Ruth 4:10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.
Boaz was going to marry Ruth and bring up a child in the name of Mahlon on his inheritance. This he intended to do in obedience to the Law of God. (Deuteronomy 25:5-10, Matthew 22:24). However, God over-ruled in this, as we see in Ruth 4:21, Matthew 1:5, and Luke 3:32, giving Boaz himself credit for Obed. Thus, Boaz was placed in the line of Christ instead of Mahlon. The other unnamed kinsman missed out on this blessing when he chose his own inheritance over fulfilling his lawful duty, Ruth 4:6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.
What blessings are we willing to turn down in order to keep our pet things nice or “unmarred”? It may be a bigger blessing than we know at the time! If we refuse His blessing, God will find someone else to give it to who will obey Him.
1 Samuel 15:22 ...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Thank you, Mary. That is a good thought to think on. Be obedient to God and His word and He will reward us. It reminds me of James 1:17.
ReplyDeleteGod is so good!
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
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