DAILY WORD 4/30/21

6. “Then I can’t redeem it,” the family redeemer replied, “because this might endanger my own estate. You redeem the land; I cannot do it.”

7. Now in those days it was the custom in Israel for anyone transferring a right of purchase to remove his sandal and hand it to the other party. This publicly validated the transaction.

8. So the other family redeemer drew off his sandal as he said to Boaz, “You buy the land.”

9. Then Boaz said to the elders and to the crowd standing around, “You are witnesses that today I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.

10. And with the land I have acquired Ruth, the Moabite widow of Mahlon, to be my wife. This way she can have a son to carry on the family name of her dead husband and to inherit the family property here in his hometown. You are all witnesses today.”

11. Then the elders and all the people standing in the gate replied, “We are witnesses! May the LORD make this woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, from whom all the nation of Israel descended! May you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.

12. And may the LORD give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.”

Ruth 4:6–12 NLT

Today’s Passage picks up the tale of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz, where we left off yesterday. The story paused on a cliffhanger with Boaz and the would-be family redeemer negotiating over the land Naomi’s husband left behind when he died.

The redeemer told Boaz in the presence of many witnesses that he would purchase the land. If that were the case, Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz would be disappointed with the outcome. All of Naomi’s wrangling will have come to naught. However, Boaz mentions that if the redeemer wants to own the land, there is a caveat. He must marry Ruth.

We pick up the story as the redeemer gives his answer to Boaz. He tells him that he cannot buy the land if it requires him to take Ruth to be his wife. The kinsman already has a family. If he marries Ruth and she bears a son, that son will be subject to taking the inheritance from the land.

This complication gives Boaz the freedom to purchase the land and, more importantly, allows him to marry Ruth. As it turns out, this will end up being a critical outcome for all of us, but before we get to that, let’s take a look at what happens next.

Boaz and his family member seal the deal before everyone present at the meeting in the traditional manner. He takes off his shoe and gives it to Boaz. This indicates that he surrenders his right to the land and gives it to Boaz. Now Ruth can marry Boaz, and Naomi will have someone to care for her in her old age.

Despite all of her meddling, God has seen fit to allow Naomi what she desired. But there is more going on here than just Naomi’s happiness. God has a Design that reaches far beyond one woman’s contentment. Perhaps the Lord was teaching Naomi a lesson in Faith, but at the same time, He was doing something even more significant.

When God Manufactures His Mercies, the effects often reach far beyond the initial need. His Graceful Engineering may take more time than you would like, but it requires time to manipulate the future. We are not talking checkers here. God’s procedures more resemble chess.

He is looking several moves ahead, far beyond what we can see with our carnal eyes. His Blessings are not always intended to impact our immediate comfort, which is often all we have the ability to focus on.

He sees the effect of His actions far beyond our fleeting needs, and the time He takes to answer may mean He’s manufacturing something greater than we could even have imagined.

If you ever find yourself in a rough patch in life and you pray for deliverance, but that deliverance is slow in coming, consider that God may be working out something more far-reaching than your initial need. He may be Planning something amazing for your future.

That may require you to endure a bit of pain in the interim. Do you have the requisite Faith in God to persist through your fear and confusion as He works out your legacy? Do you have the strength to sustain Trust while He works out the details in your Ultimate Favor? Can you keep your hands off the situation while He Completes His Work?

Before all of the gathered witnesses, Boaz announces his purchase of the land and his intent to marry Ruth, securing all of their futures. When he does, the witnesses rejoice and bless Boaz and his forthcoming descendants. They may just be blessing the union because it is tradition, but God heard them.

Tomorrow we will see what came of Boaz’s purchase and the witness’s blessings. Until then, never forget that God sees the end of our situations even while we pray for Him to deliver us from them. If things do not change for us, He might be taking the time to Maneuver circumstances to Manufacture His Mercies in our lives.

Be patient and Wait on the Lord, even if what you pray for does not seem to come. Do not give in to the temptation to do His Job for Him. He may have something for you that stretches far beyond your ability to comprehend, and if you meddle in His Work, you may end up stifling His Ultimate Plans.

Displaying Faith can mean enduring immediate pain to receive Ultimate Glory. Do you have the Conviction to Trust God like that? Do you have the Confidence to keep your hands off His Blessings until they come to fruition? If not, you may end up missing out on the Magnificence of His Manufactured Mercies.

Have a Fantastic Friday and Be Patient; God Is Not Through With You Yet!

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