adapted from the book of Ruth by Jackie Perseghetti

"Please don’t try to keep me from going with you,” Ruth pleaded. “Wherever you go, I have determined to go. Your people, the Israelites, will become my people; your God will become my God.”

Seeing that Ruth would not back down, Naomi could only think of their uncertain future together.

“Is that Naomi?!” someone from Bethlehem whispered as Ruth and Naomi entered town. “What happened to her? And who is that with her?”

Naomi’s only response was: “I left Bethlehem full—with a husband and two sons—but now I am returning empty-handed. Therefore, no longer call me Naomi (which means pleasant), but call me Mara (which means bitter), for God has made my life very bitter.”

After speaking these words, Naomi grew quiet. Memories flooded her mind of leaving Judah because of a famine in the land and moving to the land of Moab east of the Jordan River. Her husband desired to stay only until the famine passed, but ended up dying in that foreign land—not only he, but also her two sons. Now, 10 years later, she was returning—without them.

Naomi looked silently about her, noticing how full the fields were with grain and barley. She could tell it was the beginning of the barley harvest.

Such a difference from when we left, she observed. Ruth looked into the sorrowful eyes of her mother-in-law and followed her gaze into the fields. What does the future hold? Will we be able to survive without husbands to provide for us?

“Let me go into the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone who will allow me,” Ruth said to Naomi.

“Go ahead, my daughter,” Naomi replied, watching Ruth go out the door. How thankful she was for God’s Law that permitted the poor to glean the fields after the workers. “Even if Ruth returns with little,” she told herself, “at least it will be something—and that something could mean the difference between life and death!”

Little did she know what Ruth would bring back.

“Who is that young woman?” Boaz asked his foreman as he noticed Ruth hard at work, gleaning behind the harvesters.

“She’s the Moabitess who came back with Naomi,” the foreman replied. “She’s been working steadily from morning until now.”

Boaz pondered the foreman’s words, then approached Ruth to speak with her.

“Don’t go and glean in another field. Don’t go away from here,” he offered kindly. “Follow along after my servants, and whenever you become thirsty, get a drink from the water jars my men have filled.”

Ruth looked into Boaz’s kind eyes. “Why are you so kind to me, a foreigner?” she asked.

“Because I’ve been told what you’ve done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother in your homeland and came to live with a people you didn’t know,” he answered. “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel.”

With those words, Boaz invited Ruth to eat with his workers. Then he secretly instructed his men to leave behind stalks of grain for her to pick up. By the time evening came, Ruth had more than enough grain to last several days—almost 30 pounds!

Returning home, Ruth showed Naomi all she had gathered and told her about Boaz’s kindness.

“Boaz?” Naomi suddenly repeated, hardly able to believe what she heard. “Boaz is one of our close relatives! He is one of our kinsman-redeemers!” Delighted to see how God was already providing, Naomi became hopeful. Perhaps their future wasn’t so dim after all.

No Fear

Take time to think about some of the fears you have concerning your future. Perhaps it’s a great opportunity you’re afraid you’ll miss, or a task you fear you will fail to do—especially when it counts the most. Whatever it is, take this moment right now and tell God about your fears. Allow yourself to be comforted by the fact that He says, “I am with you.” God is a God who is in control—even over the little things in life.

Deuteronomy 31:8 states: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Memorize this promise, or copy it down on something you can carry with you. Use it as a daily reminder to trust Him with your future.

Copyright 1999 Cook Communications Ministries. Caution: More Dangerous Devotions by Jackie Perseghetti. Used by permission. May not be further reproduced. All rights reserved.

	Q: What did one lightbulb say to the other one? A: “Watt are you doing?” Charles R., 10, Georgia Clubhouse Jr. Click here to subscribe