Phil and Sandy, moved by stories of refugee children, opened their hearts and home to two of them. After they picked them up at the airport, they nervously drove home in silence. Were they ready for this? They didn’t share the same culture, language or religion, but they’d become people of refuge for these precious children.
Boaz was moved by the story of Ruth. He’d heard how she left her people to support Naomi. When Ruth came to glean in his field, Boaz prayed this blessing over her, “May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge” (Ruth 2:12).
Ruth reminded Boaz of his blessing when she interrupted his sleep one night. Awakened by movement at his feet, Boaz asked, “Who are you?” Ruth replied, “I am your servant Ruth. Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family” (3:9).
The Hebrew word for corner of garment and wings is the same. Boaz gave Ruth refuge by marrying her, and their great-grandson David echoed their story in his praise to the God of Israel: “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!” he wrote. “People take refuge in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 36:7).
By Mike Wittmer
REFLECT & PRAY
When has someone given you refuge and how did it make you feel? How might you—in big or small ways—provide refuge for others?
Father, I take refuge in You. Use me to extend Your refuge to others.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The Hebrew word translated “guardian-redeemer” is a key word in the book of Ruth. It’s used more than twenty times in its various forms. The first occurrence is in Ruth 2:20 where Naomi uses the term to describe Boaz: “That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.” The NIV note nicely summarises the word as “a legal term for one who has the obligation to redeem a relative in serious difficulty (see Lev. 25:25–55).” It’s particularly noteworthy that God, in Jesus, became human to rescue those who trust in Him from humanity’s greatest difficulty—sin. Matthew 1:5 records that, according to the flesh, Jesus—our Redeemer—descended from Boaz and Ruth.
Arthur Jackson
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