Naomi halted their embrace. 95 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: Her eyes were swollen from endless tears, and her back 96 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: was crooked from carrying a heavy load. Do not call 97 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: me Naomi, she said, call me Mara, for God has 98 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,039 Speaker 1: given me only bitterness. I had left filled with life, 99 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:54,039 Speaker 1: but now I am emptied. So Naomi and Ruth settled 100 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: in a small home together, and the town respected Naomi's 101 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: wishes and did not bother her. On the other end 102 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: of town lived Boaz. Boas was a relative of Naomi's husband. 103 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: He owned large barley fields and would allow for the 104 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: impoverished people in town to glean from his field to 105 00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: feed their families. So Ruth went to the fields of 106 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: Boaz to reap some of the harvest for her in Naomi. 107 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 1: She worked hard in the beating sun, taking no breaks. 108 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,720 Speaker 1: Ruth saw it as her responsibility to look after Naomi, 109 00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,680 Speaker 1: and she did so happily. Boas entered into the fields 110 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: to greet his workers. The Lord be with you, he 111 00:07:33,960 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 1: told them. His smile was large and genuine. Boas was 112 00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:42,320 Speaker 1: a handsome man, perhaps ten years older than Ruth. He 113 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: stood tall and strong, but he was not intimidating or brutish. 114 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:50,760 Speaker 1: He walked the fields, making sure every person had enough 115 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: to take home to their families. As he was scanning 116 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: the fields, he spotted Ruth on the corner away from 117 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: the other women. He turned to the man in charge, 118 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: arge of the reapers, and said, who is that young 119 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:06,880 Speaker 1: woman over there? Ah, Yes, that is Ruth, the man said. 120 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: She is a young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi. 121 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: She asked if she could glean from the field and 122 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: has not stopped working since sunrise. Boas looked at her, 123 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: concerned that she was working all alone. Boas turned towards 124 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: Ruth and walked down to where she was working. Ruth's 125 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: head was down and her eyes were locked on the 126 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: barley stocks. Hello, Boas said. Ruth looked up, startled when 127 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,439 Speaker 1: she saw it was the man who owned the fields. 128 00:08:36,440 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 1: She relaxed and smiled. The two locked eyes for a moment. 129 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 1: They looked in silence for only a few seconds, although 130 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 1: it seemed much longer. Boas shook his head and said, 131 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,040 Speaker 1: I wanted to welcome you. Do not glean from any 132 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: other field. You can work in mine as long as 133 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: you want, but keep close to all the other women 134 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 1: over there. Boas gestured towards the other women working. I 135 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,440 Speaker 1: have ordered the men to not harass you. If they do, 136 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: they will have me to deal with. And when you 137 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: are thirsty, there are vessels that the young men have 138 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:14,319 Speaker 1: drawn over there. As Boas continued to speak, tears began 139 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:19,880 Speaker 1: to stream down Ruth's face. Surprised, Boas stopped talking. Ruth 140 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: bowed before Boas, now sobbing into her hands. Why are 141 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: you being so kind to me, she asked. Boas smiled 142 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: and helped her unto her feet. I heard what you 143 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: did for your mother in law. I was told of 144 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: your husband who died, and how you remained with her 145 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:40,360 Speaker 1: and take care of her. I want the Lord to 146 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,319 Speaker 1: repay you for all you have done. It is under 147 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: his wings you have taken refuge, not mine. Boas His 148 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:50,599 Speaker 1: eyes were kind and his voice was warm and welcoming. 149 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: It drew Ruth in and comforted her. You have truly 150 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 1: comforted me, Ruth said, wiping her eyes. I am not 151 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: the only one working here, but you chose to speak 152 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 1: with me. Boas then invited her to eat with him 153 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: and the other servants. Boas passed out bread and wine 154 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 1: to all his reapers and saved extra for Ruth to 155 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: take home for Naomi. He then instructed the men to 156 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,679 Speaker 1: allow Ruth to work extra hours so her Naomi may 157 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 1: be taken care of. Ruth continued to watch Boas from 158 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,760 Speaker 1: a distance. The way he cared for every servant, reaper, 159 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: and worker was astounding. Ruth did not know it yet, 160 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: but she was falling in love with Boaz. Ruth worked 161 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: until the sun began to set. She brought home what 162 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 1: she had gleaned to Naomi and gave her the bread 163 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:44,199 Speaker 1: and wine saved by Boas. The two spoken to the 164 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: night about Ruth's day. Who on earth took such great 165 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:52,200 Speaker 1: care of you? Naomi asked, it was Boas. Ruth replied, 166 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: eyes focused on sifting the grain on the table. Naomi 167 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 1: stopped her and turned her around. Her eyes were lit 168 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 1: up like stars. May Boas be blessed by God. He 169 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 1: is a close relative of ours. Not only that, but 170 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 1: he is a kinsman, redeemer, a chosen men from the 171 00:11:11,760 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 1: family to be our head and guardian. Ruth smiled. The 172 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: following weeks, Ruth kept close to the other women of 173 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: the field and worked. She labored all day and talked 174 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:27,000 Speaker 1: with Naomi at night. And each day Boas and Ruth 175 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: would catch small glimpses of one another, and Ruth felt 176 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: safe under his care. Today's story begins with a famine 177 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:40,600 Speaker 1: in the land. A man from Bethlehem and Judea named 178 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: Elimelech leaves his home to go to Moab, where he 179 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: finds fertile fields and peace, and there with his wife, 180 00:11:46,880 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: Naomi and their children, he makes a life for his family. 181 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: But Elimelech eventually dies, leaving Naomi a widow with two sons. 182 00:11:56,320 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 1: Her sons marry Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. After ten years, 183 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: the sons also died, leaving Naomi without a husband or 184 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 1: children to care for her. She has no one to 185 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: protect or provide for her, so she tells her daughters 186 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: in law to return home so that they could find 187 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,959 Speaker 1: husbands to care for them. After an initial protest or 188 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 1: Pie grees and returns home back to Moab. But Ruth 189 00:12:23,800 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: will not abandon Naomi. She pledges her allegiance not only 190 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: to Naomi, but to Naomi's God and her people. It 191 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:36,679 Speaker 1: is a beautiful act of friendship and selflessness, the magnitude 192 00:12:36,679 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: of which it is hard for us to grasp. Moabites 193 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 1: where by law excluded from being a part of God's covenant, 194 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:48,239 Speaker 1: God's people, they were to be rejected, but Ruth confessed 195 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 1: the One True God as her Lord, received his grace 196 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: and goes to Bethlehem with Naomi. Naomi is met with 197 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,640 Speaker 1: celebration at home, but responds with a request to change 198 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 1: her aim to mara, which means bitter. Naomi's circumstances had 199 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: robbed her of joy, so she is bitter. She blames 200 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,079 Speaker 1: God for her bitterness. Unfortunately, and rather than look at 201 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,599 Speaker 1: what she did have her life, a loyal daughter in 202 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:18,920 Speaker 1: law and a family in Bethlehem, she was only intent 203 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: on seeing what she did not have. The two women 204 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:26,719 Speaker 1: settled in a home together. Ruth went across town each 205 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:28,599 Speaker 1: day to the field of a wealthy man by the 206 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: name of Boaz, who was generous and would allow the 207 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: poor to glean from his fields at the time of harvest. 208 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 1: Ruth worked hard, and she worked alone. It was a 209 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 1: dangerous thing for her to do. Really, she was so 210 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 1: very vulnerable, but she wanted to provide for herself and 211 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: her mother in law, Naomi. She catches the eye of 212 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 1: bos who asked others who she was. He discovered that 213 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 1: she was the Moabite daughter in law of Naomi, so 214 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,719 Speaker 1: he approaches her and spoke to her, telling her she 215 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: was welcome to glean, but to stay close to the 216 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,720 Speaker 1: other women for her safety. He also gave orders to 217 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: his men to leave her alone. Finally, he told her 218 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: that should she get thirsty, she should draw from his will. 219 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: This moves Ruth to tears, and she asks why he 220 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 1: is being so kind. Bo As tells Ruth he had 221 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: heard what she had done for Naomi. Then he says 222 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,720 Speaker 1: something very remarkable. He says he wants the Lord to 223 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: repay her for all that she has done, and that 224 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:33,920 Speaker 1: she would find refuge with the Lord. Bo As was 225 00:14:33,960 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: protecting her, but he wanted to be clear that it 226 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 1: was under God's wing, God's protection that Ruth should take refuge. 227 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: He then invited her to eat with him and his 228 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:47,359 Speaker 1: servants and sent her home with extra food for Naomi. 229 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: When Naomi hears all that has happened, she is absolutely thrilled. 230 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 1: Her bitterness gives way to hope and joy, and in 231 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 1: Ruth to twenty she says, this, may he be blessed 232 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:02,080 Speaker 1: by the Lord, who's kindness has not forsaken the living 233 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 1: or the dead. Naomi said to her, also, the man 234 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 1: is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers. 235 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 1: Boaz was a kinsman redeemer to Ruth. Soon enough, Ruth 236 00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: would discover just how true this statement was. And we'll 237 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 1: hear about that the next time. It all happened in 238 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: a place called Bethlehem. Dear Lord, Thank you for your 239 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:29,600 Speaker 1: faithfulness that even in our sorrow, our grief, and our suffering, 240 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: even when we become bitter and angry, your grace chases 241 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 1: us down. Your grace is always with us, and your 242 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: provision and your promises are always true. Thank you for Jesus, 243 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:47,040 Speaker 1: who is our kinsman, redeemer, and we trust you Lord 244 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: to be our savior and our protector in Jesus name. Amen, 245 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 246 00:15:56,240 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: I'm Jack Graham of Dallas, Texas, and you can download 247 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:02,440 Speaker 1: the Prey dot com app and make prayer the priority 248 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: of your life. It is our prayer that you would 249 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:10,040 Speaker 1: know Jesus Christ in a personal way. Jesus and knowing 250 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 1: him is the key to understanding the Bible. Jesus is 251 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: on every page in the pathway of Scripture, so I 252 00:16:18,280 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: pray that you would know him and look to Him 253 00:16:20,240 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: for eternal life. As we see all of these stories, 254 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: some of them very sordid, we realize just how desperately 255 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: we all need the Lord. So invite Christ into your 256 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: life and receive him as your Lord and savior. I 257 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: would also encourage you to download the Prey dot com 258 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: app and let others know about this podcast, and if 259 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: you want more resources on how to know God and 260 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: experience His presence in your life, be sure to visit 261 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 1: Jack Graham dot org. God Bless you. This episode is 262 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: sponsored by Medicine When, innovative health care solution for Christians 263 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: to save money without sacrificing quality