God's redemptive power is seen in His power to restore what is broken to wholeness. After the severe testing of Job God gave him double what he had previously. His health was restored, many children were born to him, and Job was held in great honour. Job was faced with the temptation to lament all God took from him previously or celebrate the grace and goodness of God with what He provided. Is your tendency to grieve over what you no longer have or rejoice in God's presence today and the help He provides?
Naomi is a woman who suffered the loss of her husband and two sons in a foreign land and returned to Israel bitter and angry at God. Her widowed daughter-in-law, Ruth the Moabitess, was all she had to show for the many years she was abroad because of famine. Naomi said, "I went out full but the LORD has brought me home again empty." Ouch. Despite the bitterness of Naomi, Ruth loved her and worked to support her by gleaning in the fields of Bethlehem. It was then God began to unfold a beautiful relationship between Ruth and Boaz, a relative of Naomi. Her heart began to soften as Naomi sensed an opportunity for Boaz to redeem Ruth as wife, fulfilling the obligation of a kinsman redeemer to raise up seed for her household so the inheritance would be retained. The LORD was faithful and Boaz delighted to be joined to Ruth in marriage.
Ruth 4:13-17 reads, "So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, 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 close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! 15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him." 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him. 17 Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "There is a son born to Naomi." And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David." Little Obed born to Ruth could not replace Naomi's late husband or two sons, but Ruth and her son were used by God to restore Naomi. This child was a great comfort to elderly Naomi who had seen much evil and suffered much pain. Her future with the little one was sweeter than the bitterness of days gone by. Could she have remained bitter? Sure. But how blessed Naomi was to gladly receive this little one and hold him close to her heart: a gift from God who would be the grandfather of King David and in the line of the Messiah Jesus Christ.
When a car is "restored" the usual intention is to return it to the original condition with stock parts--maybe with a little extra chrome under the hood. God restores in a completely different way: He transforms us and brings us into seasons we have never experienced before. Naomi went from being a widow and childless to being a grandmother. She had a daughter-in-law from Moab who loved her who was better to her than seven sons! A woman in Israel would have given almost anything to have seven sons who might fall in battle in a day, yet Ruth and Obed were precious gifts from God Naomi could rejoice in all her days. Because God is with us and will never forsake us we can be bold in declaring His goodness and provision even when we have suffered loss (Hebrews 13:5-6). We can choose to regret our past or rejoice in our Saviour who holds us close. Fear and feelings of shame are drowned in the goodness and grace of our God. The spiritual metamorphosis Christians experience by faith in Jesus leaves nothing to be lamented.
Joel 2:21-27 reads, "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done marvelous things! 22 Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; for the open pastures are springing up, and the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you--the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. 25 "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. 26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. 27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame."
Naomi is a woman who suffered the loss of her husband and two sons in a foreign land and returned to Israel bitter and angry at God. Her widowed daughter-in-law, Ruth the Moabitess, was all she had to show for the many years she was abroad because of famine. Naomi said, "I went out full but the LORD has brought me home again empty." Ouch. Despite the bitterness of Naomi, Ruth loved her and worked to support her by gleaning in the fields of Bethlehem. It was then God began to unfold a beautiful relationship between Ruth and Boaz, a relative of Naomi. Her heart began to soften as Naomi sensed an opportunity for Boaz to redeem Ruth as wife, fulfilling the obligation of a kinsman redeemer to raise up seed for her household so the inheritance would be retained. The LORD was faithful and Boaz delighted to be joined to Ruth in marriage.
Ruth 4:13-17 reads, "So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, 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 close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel! 15 And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him." 16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her bosom, and became a nurse to him. 17 Also the neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "There is a son born to Naomi." And they called his name Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David." Little Obed born to Ruth could not replace Naomi's late husband or two sons, but Ruth and her son were used by God to restore Naomi. This child was a great comfort to elderly Naomi who had seen much evil and suffered much pain. Her future with the little one was sweeter than the bitterness of days gone by. Could she have remained bitter? Sure. But how blessed Naomi was to gladly receive this little one and hold him close to her heart: a gift from God who would be the grandfather of King David and in the line of the Messiah Jesus Christ.
When a car is "restored" the usual intention is to return it to the original condition with stock parts--maybe with a little extra chrome under the hood. God restores in a completely different way: He transforms us and brings us into seasons we have never experienced before. Naomi went from being a widow and childless to being a grandmother. She had a daughter-in-law from Moab who loved her who was better to her than seven sons! A woman in Israel would have given almost anything to have seven sons who might fall in battle in a day, yet Ruth and Obed were precious gifts from God Naomi could rejoice in all her days. Because God is with us and will never forsake us we can be bold in declaring His goodness and provision even when we have suffered loss (Hebrews 13:5-6). We can choose to regret our past or rejoice in our Saviour who holds us close. Fear and feelings of shame are drowned in the goodness and grace of our God. The spiritual metamorphosis Christians experience by faith in Jesus leaves nothing to be lamented.
Joel 2:21-27 reads, "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done marvelous things! 22 Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field; for the open pastures are springing up, and the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you--the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. 25 "So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. 26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; and My people shall never be put to shame. 27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the LORD your God and there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame."
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