Whose Side is God on?

Last updated on: March 15, 2018 at 11:05 am by Kelley Mathews

Whose Side is God on? 2018-03-15T11:05:07-05:00 Kelley Mathews

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ruth

When God gave his Law to the future landowners of Israel, he included, “You shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 23:22). After Israel conquered the Promised Land and settled, a Moabite woman returns with her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi. They are widowed and poor, but Ruth gleans in the fields so that she can provide for Naomi. The laws set forth during the forty years of wandering now apply to another sojourner, formerly of the Chemosh-worshipping Moabite people but now a Yahweh-follower famous for her moving declaration of faith, “Where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. . .” (Ruth 1:16).

Once an outsider, Ruth became a heroine of the faith, a great-grandmother of King David (Ruth 4), and an ancestor of Jesus himself (Matt 1:5). But such a series of events would not have been likely had not Yahweh emphasized kindness to the outcast. Almost from the beginning, Moses conveyed Yahweh’s desire that his people include others: “You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt” (Ex 23:9). In other words, “those” people are just like you, Israel. Welcome them! Show them who I am, that I might be glorified among the nations.

I wonder, did Ruth ever meet her second mother-in-law, Rahab? That’s right, Ruth married an upright man named Boaz, whose mother was Rahab (also Matt 1:5). Pretty cool! (Sometimes reading those genealogies pays off.) Their stories reveal the heart of God: he will be glorified, and even his own people’s reluctance to shine his light won’t prevent that. He used two women from pagan nations to make his name great. And the rest of his story reveals the same pattern.

Go back Continue Reading

Previous Post

February 27, 2018

Can I Invade My Child's Electronic Privacy?

Next Post

March 5, 2018 Worth Dying For

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category adoption art bible Bible study books compassion creation culture dogs facebook faith family friendship funeral grieving justice leadership Mardi Gras marriage memorial mental illness milestones missions MOPS movies parenting politics race relationships social media technology Thanksgiving theology trusting God Uncategorized wedding women worship

Select a Month June 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 November 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 October 2013 September 2013 October 2012 August 2012 January 2012 October 2011 May 2011 February 2011 January 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Genesis" mean?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Wisdom Origin or beginning Law History

Books by This Author Books by Kelley Mathews

See All Titles »