He will provide a guardian-redeemer

The book of Ruth presents the story of a family that moved to search for bread during a famine and ended up losing it all. Naomi lost her two sons in Moab within a period of ten years. The grieving Naomi decided to return to her home because the Lord had visited them and there was no longer a famine. The decision to go back was a difficult one as Naomi’s daughters-in-law also wanted to join the journey back home. In the long run, Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her (‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1:14‬).

In Bethlehem, Ruth joined the women to pick leftover grain in the field of Boaz. One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for (‭‭Ruth‬ ‭3:1‬). Ruth herself was content with her life in Bethlehem but Naomi knew that for Ruth to settle in well, she needed to help Ruth find a home. According to the law at that time, Naomi’s late husband’s property could be acquired by a family member and that person should also be ready to marry Ruth and raise children for the dead. Thus, whoever marries Ruth is helping to extend the lineage of Naomi’s family. Although this sounds strange today, it was no news to the people in Naomi’s days. The search for the redeemer began with Boaz who informed Ruth that another person is closer than him. Will this person redeem Ruth? Will Ruth find a home?

The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! ‭‭(Ruth‬ ‭4:14‬)

The one expected to redeem Ruth did not because he didn’t want to endanger his own estate (‭‭Ruth‬ ‭4:6‬). Ultimately, Boaz became the guardian-redeemer who provided a home for Ruth, the Moabite. Ruth’s sacrifice of leaving her own family and following Naomi to Bethlehem paid off. She was no more alone, because God provided a guardian-redeemer. After losing her husband and her home in Moab, Ruth found a husband and a home in Bethlehem. The women said to Naomi: “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! ‭‭(Ruth‬ ‭4:14‬). Boaz and Ruth’s marriage brought forth Obed and Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of king David. The great ancestor of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whatever Ruth lost in Moab, was restored in Bethlehem through the provision of the guardian-redeemer.

Many of us have been through a similar circle as Ruth, life has been harsh and we have lost precious people, time and resources. Leaving our Moab (place of comfort) to Bethlehem (the place to start again) seems unpleasant. However, until Ruth arrived in Bethlehem, she remained the widowed daughter-in-law of Naomi. If God had positioned your guardian-redeemer in Bethlehem, it is in Bethlehem you will receive your breakthrough. May we be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit so that we do not miss the prompting of God. He will always provide a guardian-redeemer but we must be aligned to His will, His time and His place. Be encouraged!

He will provide a place to settle

The journey of the delivered Israelites from Egypt to the promised land took a longer time. The journey of eleven days took forty years to complete (Deuteronomy 1:2-3). Their leader, Moses died just before they took possession of the lands across the Jordan. By this time, a whole generation of people who encountered God and yet murmured against Him had perished in the wilderness. Will the people ever get to their destination? Why will God cause His own chosen nation to wander about for forty years for a journey that takes eleven days? Will the Israelites find a place to call home? These and many other questions were probably on the hearts of the people as they journeyed for forty years.

I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ‭‭(Joshua‬ ‭1:3‬)

Have we not also asked God questions such as these before? We have doubted, almost given up, and sometimes questions the very core of our faith. We have asked questions such as “Does God really care?” in our lowest moments. Imagine beginning the year without a place to call home. What will you do if you are on a very tight budget and rent becomes difficult to pay? In the midst of all this, you have spent a whole lifetime walking with the Lord through the waters, the storms and the wilderness. The Israelites had similar experiences and for them, they had to dwell in tents for forty years. Joshua, the new leader after Moses received these words from the Lord, “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.‭‭” (Joshua‬ ‭1:3‭-‬6‬).

The Lord promised to settle the people on every place they set their feet. Joshua was encouraged to be strong and courageous, obey the words of the book of the Law, meditate on it, and not to be afraid (Joshua 1: 9). The words of promise did not automatically propel the Israelites into the promised land. They had to fight the settlers on the land, they had to consecrate themselves to obey every instruction from the Lord and whenever they disobeyed, they faced defeat from their enemies. At the end of their journey,  God gave them a place to settle, they found a home but that didn’t come without them listening and obeying the words of the Lord. Obedience was their key to their new home. Fear had to be discarded and they had to be ready for battle. As we look forward to being settled by God this year, we should also desire to obey the words of God, move on His commands and drive away fear from our hearts.

For us, we might not need to engage in physical fights to drive away the enemy but we would have to engage in spiritual battles to get rid of anything that is hindering us from possessing our place of inheritance. Our faith must be demonstrated through our actions. The Lord is going ahead of us but we must be willing and ready to stand in agreement with Him. He will provide a home for us but we need to be strong and courageous. Let’s personalize this promise made to King David:
“And I will provide a place for [my people Israel] and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning.”
1 Chronicles‬ ‭17:9‬ ‭(also in 2 Samuel 2:7)