Daily devotional

July 14 - Gleaning (III)

“You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this.” - Deuteronomy 24:22 Scripture reading: Ruth 2:17-23 Why was Boaz obligated to help Ruth? For that matter, why was any Israelite farmer obligated to help someone who was undone and living with frayed edges? The covenant God gave this command because His covenant people were an undone and frayed people. Given Egypt’s slavery, they were at one time a lost people, utterly and totally lost. Humanly speaking, they were beyond any sort of rescue, sucked down into the bottomless cesspool of Egypt’s slavery. But what did God do for His people? What has he done for you? Given the cesspool of our sin, he’s woven back together our broken existence. God says to His people, to us, I redeemed you, the sojourning, fatherless and widowed nation. It all means this: redeemed Boaz was called to be an instrument in God’s hand to work for Ruth’s rescue and redemption. Or to say it this way, redeemed people are instruments in God’s hand to speak redemption into the lives of others. It’s no wonder that Naomi blurted out in verse 19 “Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” Indeed, blessed be that man! It’s no wonder that scripture calls him a “worthy man” as we’ll consider tomorrow. It’s just beautiful. We are to show to others the very love God has shown us in sending Jesus Christ. May it please God to use us in the lives of others, just like He used Boaz in the life of Ruth and Naomi. Suggestions for prayer Humbly ask God to help you be an instrument in His hand to bring restoration, rescue and redemption to others.

Since 2019, Rev. Rodney Vermeulen has served the Attercliffe Canadian Reformed Church near Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. He, his wife, children and grandchildren are deeply grateful for the blessing of daily living under the shelter of God’s wings. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.