“THE LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION!”

 

Ruth 4:13-17                 (ESV)

Ruth and Boaz Marry

“[13] So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and “THE LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION”, and she bore a son. [14] Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! [15] He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” [16] Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. [17] And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, THE FATHER OF DAVID.”

Can you fathom how Ruth would become “written” in the lineage of JESUS when she was married to her first husband, Mahlon?  Yet, through GODS DIVINE PLAN, she is listed in Scripture (Matthew 1:5) as part of the ancestral family of CHRIST (Matthew 1:16)!  

As you are probably aware, Ruth was on a PATH of almost destitution, having to “glean” from the “left behinds” for Naomi (her mother-in-law) after their husbands had died.  Naomi had instructed Ruth and Orpah (Ruth’s sister-in-law) to return to their own families and leave her to figure out how to make it on her own?  Ruth 1:14 states that “And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth “clung to her””, giving an indication that her future was with Naomi.  

We also read in the short book of Ruth how she was BLESSED to be sent to a field to gather leftovers behind the harvesters.  It is NO COINCIDENCE that the field was owned by Boaz, an acquaintance of Naomi, and a wealthy man.  Boaz had Ruth placed in a field away from others where her work would provide food for her and Naomi.  When Boaz SAW her BEAUTY and WORK ETHIC, her married her and she had a son soon afterwards!  She was the great-grandmother of King David, a man after GODS OWN HEART!!!

Could Boaz have known that he would be the great-grandfather of the King of Israel at the time of his assisting Ruth?  Israel didn’t even have a king at the time!  Not only was King David their great-grandson, but the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD would also be listed in their lineage!  

Certainly Ruth could not have known that her remaining loyal to Naomi would be used to bring the SAVIOR to mankind?  Her past gave NO INDICATION how GOD was going to use her for HIS GLORY?  But “THE LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION” and HIS PLAN WAS WRITTEN!!!  GOD USES THE WEAK TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PLAN!!  That is how “THE LORD GAVE HER CONCEPTION”!!!